Captive's Return Read online

  “I’m not in danger, Jo,” interrupted Scarlett. “Giles said I’ll be safe. He’s persuaded the crown to look the other way in regards to my past…activities, given that we’re coming with King Calinnae’s goodwill. The potential for a trade deal with Kyona is much more important for Balenol than punishing me for something that’s over and done with now. You know all this. I showed you Giles’s letter.”

  “You showed me part of his letter,” Jo corrected. “You were pretty determined for me not to see the second page.”

  She stilled, looking up at him ruefully. So he had caught that, had he? She hadn’t been as subtle as she had thought. The twinkle in his eyes told her that he knew he had caught her out.

  “It was nothing about my safety,” she said quickly, and Jo chuckled.

  “No, I imagine it was your cousin’s candid opinion of your husband,” he said cheerfully, and she sighed. Sometimes he was a little too astute. “You’re adorable Scarlett,” he continued affectionately. “Do you really think I’ve been married to you for a year without learning to tell when you’re hiding something?”

  “Almost,” she said.

  “What?”

  “Almost a year. Our anniversary isn’t until tomorrow.”

  Jonan gave her a look. “Believe it or not, I do actually know that. Now don’t change the subject. Did Giles actually threaten me, or just express his disapproval of your choice of husband?”

  “What? Of course he didn’t threaten you!” responded Scarlett, startled. “He wouldn’t do that.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “You thought he did, and you still insisted on coming with me?”

  “Of course I did,” said Jonan shortly. His expression softened as he took in her frown, and he pulled her against him again. “What’s the point of marrying you if I don’t have the right to protect you, Scarlett? Besides.” He spoke lightly, trying to sound nonchalant. But pressed against him as she was, she could feel his sudden tension. “I don’t want to be on the other side of the ocean while all your royal relations try to talk you out of returning to me. Much better if I’m on hand so you can see my rugged good looks and remember why you married me.”

  She pulled back, frowning. “Are you truly worried about that? Do you think I could be talked out of coming home to you? You should have more faith in me, Jonan.” She echoed his own words. “What’s the point of marrying you if I still have to convince you or anyone else that we belong together? I’m your wife. No one’s going to try to prevent me going back to Kyona with you. Isn’t that the whole reason we waited until we were married before coming back here?”

  Jonan met her searching gaze but didn’t immediately respond. She had expected him to apologize for doubting her, but he didn’t. There was a hardness in his eyes that she didn’t like.

  “I hope you’re right about that,” he said eventually. “But can you really look me in the eye and tell me that your family, Giles for example, approves of me, or your decision to marry me?”

  She looked away quickly, and the slight tightening of his hands where they rested on her shoulders told her that she had proved his point.

  “It’s complicated,” she said, her voice pleading. “Don’t be too hard on them.”

  “It doesn’t seem complicated to me,” he answered, his voice still hard.

  She sighed. She wanted so much for Jonan and her family to think well of each other, but she had accepted that it was unlikely, to say the least.

  “My Lord, My Lady? It’s time to begin final preparations for our arrival.”

  “For the hundredth time, we’re not a lord and lady.” Jonan scowled at the crew member as he spoke, and Scarlett sighed again. The last thing she had wanted was to put Jonan in a belligerent mood right before they landed.

  “Thank you,” she said softly to the man, quelling her husband with a look. “We will make ourselves ready.”

  The man bobbed his head awkwardly and walked away, shooting an uncertain look at Jonan, who was still glowering.

  “I suppose I’ll have to get used to all that rubbish,” Jo said when they were alone again. “Everyone in Nohl will be calling you ‘My Lady’ out of habit.”

  She shrugged. “I suppose so. But Jonan,” she stared him down until he reluctantly met her gaze, “don’t let them get in your head. You know I don’t care about any of that. I’ve never once missed being a lady. I love being married to you, and I love the life we have. Don’t let anyone make you forget that.”

  His face softened instantly, and with his usual disregard for conventions, he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. Strictly speaking it wasn’t really appropriate on the deck of the ship, but she returned the gesture uncomplainingly. She could sense that he needed reassurance, and truth be told she wanted the comfort of his touch as well. She wasn’t sure how difficult the coming encounter would be, but she wanted to know he was at her side, emotionally as well as physically.

  “I’m sorry for getting angry,” he whispered, leaning his forehead against hers. “I’m just afraid of losing you.”

  “You’re not going to lose me,” she said firmly, and he straightened, his voice becoming determined.

  “I know. And you don’t need to be nervous, because I won’t let any harm come to you. They’ll have to kill me first.”

  “Oh, Jo,” she said, exasperated. “It’s exactly that attitude that makes me nervous. Just please try not to provoke anyone powerful. For Cal’s sake as much as mine!”

  “I make no promises,” he said, but his eyes once again held laughter. Scarlett turned away with a rueful smile, satisfied that his good humor had returned.

  Chapter Two

  The two of them remained on deck as the ship was docked and the gangplank lowered. Scarlett’s period of quiet reflection had not quite gone as planned, and she felt anything but ready to disembark.

  Apparently her husband didn’t share her reluctance. Jonan was clearly impatient as the captain went forward to meet with a Balenan man who waited on the quay. Scarlett couldn’t help but notice that the man looked very ill-at-ease, his body language showing clearly that he wanted to be elsewhere. And he wasn’t the only one. Even from a distance, she could see the frown growing on the captain’s brow as he listened. After a moment, he made his way back on board, heading straight for them.

  “What’s the hold up?” asked Jonan before the man could speak.

  “We docked more quickly than they expected,” said the captain, still frowning. “The welcome delegation isn’t here yet, but they’re on their way.”

  “Good to know,” said Jonan cheerfully, starting toward the gangplank.

  “Wait,” said the captain quickly. “They’ve requested that you wait on board until their arrival.”

  “I’m sure they have,” said Jonan, unimpressed. “But without meaning to offend you, Captain, I’ve had more than enough of your ship over the last three weeks. I would like to feel the ground beneath my feet again.”

  Forestalling further argument, Jonan leaped lightly onto the gangplank and strolled down onto the quay. With an apologetic grimace in the captain’s direction, Scarlett followed. The Balenan envoy looked aghast, but didn’t actually attempt to stop them as they walked the length of the quay, toward the river that ran through the city of Nohl.

  “It feels weird to be back, doesn’t it?” asked Jonan, grasping her hand and twining his fingers through hers. He gave her a sideways look. “Are you all right?”

  “It does feel weird,” she acknowledged. “I’m fine, just…the captain seemed worried, don’t you think? Maybe we should have waited on the ship as requested.”

  “Nonsense,” said Jo briskly. “Why shouldn’t we stretch our legs? We won’t go far. They can as easily welcome us on the quay as on the ship.”

  Scarlett nodded, but she felt uneasy, some instinct that she couldn’t articulate warning her that something was amiss. They had reached the end of the wharf by now, and she looked instinctively toward the castle neighborhood. It was silly, because she knew s
he wouldn’t be able to see it from this distance. All she could see was the row of homes, more hovels than houses, that lined the edge of the water.

  The dockside area was one of the poorest neighborhoods in Nohl, and she had never had occasion to spend much time there. Her eyes were drawn to a small child, playing alone on the street with a wooden ball. He was filthy, his clothes ragged and too large for him, and his feet bare. As she watched, the child spun the ball away from him with unintended force, a cry leaving his mouth as it rolled toward the water.

  Jonan had also seen, and he stepped forward quickly to intercept the ball.

  “Here you go,” he said, holding it out to the boy with a grin.

  The boy received it cheerfully. “Thanks, mister.”

  “No problem,” said Jonan easily. Scarlett smiled in spite of her unease. It was another thing she had discovered about Jonan over the year they had been married. He was very good with children.

  “Who’re you?” Her husband had apparently captured the little boy’s interest. “You just get offa that big ship over there?”

  Jonan nodded, but before he could say another word, a woman appeared from a nearby house, racing forward to snatch up the boy as if he was under attack.

  “What you doin’, talkin’ to strangers?” she said, her voice shrill and unpleasant. Her appearance was little better than that of her son, her clothes dirty and a prominent tooth missing. She barely glanced at Scarlett, her gaze passing to Jonan. She sucked in a quick breath as she looked him up and down. Then she suddenly spat on the ground at his feet, her face twisting in fury.

  “Kyonan,” she snarled. Without another word, the woman turned and hurried back into her home, the child still bundled in her arms.

  Jonan turned to Scarlett, his face uncharacteristically uncertain. “Is it just me, or did that feel different, like things have changed?”

  Scarlett’s voice was grim. “It’s not just you.” Jonan was right—the people of Nohl had always been scornful and belittling of Kyonans. But this anger was new. “I don’t like it, Jo,” she said, making no effort to hide her unease. “I think you should get back on the ship.”

  His face said plainly that he wasn’t going to cooperate, but he had no opportunity to actually answer her. The sound of approaching feet caught both their attention, and they turned to see a squadron of guards, dressed in royal livery, marching at a smart pace toward the quay. The leader caught sight of them, and pulled the squadron to a halt with a gesture.

  As the man strode up to them, Scarlett and Jonan exchanged a look of confusion. There were no officials with the guards. A squadron was a strange welcoming party for visiting dignitaries. Was Nohl so unsafe now that they needed an armed escort to reach the castle? A carriage rumbled into view behind the squadron, and Scarlett figured that must be it.

  Jonan stepped slightly in front of Scarlett as the man reached them, the protective gesture instinctive. But it seemed she wasn’t the one who needed protection.

  “Are you Jonan?” the guard barked, and Scarlett bristled at his aggressive tone.

  “Yes,” said Jonan, matching the man’s glare. “What do you want?”

  The guard nodded, and two of his fellows stepped forward smartly, clearly intending to seize Jonan.

  “What do you think you’re doing?!” demanded Scarlett, pushing forward to stand between Jonan and the guards. “How dare you offer us violence?”

  “Step aside, Lady Wrendal,” said the chief guard gruffly. “This doesn’t concern you.”

  “That’s not her name,” growled Jonan, at the same time as Scarlett said, “Doesn’t concern me? You’re attacking my husband, and you say it doesn’t concern me?”

  “Our orders are to convey you to the castle, My Lady,” said the guard stubbornly. “But we’re to take the Kyonan,” he jerked his head toward Jonan, “to the dungeons.”

  “Well, your orders are outrageous!” protested Scarlett, assuming a commanding tone in an attempt to hide the panic rising inside her. “We’re here as official representatives of King Calinnae of Kyona, and I have been given personal assurance from His Highness Prince Giles that we will be received accordingly!”

  “Prince Giles is the one who gave our orders, My Lady,” said the guard, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  “He—what?” Scarlett felt her mouth drop open, and the guards took advantage of her momentary distraction to seize Jonan by the arms. “Wait!” she cried, but they ignored her.

  Her eyes flicked to her husband, and she felt a cold rush pass over her at the hard, almost sneering look on his face as he continued to glare down the guard. Unlike her, he didn’t look the least bit surprised, and the sight galled her. She had been so sure she could trust Giles, but it looked like Jonan had been right after all.

  “This is absolutely unacceptable!” she blustered, grabbing the arm of one of the guards who had seized Jonan, and trying unsuccessfully to pry his hand off.

  “It’s fine, Scarlett,” said Jonan, his voice resigned. “Did we really think I’d be welcomed into any other part of the castle? As I recall, the dungeons are really quite homey, if you can discount the rats.”

  “No, it’s not fine!” she cried. “You’re not going to the dungeons! This is ridiculous.”

  “Ridiculous or not, the Kyonan is going to the dungeons,” said the chief guard, his voice unyielding.

  “His name is Jonan!” Scarlett snapped. “And he happens to be my husband.” She took a deep breath, mastering herself. “That being the case, I can only imagine we are to be accommodated together. So if he’s going to the dungeons, so am I.”

  “I don’t think so,” said Jonan flatly.

  She glared at him. “I wasn’t asking your permission.”

  “That’s not possible, My Lady,” said the chief guard coldly.

  “Stop calling me that,” she snapped, stepping forward to align herself with Jonan. The guard didn’t argue with her, but at another nod from him, one of his underlings stepped forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her roughly away from Jonan and toward the waiting carriage.

  At once Jonan’s languid air disappeared. “Don’t touch her!” he cried, his voice sharp. “Get your hands off my wife!” He began to struggle violently against the two guards holding him, and Scarlett gasped when he received a blow to the stomach for his pains.

  “What are you going to do about it, Kyonan?” one of the guards jeered.

  Jonan had momentarily doubled over in pain, but he straightened in an instant, his voice strong, even though he was clearly winded.

  “You’ll find out if you touch her again.”

  One of the guards cracked his knuckles menacingly, and Scarlett’s anger was suddenly eclipsed by fear. These men were in earnest, and if things continued on their current course, Jonan was going to get himself killed.

  “Enough,” she said crisply. “This whole situation is an outrage. I will go with you to the castle and speak to the prince myself. Don’t think your unnecessary violence will be forgotten once this mistake has been cleared up.”

  She glared at each guard in turn, as though memorizing their faces, trying to make them believe she had the power to carry out her threat. Her demeanor showed no hint of it, but she was rattled by the way they sneered back at her, with no sign of alarm on their faces.

  A guard stepped forward to escort her, but at her glare he didn’t actually touch her. Before she turned toward the carriage, Scarlett met Jonan’s eyes, and he gave her a slight nod.

  I’ll be fine, the gesture clearly said, but Scarlett could feel no such confidence. She knew that he had read her distress and was swallowing whatever fear or anger he might be feeling in an attempt to reassure her.

  The thought made her throat constrict. A lesser man would remind her that he had predicted this, but as always, he only cared about protecting her. He hadn’t wanted to come here, hadn’t wanted her to leave the safety of their home. They had come because she insisted on it. If anything happened to him now, it would
be her fault.

  She tried not to let her fear show as she climbed into the carriage. As it began to move, and she twisted around to peer through the back window, she could only be thankful that no one else was inside with her. Because her veneer of calm couldn’t quite withstand the sight of her husband being bound like a criminal and roughly thrown into the back of a nearby cart.

  Chapter Three

  The journey to the castle felt interminable, although it couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes. Scarlett’s mind was full of her fear for Jonan, but even so, she couldn’t help watching out the window of the carriage as the familiar streets rolled past.

  And yet not so familiar. Although she had lived in Nohl all her life before the last year, she felt like she was looking at an unknown landscape. The buildings and streets were much the same, she supposed. But the people were not. She knew that the dockside district was a poor area, and she had not been surprised by the state of the little boy who had been playing with the ball.

  But she was surprised to see similar poverty stretching far beyond the docks. And it wasn’t just the physical state of the people she saw out her small window. There was something else—a defeated look in their eyes. And, difficult to pinpoint but impossible to miss, a general sense of anger, simmering just below the surface. There was also something missing, but it took her a while to identify what it was.

  The slaves. They had always been a regular part of the city’s traffic before, shuffling along with eyes downcast. But now there was not a single Kyonan to be seen. Scarlett remembered the reaction of the woman at the quay, and her chest tightened with anxiety as she realized all over again just how conspicuous her husband was here in Nohl now.

  But her discomfort was not merely related to Jonan’s well-being. Of course the loss of the slave labor that had carried Balenol’s economy for centuries would have had an effect on the affluence of her home city. And she knew that it wasn’t right for the people of Nohl to build their wealth on the oppression of the Kyonans. That belief was what had driven her to start the resistance. But still…it wrenched her heart to see the deterioration of the city, and the suffering of its people.