"To the rest of you, focus your energies on rebuilding your homes, your lives, your city. The prisoners will be questioned, and I will find the princess."
I leave then, with Kayla and Baron by my side.
"Careful, brother," Kayla says, once we are out of earshot of anyone. "You cannot make too many enemies and still rule."
***
Word will get out now about Arianna being kidnapped, and my brothers will panic. I need to find her.
Now.
I storm back to the castle and make my way to the Infirmary. Kal is tending to three prisoners who are much the worse for wear. He doesn't have them chained to the beds, which concerns me. Marco and Roco stand guard, and I order two more men to join them in securing the prisoners and keeping Kal safe.
"I need to question them," I tell Kal.
"You can try, Your Highness. But they are not very coherent."
Kal is almost as tall as me, but more slight of build, with a long white beard and long white hair. He might seem old, aged, but for the unlined skin. He is ancient, however. Only Fae who live many hundreds of years or more grow hair so white. He is also someone I trust, despite his heritage and our current war with his people.
"Have they said anything useful?" I ask.
"No," he says simply.
I walk over to the woman who was being whipped when we arrived. She is moaning in pain, and I crouch next to her bed. "What's your name?" I ask.
Her eyes are glassy and lids heavy. She's too pale and clearly doesn't comprehend me.
I move on to the next prisoner, an older man with thick arms and chest and a bright red patch of hair on his head that falls to his shoulders. "Where are you from?" I ask him.
His eyelids flicker, but they do not open. He looks feverish.
The third man is entirely unconscious.
I sigh and walk back to Kal. "How long before you can have them healed enough for interrogation?"
Kal frowns. "It depends on how well their bodies respond to treatment. They were each badly wounded in the battle, and then tortured more after."
His voice is impassive, but I wonder what lurks beneath. Does he feel loyalty to the people he hails from? Does he abhor the violence perpetrated on them by my kind?
"Send for me the moment one of them comes to. If they know anything about the whereabouts of the princess, I need to know immediately."
Kal nods. He too loves Ari and worked closely with her over the last several weeks. She spent as much time in the library with my Keeper as she did in sword training with me and sword making with Kayla. It's astonishing she found any time to sleep.
As I leave the Infirmary, a messenger arrives with a scroll. The Council has been called. My brothers await my arrival.
***
The six of them sit around the great round table in the Council Chambers. Their respective banners, mine red, Asher's purple, hang behind them. Blue torches light the black marble walls. I take my seat in the great wooden chair carved with wolves and swords. "Arianna has been taken by the rebels. She used her blood to call me through my demon mark, but it led to a dead end." I explain about the cave and the door. "My people must rebuild after the attack. I need forces from each of your realms to help me defend Stonehill while I search for Ari."
Levi snorts, flicking his long white hair away from his eyes. "You? Brother, you were responsible for keeping the princess safe and you lost her. We need someone more capable to save the princess."
"I hate to say this, but I don't disagree," Dean says. He wears no shirt. Not even to a meeting. "She was meant to be mine this month, when you took her. Now she's gone and I still haven't gotten my turn. Maybe someone else needs to take the lead in finding Arianna."
I growl at the two of them.
Niam stands and leans over the table, his eyes penetrating. His head is shaved clean, his dark skin gleaming from his moisturizer. He is dressed in the finest clothing money can buy, as always. Niam never lacks for wealth or the finer things. "Stand down, Fenris. They speak the truth, and it would be folly not to heed them. You have a city to defend and rebuild. A war to fight. You are needed to protect this entire kingdom, in addition to your realm. And your month with Princess Arianna is over. Let someone else take this mantel so you can handle your own affairs."
How dare they? I will find Arianna with or without their help, this kingdom be damned. I will—
"I will find the princess," Asher says calmly. His skin is dark under the eyes. He must not have slept for many days. "I know her best," he glances at me, "outside Fenris, who has had the most time with her. I recruited her from her world. I brought her here. She trusts me."
Levi chuckles. "And why should we trust you? You, who always side with the Prince of War?"
Asher turns to face Levi. "Do you think Ari will go with you, Levi? After what you did to her during the presenting? Do you imagine she wants anything to do with you now?"
Zeb smirks and runs a hand through his short dark hair. "Asher has a point. You were quite an ass to her, and she's human, not Shade or slave. They have ideas about equality and such. She's not a fan of you or Dean at this point. I second Asher being the one to lead the search for the princess."
Ace has been quiet this whole time, lost in his own thoughts, no doubt, but he looks to me, nods once slowly, then turns his attention to the group. "I also vote for Asher. He's in the best position to find the princess and bring her home, allowing Fen to defend the realm and kingdom."