Chapter 7

I kept my head still, but my eyes were flitting around like a child who had been taken to a sweets store. Halt had taught me that in scouting the enemy it was best that they did not realise what you were doing. It soon became clear though that there was no hope. Hundreds of soldiers all holed up in a well-fortified fortress. Not only that, but there were hundreds more at the dock with ships that could travel down the Slipsunder and wreak havoc on the towns in its path on the way to Castle Araluen – the jewel at the heart of the country. The full force of the Araluen army might be able to lay siege to the castle and with the ingenuity of Will and Halt eventually take it back, but that would be a long and arduous process, hindered further by the fact that winter had pervaded the landscape and travelling armies did not mix well with snow.

We were officially doomed.

So I moved my mind back to my own pressing problems. I really needed to figure out what my next course of action was. I was at the centre of their operations and well placed to learn valuable information that I could pass on to Cassandra and Halt. While Crowley was technically the Ranger Commandant, he had lost all his credibility in my book and I preferred to deal with Halt – only he and his apprentices and the younger members of the force were capable of bearing such prestigious and awe-inspiring titles. I doubted the full invasion would be happening soon. King Ferdinand had planned well. His soldiers would be a steady force in the countryside for the next three months – until spring came – and would be able to establish their strength so that by the time an army could be sent, the original small wound would have time to fester and spread. They would be at a stronger position than when they originally landed and harder to get rid of. However, the very same winter meant that both the Narrow Sea and Endless Ocean would be death traps, and no King in his right mind would send a fleet of war ships to certain doom. I guessed that the full invasion would start as soon as the waters leading to Araluen became safer for ships to cross.

In the meantime, I could collect information and send it to Halt, but I had no pigeons to send information by. My writing skills weren't up to scratch either. Maybe I could persuade Riley to continue my lessons while I was a prisoner in the dungeons. Importantly though, I could put a name to the title el jefe. It would humanise him and give Halt something to work with. It wasn't much, but at least it was something. If I managed to kill el jefe that would be ideal but with the level of protection he had, it would also be a death mission.

The drawbridge was slowly lowered and I realised too late that once it was pulled up again, I was not leaving Castle Caraway unless someone paid a lot of gold reels. It was the only way in or out and was heavily guarded. My hands were tied and I was trapped on my horse, as helpless as a newborn babe. I really needed to change the odds.

I squeezed my thighs tighter, so I wouldn't fall out of the saddle. Then I inched my hands up, painfully slowly. The Iberian's didn't know the genius behind thumb cuffs, and with all ten fingers at my disposal I managed to slip the rusted nail out of my right breast pocket.

"It always takes them años to raise it," Matéo stated, turning to Riley. "How long did it take your men?"

Riley's features immediately darkened. I could see the conflict in his eyes. He didn't like Matéo's question in the slightest. It threw him. Your men. More specifically, the men that Riley had trained with all his life and now betrayed. I wondered what had happened to them. Had they died? Or were they trapped in a dungeon somewhere. Whatever the answer was, it affected Riley. He hadn't done all this without a thought to the people he was affecting. He just tried to forget it.

"Less time," he answered, finally.

I slowly began to rub the metal against my binds. My palms were bandaged, but the leather gloves I wore meant that I didn't have to worry about accidentally cutting into flesh and getting the rust in my blood stream. Still, I could hardly move my wrists. This was going to take a while and I needed to buy time. And the best way to buy time, was to create a scene. Do something big that attracted everyone's attention, so that they didn't focus on the little things.

"You disgust me," I said, turning to Riley.

"Excuse me?" he answered.

"Don't play dumb with me. You trained with those men your whole life and then you turned them over to the Iberians? How could you? They trusted you and you forsook this whole country! You traitor! You bloody traitor!"

"Language!" Wolf cackled from his cage. Naturally, I ignored him.

"Shut up."

"Here you are laughing with the Iberian's and making jokes. Do you have no shame? What happened to all those good men? What's going to happen to Baron Quinn? Did you kill them all? Are you going to kill the Baron when he comes back from Araluen? Gorlog's beard! Did you kill his wife and daughter?" At some point in the middle of my fake speech of morality, I realised that I actually needed to know the answers to my questions.

"Shut the hell up!" Riley repeated, more forcefully this time. People were beginning to stare as the bridge finally lowered. I angled my hands so no one could see what I was doing. I felt the rope give way a little. I still needed more time.

"I will not shut up! Someone needs to speak out against this! Parading around like some Knight who is honour bound to protect the people, and going against Queen and country at the first chance. What did they offer you? A title, money?"

"I will gag you if you don't shut up. I've been treating you well. Others might not be so kind," Riley said. Our horses began to clatter over the wood and above the moat. Time was running out.

"Why should I shut up? I'm already your prisoner. It can't get much worse for me," I said and then inwardly smiled as an idea hit me. I would be lying if it didn't give me a great deal of joy. I collected my projectile carefully, pursed my lips and then spat straight in Riley's face.

My timing was impeccable.

Riley swore and wiped his face with the back of his hand. The guard the duty caught the end of it and started rambling in Iberian. He was the Captain of the Guard, identifiable by the crest on his helmet. The yelping from Wolf that sounded suspiciously like high pitched laughter turned into a growl when someone grabbed me from my saddle and threw me on the ground – while Riley had his head turned away. But I was ready and pulled my wrists apart, breaking the rope, allowing me to land softly and roll back up to my feet lithely.

The man who had thrown me to the ground, came running towards me with nothing but a knife that he was still trying to get out of the scabbard. He obviously hadn't oiled it, and was struggling, giving me the time to simply stand in front of him with the heel of my arm facing upwards. It hit the bottom of his nose and threw him backwards with blood streaming down his face. I held the nail in the palm of my hand and pierced the forearm of my next attacker. He screeched and turned away. A path was cleared to the drawbridge and as I spotted Wolf's cage, I began to run towards him. I would free him and then take a horse and pray that it was fast enough to get me away.

However, my plans came to a screeching halt as a pair of strong arms enclosed around my waist. I twisted and thrashed around, trying to break free but the man was too strong. In my struggle I lost the small nail that was my only weapon. I was lifted back inside the castle as I heard guards gather to block my exit. I was thrown to the ground and groaned as my face hit the cobblestones. I lifted my head to spit out dirt and came face to face with a black leather boot. I swore as it crushed my upper arm.

"Stop! Get off her you idiota! Don't you know how important she is?" Riley's angry voice rang through the courtyard. The boot disappeared as Riley threw the offending man to the ground with such ease that I would be lying if I said I wasn't extremely impressed. He then lifted me to my feet, inspecting my injuries with a frown.

"When will you learn?" he asked to no one in particular. "Do I have to lock you in the dungeons?" I went to spit in him face again but he glared at me. I swallowed with an impish grin.

"Someone get her a chair," Riley ordered. It took less than ten seconds for his wish to be granted. Riley plonked me on the chair. If I wasn't a prisoner I would have smiled gratefully. Being thrown to the ground had pushed air out of my lungs and I took long, settling breaths while enjoying the guards getting told off.

"Don't any of you ever touch her again! She is a valuable hostage and every little nick and scratch lowers her value and I can assure you el jefe will not be pleased!" Riley bellowed. Yes, I was. I should be looked after and not thrown out like a burnt rabbit carcass. My thoughts drifted back to the events at Castle Araluen.

"Are you thinking about lover boy again?" Wolf asked. "Do I need to bash your head in as well? He's bad news. You can do better." I pretended to ignore Wolf but his words struck a cord. Why was I bothering with Edmund? I should just forget about him. Obviously he was an idiot. Why should I let him keep on hurting me by thinking about it? I should just forget him. He probably wanted to forget me as well. That way I could move on.

"Sï, señor," the Captain of the Guard said, removing his helmet and bowing his head towards Riley. Riley grunted in approval. However, when he turned away the Captain looked around angrily. He was not happy in the slightest that a young man of barely twenty years had more power than him.

Riley gestured towards the cage Wolf was in. "Someone bring the dog." Two men with arms as big as those of Skandians, lifted Wolf up without so much as a grunt of exertion.

"Come on," Riley said gently, offering me his hand. I had spat on him and he was still being nice to me? He was so confusing.

"Men," Wolf chorused from his prison, uncharacteristically cheerful and agreeable for a dog in his position.

I took his hand slowly, wondering if it was some sort of trick but he only placed his arm on the small on my back and began leading me towards the castle keep. Someone saw Riley across the courtyard and jogged over lightly. He wore a burnt yellow cape over well-crafted armour. His surcoat was a lighter yellow with el jefe's insignia of a snarling black dragon at the top right. I shivered involuntary. The man passed Riley a matching surcoat and cape, and he quickly changed out of his own plain black. While the rest of the soldiers bore the red of King Ferdinand, el jefe's personal guard were singled out in yellow. It worried me how easily Riley could change his insignia – like his loyalty was as fickle as the clothes people threw at him.

The man approaching us looked me over, smiling in recognition and then patting Riley on the back. "Well done, son."

"Captain Grant?" I blurted out, remembering the man with short fair hair and a neatly trimmed beard who I had met on my last trip to Caraway. It made sense. Of course both he and Riley were traitors together. Two birds for the price of one royal. El jefe had outdone himself. I remembered the stories of the bandits roaming the countryside and sending Baron Quinn's men on wild goose chases. It would have been so easy to orchestrate with the Captain of the Guard working for the enemy. It made me so angry. How had they both given in so easily? Corrupt fools.

"Lady Monique Bowman," Grant greeted me with a nod of his head. "Our illustrious guest."

I frowned back. "Just Mon. And I would prefer prisoner."

Grant shrugged. "As you wish."

"How could you both do this?" I exclaimed, unable to hold it in anymore. "Shame on both of y…" Riley's hand clamped over my mouth, forcing the rest of my tirade back down my throat.

"She's quite chatty," he said. "Where should I put her? The dungeons are quite damp and as the Prince's girlfriend I thought he might want her somewhere better. Maybe a room?"

Grant chuckled. "I forgot she and the Prince were courting." If looks could kill.

"We have rooms with those small windows right? I could post a few guards outside. That should be enough till he comes back," Riley continued. He comes back? I assumed he was talking about the elusive el jefe?

"As long as she doesn't escape I don't think it matters," Grant answered. Riley nodded and continued our journey, now practically hugging me with his right arm on my back and his left across my mouth. He smelt like oil – the type used to keep weapons and armour in pristine condition. Not nowhere as nice as Edmund. Ugh. I needed help.

"You certainly do," Wolf added, unhelpfully.

The stairs spiralled upwards on the left-hand side. Halt had told me that this was an entirely defensive construction. It was so that any defenders would have the advantage to an attacker, who would have to expose their entire body before being able to use a sword with their right hand. Of course, if the attackers were all left handed – like Riley – then it wasn't as helpful, but most swordsmen were right handed. About one floor up, Riley led me through a corridor and into a small room. There was a small cot in a corner, a chair and a table with a jug of water. There was a tiny window and a small fireplace that crackled softly. The two massive men placed Wolf's cage outside the door.

"The walls are made of stone and the door is iron, so don't even think of trying to burn yourself out of here," Riley explained. "I'll be back with el jefe later. These two will be outside so don't even think of escaping. And before you try it, you can't fit through that window. You're skinny, but your head will get stuck if you try and I don't fancy spending my afternoon sliding it free."

He handed me a packet of dried beef and gently shoved me inside, my mouth finally free of his hand. "Here's your breakfast."

Finally alone I did a quick check of the room and indeed there was no way to escape. I could try adding the wooden beams of the cot to the fire to try and make smoke. The guards might come running if I was so precious and I could make a run for it. But I doubted I could create much smoke with just wood and no leaves. Also I didn't fancy burning to death.

It was funny how all this time my own tired, hungry and aching body hadn't seemed so important. But without anything else on my mind, my body finally gave in. I scoffed down the jerky – as fast as was possible with such a dry and chewy meat. I took off my boot and emptied out my quattro, bringing my last hope to my chest. Then I lay down on the cot and closed my eyes. Halt probably wouldn't approve, but I figured if I was in any danger Wolf would bark the castle down.

A few hours later my eyes shot open at the sound of Wolf barking like crazy. I took the quattro out of its sheath and jumped to my feet. There was no one in the room yet but I heard voices from outside. I put my ear to the iron door. The voices were muffled and I couldn't make out anything. There was a creak and I jumped back as a small food door was opened and a bread roll chucked on the ground. However, the shouting continued as did Wolf's barking. There was a thud and a whine. Wolf shut up immediately. What were they doing to him? What was happening? I focused in to the conversation which was quite helpfully in Iberian.

"Dejar que ella sea," Matéo said.

"Cállate! Araluen amante!" a voice yelled. I took a peek through the hole in the door. It was the Captain of the Guard. Gorlog's beard, I was in for trouble. I tightened my grip on the quattro. From what I heard, I guessed Matéo was trying to protect me. But from what?

"Déjame tener que!" the captain continued. He gestured to the door. What did he want with me? Fear gripped my heart. Gorlog's beard! Fear rushed into my veins. I wished someone was here to protect me. Halt, Will, Cassandra or even Edmund.

The door flung open and the captain slowly walked inside, his beady eyes searching for me on the cot. My back was pressed against the wall behind the door so he didn't spot me immediately. I was so scared that I almost didn't move, but some instinct forced my body forward as I somehow managed to run out and shut the door behind me. Matéo looked at me stunned. I glanced at Wolf and saw him lying in his cage, completely knocked out. I wanted to rescue him and take him with me, but he wasn't even able to walk on his own and I couldn't carry his weight. Matéo started to move but I darted for the stairs and practically flew right down them, my feet as light as a stag. The fear was pushing me on but when I reached the courtyard and the sun hit my face, the reality hit me. How was I going to get out of here? I needed to find a hiding spot. My head darted from the left to the right, completely abandoning ranger's training.

"Mon!" Riley yelled, spotting me. This was my chance to escape. I ran blindly, not seeing where I was going but just needing to get out of the castle. However, I missed the gate by quite a few metres and instead thudded into a broad chest, falling on my backside.

Pandemonium broke out.

There was yelling in Iberian and yelling in the common tongue. I just sat in a dazed heap and was as lifeless as one of Maddie's dolls as Riley dragged me to my feet yet again.

"He brought the Prince's girlfriend right into this castle," the Captain of the Guard accused, pointing at me. "No doubt she will be spying on us and scouting out our numbers!"

Riley sighed in poorly masked exasperation. "Shut up Pablo!" He let go of my arm and bowed deeply. My eyes widened. It couldn't be.

"Señor I found her. Look at her ceja. Look! And she looks just like your esposa from the pintura!" I was confused. Ceja? Esposa? Pintura? It was strange but the words seemed to click into place. Eyebrow. Wife. And painting. The scar above my eyebrow suddenly became important.

I looked up at the man who was the director of the plan to disturb the peace in Araluen. The man who was behind all the assassinations, kidnappings and invasion. The man we had been fighting for weeks and months. He was tall and muscular, but had the belly of a man who enjoyed his food. He wore a burnt yellow cape just like his personal guard, but his own armour looked like it was coated in gold. His hair was dark but greying at the temples and his dark blue orbs stared right back at me.

My mind was spinning. It couldn't be. It was impossible. Many things had happened recently that had surprised the crap out of me, but this blew everything else out of the water. It defied the laws of the universe.

How could the dead wake?

"Minny?" El jefe asked, as he stretched out his arms in desperation.

My response was choked out in complete, and utter shock.

"Daddy?"