Love Is Always Write Volume 4

the Three-headed Dragons, yes?"
    "Yes, I am," Allen replied.
    "Then we are taking him," the other soldier said to the healer, saying the words in stiff Tricemore. "The High King demands to see all the captives, to assure himself the Duke of Amorlay has not lied to him. Do not argue, old man."
    Brushing the healer aside, they bent to look over Allen's injuries themselves. He could see by their expressions that they knew exactly who he was and how displeased Sarrica would be when he saw what had been done to him.
    On the other hand, the torture of a prince of the realm was all the excuse Sarrica needed to do whatever he wanted to Cartha and Benta. "Can you stand, or..."
    "I'll need help," Allen said, wondering if Sarrica would hold his injuries against him, would see him as weak. No doubt soldiers took such beatings better. He bit back a cry of pain as the soldiers helped him to his feet. Gentle though they were, it still hurt. Allen went in and out of consciousness as they slowly made their way through the cold fortress to the great hall.
    When they arrived, he was acutely aware that he was barely dressed and covered in lash marks, dripping blood and sweat. He swayed on his feet, grateful for the way the soldiers kept firm grip on his arms.
    Every pair of eyes in the hall was on him, but Allen had eyes only for Sarrica. Looking at him, handsome and fierce, was unexpectedly soothing. Whatever anger and bitterness he still felt was, at least temporarily, overcome by relief that the beatings were over and he stood a chance of going home. Whether back to the High King's palace or his parents', he didn't know. But he would be away from the gods-forsaken mountains.
    Sarrica looked furious as he strode across the hall, spurs jangling fiercely. He circled around Allen, examining his injuries, and finally stopped in front of him as he faced down the Cartha Chief and the Duke of Amorlay. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded. "I answered your summons; you had no right to torture him."
    "Your men had no business in the mountains, and certainly they had no business trying to sneak through Shadow Pass. We had every right to extract information from the soldiers."
    "I might have let you live, if you had tortured a soldier," Sarrica replied. "I would have beaten you and imprisoned you, but I might have let you live. However, this man is no soldier—he is Prince Allen Gaulden, of the kingdom of Gaulden, and my future consort. For torturing a prince of the realm, the penalty is death."
    His men moved at his words, and the fact that they lacked weapons—likely taken from them upon arrival—seemed to be no impediment. They moved faster than Allen could follow in his pain-hazed state, and within minutes the Carthans were all dead with the Duke of Amorlay and his fellow Benta's captured.
    Sarrica gestured to the men restraining the Duke and his fellows. "Take them and the head of the Duke to the border. Inform Benta that I consider this a declaration of war."
    "Yes, Majesty," the soldiers replied, and dragged away a pale-faced Duke to carry out orders.
    Turning back to Allen, Sarrica addressed the soldiers still with him. "Take him to the Duke's quarters—my quarters." He held up a hand for them to stay where they were for a moment, and turned to the man approaching them, the marks of a Captain on his tunic. "Lesto, when is the rest of the army arriving?"
    "They should be here by nightfall, Majesty."
    "Send a third of them to secure Shadow Pass. Send out a messenger to order troops from the regular army. I also want the Fathoms Deep mercenaries; they're experienced in fighting in this type of terrain."
    "Yes, Majesty."
    Sarrica nodded, dismissing him, and turned back to Allen. "We will speak later, after I am done sorting out this mess. Is there anything you need?"
    Though he knew it would probably only lessen Sarrica's opinion of him, Allen could not endure the pain a moment longer. "Pain medication, if there is any to be had. My wounds are treated, but the Duke refused to allow anyone to dull the pain. Do not trust their foodstuffs; these people are absurdly fond of their poisons. I think they've been drugging Rene and the others to keep them compliant."
    "Thank you," Sarrica said, and then startled Allen by reaching out to lightly touch his fingertips to Allen's cheek. "Go and rest. I apologize for all that you have suffered."
    He walked off before Allen could reply. Not that he knew what to say, the man before him was not the