Chapter 4

Dimitri held me by the arm amid the flickering light of the torch in his hand. We quickly went down the stone steps until we reached what looked like a warehouse, then he let go of me and went straight to another door that with another key he opened, came back and he pulled me again.

And we started walking again, this time down a long, cavernous corridor and even darker, I could hear the bugs and rats passing close by us. And if it weren't for the fact that I was being kidnapped, even supposedly for the rest of all I would be eloping to marry, I could care about the rats running in the dark.

I tried to talk to him, I really tried, to force my mouth open and protest against it, but my body wouldn't obey me, I was just an observer in my own body, and that was terrifying.

The panic of the whole situation starting to settle in my heart, my heart beating fast, my legs shaking... I wanted my body to react and fight with it, I assumed that it would be better to die here fighting for my honor than being his wife.

Unfortunately, my body did not share this feeling, and continued to follow it without offering any resistance.

After a few minutes we arrived at what seemed to be the end of the corridor, he released me and illuminated the ceiling looking for something. The weak light of the torch in his hands revealed an opening above us, a hatch that he opened with one of his keys, he seemed to carry several of them. When he opened the light of the moon illuminated his blue eyes, he turned back to me and held me by the waist, in quick movements he lifted me towards the exit, he was taking me out before him... It just gave me a sad certainty, whatever he did to me when he pricked me with his fingernail, he was sure I couldn't resist, he was sure of his power.

When I found myself outside, I looked around, I was in the forest, and in the distance, I could see the palace.

He came to the surface faster than I thought, I looked at him trying to understand his motivations, if his intention was to marry me, it was enough for him to kill a single man, and he was at complete advantage with that kind of power over the will of other people. I didn't see him losing to Chase, so why risk everything by kidnapping me? Even if they believed I went willingly, he would still have affronted a king! Why risk all that with that power in your hands?

All these questions swarmed in my mind as I struggled to verbalize them.

He frowned and closed his eyes, rubbed his temples with a weary expression and muttered:

- I know you have questions, but it's going to have to wait until we reach Rochester harbor.

Then he walked towards me and pulled me along, leading me into the forest.

We walked all night along the trail, he seemed to want to avoid the roads, and Rochester wasn't the nearest village, Dalton was, but he didn't stop at Dalton. In the woods he had left a bag of supplies, which we ate on the way. Dimitri kept asking me to stop trying to formulate words, that had to wait until Rochester, but I kept trying.

At one point, when we passed near Duvov, one day from Rochester, he seemed very tired of using his energy to stop me from speaking and made a proposition.

- If I let you ask a question, will you stop resisting and wait until Rochester?

I widened my eyes at his proposal, quickly shook my head thinking of the million questions I had to ask and tried to decide on the most pressing one.

When I agreed with his condition, he took a deep breath and inside me I felt like a door was being unlocked.

- Where are we going after Rochester? - I managed to ask.

— To Corvo Island.

A million questions popped into my mind, and I was unable to say them out loud because that door was locked again.

I huffed feeling frustrated, that answer had only brought me more questions.

Corvo Island was a strong ally of Shivia, located beside us, separated by a few nautical miles from us. Its ruler was John Chase, but he did not call himself king, just Commander, and in addition to commanding the island he still had lands in Shivia. The island of the crow produced many wooden materials, including ships from which they traded to other nations, except for the enemies of Shivia. The two countries were allies for centuries, they were also known for their great forges from which they produced the best weapons. My father's sword came from Corvo Island.

But why the hell was he taking me to the Island where the ruler was his opponent for my hand?

We continued for another day, arrived at the port of Rochester at dawn, without supplies or water, my clothes were lint, dirty and torn from walking through the woods, my feet were swollen, and I was starving, we walked through the forest.

The port city that was now silent, its inhabitants collected, we arrived at an inn that was open. When we walked in, Dimitri put his arm around my waist and smiled at the attendant. He told a story about how we were newlyweds and needed a room for the night and a meal and a hot shower.

The lady who was short and plump smiled at him, and when he kissed her hand gallantly, she blushed. He also asked when a boat left for Corvo Island and she informed him that at first light the Nay boat would leave, after which we were taken to the room after dinner in the lounge.

When we arrived at the room, the lady who identified herself as Cibele, left us. The room was simple, but quite tidy, had a closet, a large window overlooking the port, a bathtub with hot water, and a bed.

Dimitri closed the door and turned to me.

- I'll let you speak freely now, but if you attract that lady's attention, I swear to you, I will slit her throat right here in front of you.

I swallowed hard from his threat, I could see in his cold blue eyes that he was telling the truth. He would do such a thing.