Platinum Prisons: Book 4 of The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Seven: Propositions

"Should a Slave's identification later be found and/or should the proper paperwork not be turned in to the Association Slave Owners confirming the Slave's freedom was announced, it will be assumed that the Slave is a runaway and further action will be taken thusly."

Sir Rallian took a moment to process everything his prized slave had confessed. "Who else knows of all this?"

Nadia sucked in a nervous breath. She paused and glanced up at her master, who raised a brow at her as a way of testing her—daring her to hold back any information. Nadia couldn't find the nerve anymore; he must've beaten it out of her for good.

"The Imperial Advisor knows," she finally admitted. "Along with his assistant Drake, and Marchioness Ivanna of Aramycius. As far as I'm aware, no one else knows, Master, and I didn't confess it to any of them. The advisor found out on his own, and he told his assistant."

"But you confessed it to the miracle worker?" Rallian asked.

"No, he found out too," Nadia answered. "And he knows of nothing more than my ethnicity."

"How did he find out?"

"Scales appeared on my legs during one of my spasms. I didn't know how to explain it, so I just didn't say anything."

The marquis nodded. "How did Polaris find out?"

Nadia hesitated, though another stern expression on Rallian's face frightened her into talking. "My pixie friend told him. He asked me to confirm it the day we met, and when I didn't answer he just assured me he was aware and left it at that. He never asked me to confirm it again, and to my knowledge, he's told no one besides his assistant."

"How does your pixie friend know?"

"She's been a family friend for generations."

"And the marchioness?"

Nadia gaped at her master. Was he really going to force her to expose the marchioness? She swallowed hard and began to tremble. "She also already knew, Master."

"How?"

Tears pooled in her eyes. She hiccupped as she breathed deeply, forcing down her sobs. Rallian waited patiently for her to answer. "Because I'm her princess, Master. She works for my father."

He raised his brows. "Ivanna works for the Emperor of the Five Oceans?"

"Yes, Master. She's a member of his court. Her job is to ensure my safety from Empress Ariana and to free me from you."

Eerie silence filled the room while Marquis Rallian mulled over this information. "Well, I appreciate you finally coming forward with all this. It is very important for me to have such knowledge when scheduling you for my lagoon."

"Master—"

"You're going in that tank, Lila," he interrupted. "There's no sense in trying to argue with me."

"Please, Master," Nadia begged, the sobs finally escaping. "At least grant me just a little more time to build some acceptance—"

"You've had six years, Lila."

She buried her face in her hands and sobbed harder. In her heart she knew this wasn't a fight she could win, but by God she was going to try anyway. "I thought I could somehow avoid the tank altogether if you never learned I'm a mermaid, Master. Everything's different now. Please, Master. Please grant me some time. I'll do anything!"

Marquis Rallian raised an eyebrow at Nadia, and suddenly she regretted her rushed words.

"'Anything,'" he echoed. "Is that so? Would that include giving up your lessons with Lord Polaris?"

Nadia considered this—genuinely considered this, and he could see it.

"If you completely give up your lessons, I will wait until Malla before I throw you in the lagoon."

Nadia's eyes grew round. That was practically by spring. "Until Malla, Master?"

Rallian slowly nodded, but he could see that she still struggled with it. "I'll tell you what, Lila. You have until the lagoon and aquarium are filled with water to give me your answer. Understood?"

"Yes, Master."

"Good. You're dismissed."

Nadia stood and curtsied. She felt the stress weigh her down as she left the room with much more to consider. Lost in thought, she slowly meandered away in the direction of her room.

"So, Nadia finally surrenders, does she?"

She squeezed her eyes tight at the sound of Lady Skye's mocking voice. She turned to face her master's daughter, who stepped out from behind a pillar.

Nadia braced herself for more verbal abuse. "I have yet to decide to take Master's offer, my Lady."

"Yes, well, the fact that you haven't said no is quite telling." Skye twirled her turquoise locks of hair with her long and dainty fingers. "You know what Father plans to do, right?"

Nadia almost narrowed her eyes. "I don't understand the question, my Lady."

"When he finally puts you all in the tank." The skirt of Skye's light blue and bright orange gown gently brushed the marble floor as she slowly approached like a shark gliding across a coral reef. "Do you know what he plans to do? How he imagines it happening?"

Nadia was more confused than afraid. "No, my Lady."

"He intends to throw an exceptional gala to celebrate. He's going to call on all the nobles of the empire, including from the former kingdoms of Saíd, Ronae, and Preshire­—even Lenore and the Imperial Family will be present. Oh, and the press! It'll be splendid; he'll gather everyone around to watch as you shift into your mermaid forms, and there will be a banquet in the grand hall where you will all be on display while we eat, drink, and engage in merriment. Needless to say, we can hardly contain our enthusiasm."

Nadia fought against more tears with such force she trembled, and her throat grew sore. "Understood, my Lady. Indeed, I have much to think about."

Skye eyed her up and down with a sly pink grin painted on her face. "I suppose you do. Think long and hard, mermaid. You're dismissed."

Nadia curtsied. "Thank you, my Lady."

§

Ivanna did not return to the ballroom. Once Nadia was back in her bedroom, the chevess continued to gaze upon the statues posed in graceful stances as though they hadn't a care in the world about her deep sorrow.

One thing about the ocean Ivanna didn't appreciate was the fact that she could never hear when someone approached her. She always caught uninvited guests last-minute in the corner of her eye after it was too late to prepare. Such as Emperor Jaskaran gliding to her side. She pushed herself from the bench so she could bow to her emperor properly, her glowing hands together in front of her.

"You've been out here for some time, Chevess Ivanna," said Jaskaran. "Please, sit."

Ivanna obeyed. "My apologies, Your Majesty. I suppose I wasn't paying attention to time."

Jaskaran sat beside her. "You saw something, didn't you?"

Ivanna's troubled gaze went through the naiad emperor's transparent body to the seaweed and anemone beyond him. When the words failed to reveal themselves, she looked forward to observe the amber statue of the late Empress Mira.

"Does it involve my daughter?" Jaskaran pressed.

Ivanna nodded. "Yes. She's well, but ... she just confessed everything to Rallian."

Jaskaran didn't reply right away. "... How much is 'everything,' exactly?"

Ivanna looked at him again. "Everything, Your Majesty. About you, about who she is, about her curse, about me and my involvement. Much Rallian already knew, but now it's all been confirmed for him, and with some added detail."

"Why would she do that?" Jaskaran asked. "Doesn't she realize she's jeopardizing her future?"

Ivanna sighed. "I can think of a few reasons. Rallian is half human, and a very clever one from whom it is difficult to keep secrets. Though he may know something, he prefers you to be the one to tell him he's right, and he has effective ways of getting you to do so. He's worked such ways on the princess, and it seems his efforts have finally paid off. Besides that, ever since the princess convinced Lord Polaris to train her in Iah-Ra, she's been dead set on entering the Annual Slave Arena. I fear part of the reason she confessed all this is because she plans to enter soon and will therefore no longer be a slave anyway. In her mind, it's better to stay on Rallian's good side until that happens."

"Her desperation to enter the arena soon disturbs you."

"Deeply, Your Majesty."

"You don't want her to enter at all."

"Of course not."

"Even if that's her only option for freedom?"

"No—Your Majesty, I feel you misunderstand. Yes, I mastered Iah-Ra early, but then I continued to be active in the practice for almost three decades, which further improved my skill. My skill even exceeded Lord Polaris at one point. Even then, sire, I struggled and was injured in the first round. Then I was put up against a healthy High Knight with my freshly-injured leg in the second round. I only won because he let his guard down for a very split second.

"Additionally, Ariana's knights are currently under the influence of a serum which makes them faster and stronger, and Her Highness is under a spell which makes her weaker. Your Majesty, please understand that I have the very real fear her situation is hopeless. I imagine matters will change within the next couple of years, but I'm concerned she will sign up sooner regardless of what I or Lord Polaris say. She's losing patience, which I feel is evident by her recent confession." Ivanna paused, recalling another concern. "I also fear she may give up her lessons with Polaris to buy her time out of Rallian's aquarium."

Jaskaran raised his brows. "How much time?"

"Until spring, so the next New Tide."

"You truly think she'll do that?"

"She desperately dreads entering that tank. Not that I blame her, of course."

"I imagine you and Polaris can put your human minds together and come up with some means of discouraging her."

Ivanna stared into the seaweed which surrounded the sinuous sculpture of Empress Mira. Many ideas churned in her mind. "I may have something ... It may come off as somewhat strict, but I believe it could do the trick."

She recognized a grin tugging at the corner of the emperor's mouth. "You sound like a mother."

Ivanna wasn't sure how to take the comment, but she thought it best to reply with honesty. She forced a smile and shrugged. "If it's not too bold, Your Majesty, I have somewhat placed myself as a mother-figure in her life; someone who provides direction, someone to whom she can confide."

The emperor's grin extended into a full smile. "I'm relieved to hear it. That's what she needs. Renée was never able to fit that role for Nadia."

Ivanna took this opportunity to lead the conversation away from Nadia for a moment. "How is the empress?"

"We're past the point of finding help for her," Jaskaran replied. "I don't see her ever being released from the tower suite. From now on, it's only a matter of making sure she doesn't escape. How about your mother? Have you made any headway in your search?"

Ivanna nodded. "Some, indeed. I received a tip about a source where I can find more information. I just need to find the source."

They sat in silence for a moment.

"There's much taking place on land at this time, sire," Ivanna finally said. "If you don't mind, I would like to take my leave early and prepare to head back. I'm not sure I'll return again for several months, but I'll endeavor to send correspondence to keep you informed."

Jaskaran nodded. "I can't help but agree. You've been a lot of help to me, Chevess. I can't express how much I appreciate it. Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do to further assist you."

Ivanna considered asking for more time, but thought it wiser to hold her tongue and wait for a more appropriate moment.

§

After breakfast, Empress Ariana made her way to the Map Room with her pink and white up-do sprinkled with sapphires to match her frilly white and light blue gown. Ladies Lusi and Thaïs trailed closely behind with their hair up as well, and gowns of sparkles but fewer frills.

"To meet with the general?" Lusi asked. "We only met with him last week, what new developments could he possibly have to offer?"

"Likely none," Ariana replied. "However, we have plenty of new developments to offer him."

Outside the Map Room, the ladies approached a brown-haired dwarf dressed in warrior garb standing beside the double doors.

"Lord Maurice," Ariana acknowledged. "You have news for us?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." He offered a low bow. "I was certain you would wish to have this knowledge before you meet with the general."

"Well, go on then."

"I have good news, and I have bad news."

"Of course you do."

"The bad news is that the marchioness's Rogue Assassins managed to embark to Vira and our Captain of the Imperial Guard is in her custody."

"Very well, and the good news...?" There was venom in the empress's voice.

"The good news is that Sir Darius and his men are already following the Dark Aurora closely behind to meet the assassins in Vira. I have promoted him to Captain of the Imperial Guard."

"We must applaud Captain Darius for his swift and noble venture," Ariana said with a smirk toward Lady Thaïs. Of course, Thaïs was pleased, and she curtsied with gratitude for the empress's kind words in regard to her son.

"We have also managed to capture the marchioness's mercenary captain," Maurice continued. "He is being questioned as we speak."

"Cease questioning immediately!" Ariana spat. "We will interrogate him ourselves. Alert Lord Polaris; he is to drop whatever it is he's doing and make his way here at once to be present for the interrogation. Inform us the very moment he arrives."

"Very well, Your Majesty. I will execute immediately." Maurice bowed and rushed away.

"You wish for Lord Polaris to be present, Your Majesty?" Lusi asked once they were alone again.

"Lord Polaris is close with Ivanna. We suspect her of some sort of conspiratorial quest, and he is likely involved. We wish to see his reaction while we question his love's mercenary captain. Come, we shall conclude this meeting quickly."

§

A little over an hour later, Empress Ariana sat upon her platinum filigree throne, her white and blue skirts spilling over the sides like a waterfall, and a snowrabbit nestled in her lap. Lusi sat in a smaller platinum chair to her right while Polaris stood regal to her left in a gold vest, a step lower on the dais.

When the guards entered with their prisoner, Polaris's hands clutched the folds of his angarkha behind his back. His face betrayed nothing, but tension radiated through the line of his shoulders as he used every ounce of strength he had to remain stoic.

Captain Vincent limped between the two guards. He was cloaked in battle grime, blood dried at his side, his hair unkempt from both the skirmish the day prior and the night spent in the palace dungeon. Still, he kept his head high, his gaze sharp despite the wound. He hadn't been broken—not yet. Once he was at the throne, Vincent was forced onto his knees in front of Empress Ariana.

"Captain Vincent." Ariana's voice was like honey, though her bloodthirsty smile did anything but soothe Polaris or Vincent. "You may stand."

The guards lifted him to his feet, and he grimaced as the force agitated the injury in his side.

"How long have you been Lady Ivanna's Mercenary Captain?"

Vincent cast his eyes to the painted mosaic ceiling as he processed some numbers. "I would like to estimate almost two decades, Your Majesty."

"Sounds as though you know your job well. What does the position of Mercenary Captain entail?"

"Identifying and nullifying threats, acting as bodyguard when necessary, training new mercenaries, messenger."

Ariana leaned forward, her distrustful gaze illuminated by the light streaming from the cathedral windows. "And what does the Lady Ivanna consider to be a threat?"

"Anyone who makes moves against her trade, her businesses, her well-being, or the Noelle Empire."

"The Noelle Empire, is that so?" Ariana leaned back again.

"The Lady is a devout patriot, Your Majesty," Vincent continued. "Our services were often called upon by the king before his regrettable assassination."

"Yes, we do recall. But if she is so devoted to the empire, why hasn't she offered us her services?"

"She never had to offer, Your Majesty," Vincent explained. "Her services were always requested as needed. Clearly, you've never needed our services."

Ariana gently stroked her rabbit with her glistening claw rings. "Hm, very well. So, what seems to be taking place in Vira which suddenly calls for her mercenary services?"

"I beg your pardon?" Vincent tilted his head as if confused. "Oh! You mean the voyage on which her Rogue Assassins have embarked! Yes, we were quite shocked when we were attacked by the Imperial Guard rather than Viran mercenaries. Her mission to Vira is more along the lines of a business venture, which hardly requires her mercenaries. Only her assassins."

"Business how?"

"Well, it's no secret that the marchioness has trade contracts among the Viran nobility. It just so happens that one of those nobles was recently found dead in his home along with the rest of his immediate family. His estate was burned down by a band of hoodlums, and their leader has been captured. However, the leader refuses to give up any other members. So, Lady Ivanna decided to ship out her Rogue Assassins to see what they can learn."

Polaris took note of every word in Vincent's cover story, working well to show neither concern nor intrigue. Empress Ariana, however, appeared unconvinced by the tale.

"So why the army?"

Vincent scoffed. "Please, Your Majesty, let's not exaggerate. The Lady dispatched less than a quarter of her troops so to make certain her assassins boarded her ship safely. She has reason to believe there are Viran spies on her estate, and she knows for certain some of her source secrets have leaked. She feels other Viran nobles are working with these hoodlums to sabotage her business dealings. This is why we expected to be attacked by Virans rather than our own. I'll be honest, Your Majesty, I remain confused. I understand you and the marchioness have a sordid personal history, but for what purpose were we attacked last night?"

Polaris shot a fleeting glance to Ariana, who watched Vincent carefully as she drummed her claws on the armrest of her throne.

"Besides business, what other interest does Ivanna have in Vira?" Ariana asked.

Both Polaris and Vincent squinted their eyes at the empress.

"Besides business?" Vincent echoed. He glanced about the floor as if searching for the answer among the silver embellishments on the marble. "Well, years ago she had considered purchasing property in Vira. But then she learned more about the politics in the country and how even women of status struggle to maintain even a sliver of respect, and she changed her mind."

"She has business contracts in Vira," Ariana argued. "Clearly she's earned a sufficient amount of respect."

"She has a man running the brunt of her business in Vira, Your Majesty. Few understand she is the real authority. Although considering recent events, it appears word may be spreading."

"Hm." Ariana raised her chin and then turned to Polaris. "You've known Ivanna longer than this gentleman. What can you tell us of her interests in Vira?"

"Besides what has already been mentioned, we've discussed the beauty of the country," Polaris answered. "But to speak plainly, Your Majesty, Lady Ivanna has significantly less interest in Vira than Sir Rallian has. I'm sure Captain Vincent and myself share the same confusion over this line of questioning."

Ariana rolled her eyes and stood from her throne to approach Vincent. "Yes, we are fully aware of Sir Rallian's Viran relationships." She paced around her prisoner, petting the snowrabbit in her arms. "However, we have reason to believe the marchioness has other interests in Vira, and we have a hard time believing she's shared none of this with her mercenary captain."

She tenderly stroked her claws beneath Vincent's chin. Polaris swallowed the nervous lump in his throat as he watched on from the dais.

"You're absolutely right, Your Majesty," said Vincent, unfazed. "She would make me a part of something such as this. However, she hasn't. So, I can assure you she has no other interest in Vira."

"So tell me what conspiratorial conquest Lady Ivanna has against us."

"None, Your Majesty," Vincent insisted. "As I've mentioned earlier, the Lady is quite patriotic. And I assure you, even if she wasn't, she has much more pressing matters on her plate than the Empress of Noelle, and she's not so petty as to make you priority."

Ariana struck him across the face with her claw rings, leaving behind long red welts which burned his cheeks like fire. Polaris's breath hitched in his throat as Vincent hissed, his hands hovering over the wounds as they were too sensitive to touch.

"What are those?" Vincent groaned with a frightened glance at the empress's claws.

"They are coated with snowrabbit venom. One could say it's a delicacy in Duraland. In about an hour, you will undergo an experience you won't soon forget. After which, we strongly suggest you disclose to us what Ivanna is up to, lest you wish to experience the effects of this venom a second time. Trust us when we say that the second experience is less of a thrill." Ariana addressed the dungeon guards. "Hold him in the North Tower."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Polaris kept his expression still, but a knot tightened behind his ribs out of fear for Vincent. He had witnessed the effects of snowrabbit venom on King Darren, whom he had found hallucinating in the labyrinth years ago. However, Vincent would be chained in a rather small room during his episode, which would hopefully keep him relatively safe.

"Do you have anything to say, Polaris?"

Ariana's daring tone snapped him from his thoughts. "Only a question, Your Majesty. What makes you so certain that Lady Ivanna has any other interest in Vira besides that involving her trade?"

"What other real purpose does she have using so many armed men to escort her assassins to her ship for a voyage to Vira?" Ariana's focus only broke from Vincent as the throne room doors shut behind him.

"Only what her captain has told you."

"Indeed, though something bothers us about this story. She dispatched so many mercenaries to protect her assassins from Virans here on Noelle soil, however none of these men boarded the ship to protect them from Virans ... in Vira. Not to mention we've heard nothing about foreign spies in our country."

Polaris's heart jumped at Ariana's observation. "It's supposed to be a covert mission, Your Majesty. So many men disembarking the ship in Vira would bring too much attention."

"So, Ivanna has supplied you with the same tale which she provided her mercenary captain then."

"Yes. If she had any political or conspiratorial motivations in Vira, she would have shared them with me."

"Indeed." Finally, Ariana turned to face him. "How long have you known Lady Ivanna is half seafolk?"

Polaris shouldn't have felt so surprised that Ariana had this information. He and Ivanna had known for quite some time that the empress had been building her spy-ring through her principal secretary, Lord Maurice. Admittedly, however, it seemed they hadn't been aware of the true depths the ring had reached until that moment.

He lowered his head. "I learned of it about a couple of months into her enslavement, Your Majesty."

"How did you learn?"

"I noticed tell-tale birthmarks while I was caring for her after a savage beating brought on by Viscount Orion."

"Hm. So it seems the marchioness keeps secrets even from you."

Polaris fought the painful tears brought forth by these memories, by this truth ... or rather what was once truth. He hoped that by now, Ivanna would know better than to keep secrets from him.

"Your Majesty, I assure you that whatever your suspicions are of Lady Ivanna, they are unfounded, and you have more pressing matters to prioritize."

"Lord Polaris, we feel it's important to remind you that you only maintain your title of Imperial Advisor at the behest of Parliament. But you do not maintain the position because your advice is unneeded and unwelcome. Thank you for your presence during this interrogation. You are dismissed."