Kiyo asked no questions when I called Enrique back and told him I'd be out of town and out of contact for a while - but that I trusted him to carry on. Really, Kiyo said little at all as we hurried back to my house. Within minutes, I had a small satchel packed, and then we were off to the Otherworldly crossing. No matter what ups and downs had occurred in our relationship, he knew me well. He knew I had to act on this immediately.
The questions began once I reached my castle.
"How the hell," I began, "did this happen?"
I was in one of the receiving rooms, Kiyo by my side as I stared down Shaya and some of the soldiers who manned the grounds. Rurik was with them, which gave me mixed feelings. I was glad he was back from Dorian's. I trusted him more than any other military guy around here. That being said, there was a petty part of me that held him responsible. How could someone as capable as him have let this happen?
He grimaced, as though guessing my thoughts. "A small group sneaked onto our grounds, overpowered her guards ... and took her." He hesitated. "She only had two with her, Your Majesty. As you'll recall, her escort was lightened. Still. There is no excuse."
I hadn't witnessed this kind of diplomacy and respect from Rurik since ... well, actually, I'd never really witnessed it. With Dorian? Yes. Not with me. Jasmine's abduction had really gotten to Rurik, no question. I was pretty sure he was taking it personally. But I'd also caught the slight meaning in his carefully worded comment about her lightened guard. That had been my call. I had done it in response to her good behavior and had let her outside more. I'd known it was a potential security risk - but not one that involved her leaving against her will.
"We're at war," I said. "Regardless of her guard, this whole place should have been under lock-down."
He nodded, face growing grimmer. "As I said, there's no excuse. I take full responsibility."
I waved a hand dismissively. "It's too late now. I know you're doing your job. Don't lay yourself out for the slaughter. Volusian said there was a note?"
Shaya handed me a piece of rolled parchment. Kiyo leaned over my shoulder as I read it silently to myself:
To Eugenie, Usurper Queen of the Thorn Land, Daughter of Tirigan Stormi, King:
As you no doubt know by now, I have your sister within my custody. If you wish her returned to you alive, you and the Oak King will surrender unconditionally to me. You will cease hostilities immediately, withdraw your armies, and cede your lands. Additionally, you will turn over the alleged Iron Crown to me.
If you do not comply with these terms, your sister will be executed at noon, three days from the receipt of this letter. For now, she is alive, and I have given her into the keeping of my nephew Cassius.
I await your response.
Sincerely,
Katrice, Queen of the Rowan Land,
Beloved of the Gods
I looked up at the many watching eyes. "'Given her into the keeping of my nephew Cassius.' Does that mean what I think it does?"
Shaya grimaced. "That is the nephew she wanted you to marry."
"Why execute Jasmine then?" I demanded. "Why not marry her off to Cassius? Isn't that a waste of one of Storm King's daughters?"
"Katrice hates you," said Kiyo softly. "At this point, she probably doesn't even care about the prophecy. She wants to get back at you, hurt you, and if that means killing Jasmine, then it's probably an acceptable loss - especially if she tries to then give you to Cassius after this 'surrender.'"
"So I'd get to live?"
Kiyo shrugged. "Longer suffering."
"Why choose her as a hostage though?" I didn't know why I was arguing the logic here. None of it mattered. Only the outcome did. "Everyone knows we don't get along."
"Everyone also probably knows that's been changing a little," said Kiyo. "You brought her to Dorian's."
"And," added Shaya, "a royal family member usually makes the best hostage in these situations."
These situations. For a moment, I nearly swayed on my feet, wanting to close my eyes and pass out. It had nothing to do with the heat. It was this. All of this. This situation always repeating itself. Me and Jasmine, cursed by our blood, always to be used and captured as possessions in a greater game. I'd hated Aeson, but at least he'd lured Jasmine into some pretense of love before taking advantage of her. But what about this Cassius? He'd make no attempts at kindness. This was all about punishment and revenge, after all. Had he already raped Jasmine? Was he doing it now? A sickening memory of Leith came to mind, one sharp and clear in spite of the drugged state I'd been in during my ordeal with him. Moments later, it was replaced by an image of this faceless Cassius lowering himself over a cowering Jasmine....
I pushed my weakness aside, steadying myself and bringing the world back into focus. I turned to Rurik. "How far are our armies spread out? How soon could we get them together and march on her? I want to raze that bitch's lands and burn her castle to the ground! I want to have the fucking wrath of heaven rain down on her and - "
I cut myself off, as startled at my words as the others were. Where had that rage come from? Well, the situation, obviously. I wouldn't want anyone thrown to Katrice's nephew before facing execution. But it occurred to me in that moment that my reaction was also ... personal. Somewhere, in the ups and downs of our dysfunctional family, I'd come to care about Jasmine. My anger came from the loss of her.
"Easy, Eug," said Kiyo, resting a hand on my arm. There was a nervous note in his voice, mirrored by the others' expressions. I'd once been told that when I was angry, I resembled my father. I took a deep breath and pushed back any further outbursts.
"Leading a massive army in - while deserved - wouldn't be ..." Rurik was still treading lightly, still choosing words carefully. "Well, Katrice was already in wartime mode, heavily guarded. After this? The lands outside her home probably have triple the guard they did before."
"But if our force was large enough ..." I began.
Rurik nodded. "True. It's possible. Especially if ... especially if my lord Dorian's armies were involved." He looked uneasy at mentioning Dorian, but I could see a considering look on Rurik's face. I had a feeling we shared the same puzzle. Would Dorian lend forces to help me? Possibly not, not if his anger overrode any devotion to me. On the other hand, Dorian was still in this war, and I knew him well enough to think he might welcome a full-out march on her castle. Rurik knew that too. "With his forces, it's possible," Rurik said at last. "But Katrice's would be defending. It would be bloody. It would be ugly."
He didn't sound opposed to that, per se. He was a military man; ugly battles were the way of the world. But we all knew that wasn't ideal.
My mind spun. Part of me wanted that large force to beat on Katrice because I thought she deserved it. This was about more than revenge, however. It was about Jasmine. I needed to go with the plan most likely to get her back, and an invading army wasn't it. It would take a smaller group, just as she'd no doubt sent here, one that could slip in. We were heavily guarded, but with the assorted petitioners and refugees always coming and going, it was no wonder Jasmine's kidnappers had slipped in. Katrice undoubtedly had a similar stream of people coming to her in these times, but she'd probably be on high alert with them too.