Chapter 1
Carila would be proud of her.
Ava put the last touches on her escape plan and then stood in the center of her stone-walled cell, hands on hips, taking a moment to enjoy the accomplishment of it.
True, she had yet to pull it off, and this wasn't her first try, but she'd learned from her mistakes.
This time she would succeed.
She would have to.
Time was running out.
They'd moved her to the dungeons three weeks ago.
It was supposedly temporary punishment for her last escape attempt from the tower, but she saw it clearly for what it was—the first step to her murder.
Out of sight, out of mind, in a way.
She wasn't already dead only because Herron had to be careful not to appear involved in her demise.
Especially if Ava's aunt was still alive—something Ava hadn't been able to find out from anyone.
Herron must be paying well for the guards' silence, even in the matter of whether the queen was still on the throne.
But she was well aware Herron intended her to die here.
It would be a terrible misunderstanding, of course.
She would sicken, and they would try to save her, but all for nought.
She had already been through one bout of vomiting through the night.
She knew she couldn't trust her food now, and she looked at the untouched stew in the bowl with regret.
Her stomach still felt tender from hanging over the bucket, even though it had been two days since she'd rid her system of whatever poison had been given to her.
She slid a finger under the edge of her tunic and rubbed the tiny stitches she'd put there after the first round of poisoning with regret. Theoretically, they would protect her, but she just wasn't sure enough of her workings. Not enough to gamble her life on them, anyway.
Which meant she had to move fast. The longer it took to escape, the weaker from hunger she would become.
The sound of voices, raised and angry, filtered through from beyond her cell and panic gripped her and squeezed.
She glanced up at her escape plan, heart thundering.
She had devised it to lure in and best Banyon, but it sounded as if there were at least three people coming, and the ring of hard leather boot soles on stone steps reverberated along with the threats and grunts that were clearer with every passing second.
She fought the hard, throat closing fear, forcing herself to step up to the bars of her cell door and stare at the arch out to the stairwell. Waiting for what was coming down toward her.
Juni staggered in, with Garmand beside him. Between them they were dragging a man at least head and shoulders taller than they were.
He hung between them, head bowed, feet dragging behind. He was shirtless and barefoot, and covered in bruises and bloody slashes.
Both Juni and Garmand were sweating, despite the chill in the dungeon, and Ava could see Juni looking at the ground as if he wanted to toss the prisoner onto the floor.
“No.” Garmand must have tightened his hold, because Ava saw the prisoner twitch a little. “Don't drop him. We'll dump him in the cell, or we'll only have to haul him up again.”
“Then open up, old man. Quickly!” Juni glanced back over his shoulder, his lips twisted in a snarl, and Ava saw Banyon nodding and simpering behind him, shoulders hunched as he darted around the two guards, keys rattling, and then came to a jerky stop at the sight of Ava, watching him from behind the bars.
He hesitated. “What about her? You taking her back up top now?”
Juni's gaze flicked over her with a sly, knowing look. “No. She'll have to share for a bit. Won't you, princess?”
Ava backed away as Banyon used both hands to insert the key in the lock and then twist it.
Juni and Garmand shouldered the door aside and tossed the giant onto the ground, face first.
The door wouldn't close because his body blocked the way and Garmand grunted with effort as he rolled the prisoner over onto his back.
Eventually they got the door shut and Ava stared down at the battered face of the man who had ruined her escape plans.
She realized the guards were talking together, so she hopped over her new companion and crouched just below the small window formed by the bars set in the door to listen.
“Isn't he dangerous? What if she comes to harm?” Banyon asked, his voice a low hiss.
Juni’s answer was low, and Ava had to strain to hear him. “That's on him.”
“But he could hurt her.” Banyon's voice was querulous. He didn't like looking after her down here. He wanted to go back up to the tower.
“Sure.” Garmand scoffed at the thought. “Like you aren't trying to do the same. I hear she was very sick after dinner a couple of days ago.”
“Very sick,” Juni said with a laugh.
There was an uncomfortable silence, and Ava wished she could lift up a little and see what was happening.
It was possible Banyon hadn't known the food was poisoned. But he knew now, and she bet he'd still give it to her, although maybe he was finally working out who would take the blame if she did actually die.
“She'll be fine. He's injured isn't he?” Juni's voice was full of patently false bonhomie. Banyon must look really spooked for him to even try to reassure, however insincere his tone.
“And the . . .” Banyon lowered his voice even more, and while she couldn't see him, Ava guessed he gave a quick glance toward the door of her cell.
“What are you miming, old man?” Garmand asked, impatient.
There was another silence, and Ava wondered if Banyon was asking them what he should do about her food. Now that he knew it was not just a bug she'd caught.
She glanced at the prisoner lying at her feet, and was suddenly ensnared in his bright blue gaze.
She froze, gaze locked with his, and then lifted a finger to her lips to keep him quiet.
He narrowed his eyes at her, but he stayed silent.
A clatter of boots told her Juni and Garmand at least were leaving, and annoyed she'd missed their last whispered sentences, she turned back to the door.
The shuffle of footsteps gave her just enough warning to slide down to the ground and scoot to the side, so she sat with her back against the wall as Banyon peered through the bars.
He gave a grunt at the sight of the prisoner, who had closed his eyes again and lay as if unconscious.
“You should give me a bucket of water,” Ava said.
Banyon gripped the bars and turned to try and catch a glimpse of her on the floor. “Why?”
“To tend his wounds. Water and some clean rags.”
Her warden seemed to think about it for a moment. “Maybe.”
He shuffled away, and she closed her eyes, thinking through her options.
Maybe it would be easier to escape with the new prisoner here. He drew the eye with his big body. She could even do it right now, when Banyon came back.
If he was carrying a heavy bucket of water, that would be even better than the meal she assumed he would be holding when she’d set up her plan.
She opened her eyes and looked over at the prisoner, and found him watching her again.
She pursed her lips, and tried to harden her heart against him.
She didn't know him, and she had planned this for a long time.
It wasn't fair.
Her life was on the line. If she hadn't been completely certain before, hearing Juni and Garmand talk to Banyon had confirmed it.