Ileus: The Dark Prince

As Tasha made her way inside the castle, she thought that if she escaped alive with Kaia's head as her trophy, Murtagh wouldn't be as angry with her for the failure of the mission and that he would still make her his wife. She had no hope left for Luke, because he was trapped so badly that even if Vaarin would want him to be released, Ileus and Kaizan would not leave him. But hope for Murtagh still bloomed in her chest. If that man survived, he would still make a decent living as a rogue too. She grinded her jaws thinking of Kaizan. If only she could kill Olivia. 

There was a deathly quiet in the castle's grounds. Servants milled about the place as if they were mourning. She went to the stables at first. It was still too early for the stable hand to wake up. She grabbed a dirty cloth on the way and covered her face with it. Then she picked up an abandoned cloak and wore it. Taking advantage of the situation, Tasha made her way to the kitchen. Except two women who were chatting in low voices while watching a cauldron burning over slow fire, there was no one else. They looked at her. 

"Who are you?" one of them asked in a monotonous voice. 

With much difficulty, through her split lip, Tasha mumbled, "New stable help. The stable master is looking for some food." She didn't know where Kaia's room was. "He also wanted to know what to do with the new mare that was born yesterday." 

"What do you mean? The stable master can't really separate the youngling from the horse!" she replied, rolling her eyes. 

"Yes… but he wants to know the opinion of the mistress." 

The woman took a large bowl and filled it to the brim with rabbit stew. She gave it to Tasha and said, "The mistress must be sleeping. Come after an hour." 

Tasha took the hot steaming stew from her and said, "Can you tell me where the mistress's room is? I will not bother you after an hour and who knows if you will be here or not by that time…" 

The woman chuckled. Understanding the predicament of the new stable hand, she said, "It is on in the east wing after you round the corner of the corridor on the left."

Tasha bowed to them and hurriedly left. She was sure that Kaia must be sleeping at this hour, or she might be awake and waiting for Vaarin. Tasha hoped for the former, but the chances were bleak. As she walked through the main hall, she dumped the contents of the bowl in a vase in the corner and tossed the bowl aside. Her hand curled around the dagger that was strapped to her belt. As instructed by the woman in the kitchen, she walked towards the room. 

A guard was positioned in front of the antechamber. When he saw her coming, he became alert. Straightening himself, he took his hand to the pommel of his sword and growled as if warning her. Tasha knew that if she walked confidently, the guard's warning sense would skyrocket. She bowed to him and in a soft voice repeated herself, "The stable master has asked me to convey it to the mistress as to what to do with the new mare. If My Liege can see me only for a brief moment, it will be a quick question and I will leave." 

The guard narrowed his eyes. After assessing her, he said, "Wait. I will announce you to her." 

Fear surged through her that her lie would be caught by Kaia immediately. Tasha gulped down her fear and said, "Please do tell her that she birthed it yesterday night only." 

"Okay," the guard grunted. He opened the door of the antechamber and then walked in. He had walked till the middle of the chamber, when suddenly something sharp pierced him in his throat. Shocked, he looked down and found a blade sticking out of his neck on the front. He gurgled blood and tumbled on the floor. Tasha was ready for it. She held him quietly and dragged his body to the side. Then she walked to the door and opened it. 

The bedchamber was absolutely quiet. Even the curtains were drawn so that the morning sunlight did not enter and disturb its occupants as they slumbered. Although happy, Tasha was surprised as to how Kaia could go off to sleep when her husband was fighting out there. The woman was sprawled on the bed as if she didn't care about the world at all. Was she sick? Tasha prowled forward, a smile curving her lip up. This was going to be so easy. She raised her dagger at the unsuspecting prey. Very quietly, she moved ahead. She stopped when Kaia stirred a little. As soon as Kaia settled, Tasha took a step closer. She reached the bed and stared at the woman in front of her. She was going to be her trophy, her gift of affection to Murtagh. 

A chuckle left her lips and she raised her dagger to plunge it in Kaia's neck when suddenly, she was grabbed by a pair of arms and thrown aside. She yelped as her head struck the foot of the bed. Before she knew, a foot connected with her chest and she cried as searing pain spread through her ribs. Shock blasted through her at the sudden presence of the unknown. When she peered open her eyes, she saw… Olivia. 

A snarl escaped Olivia as she kicked Tasha once again with her right foot. Crying with pain, Tasha rolled away from her and got up, her dagger shaking in her hand and her wide. Where did Olivia come from? There was no one, no smell of the woman in here, then how did she miss her? 

"How dare you?" Olivia snarled. "You thought that my mother would be alone?" 

While the blast of shock was still cruising through her body, Tasha lunged at Olivia. "You bitch!" she shouted. "I am going to kill you and then I will kill your fucking mother!" 

As soon as Tasha charged Olivia, Olivia slammed her elbow in her chin, knocking her away. "I will fucking kill you and throw your bones to the vultures!" Olivia picked up a flower vase from the nearby table and threw it aiming her head. Blood sprouted from Tasha's forehead. She shouted in pain. 

Olivia looked at her mother who was still sleeping, under the effect of the sleep draft. Kaia wanted to go with Vaarin to fight with the rebels but she was still pretty fragile. Her anxiety of losing her husband cracked her heart and she broke. Olivia had come along with Kaizan despite his protests and she was with her mother. 

Seeing her diverted attention, Tasha leapt at Olivia once again, but this time, Olivia dodged her and Tasha stumbled on the ground behind her, stopping against a rock-hard body. She lifted her head to see who it was and she paled. It was Kaizan. His face was twisted with rage. The next moment she was grabbed by him, lifted in the air. Kaizan hurled her across the room. She landed against a cupboard, breaking it on impact.. She cried with pain as a shard of wood pierced her forearm.