Crystal Queen (Riland Throne Book 2) by John M. Olsen

Author:John M. Olsen [Olsen, John M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immortal Works
Published: 2018-09-04T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Lilia despaired at the slave collar around her neck. With no tools to remove it, the only escape was to get away from the small town. Even in her cell deep within the building she could tell the season had warmed as winds howled, heralding the arrival of more moderate weather. Breezes seeped through narrow cracks in the stone walls.

“I hate waiting.” It was a trait Lilia inherited from her mother. “There’s no telling what Master will do next, and buyers will be here with the warm weather. We have to leave as soon as we can.”

Runa nodded, her brows knit. “I know. I’m working on it. Tonight, I’ll see how many locks I can get past.”

“Bring me something sharp. A small weapon I can hide on myself. They’ll never know I have it on me.” It wasn’t a plan so much as gathering tools for future plans. Luck favored the prepared.

Making the hand signal to show she was herself had become second nature. Lilia made the sign each time Runa glanced at her, ready to speak. It dragged their conversations down, but the security was critical.

“If an early buyer arrives, they’ll threaten to sell me off to get you to comply with their demands. Then as soon as they have another collar, they’ll put it on you.”

Runa scowled and straightened on her bunk. “I’m doing my best to learn what I can without getting caught. If we cause trouble, they may figure out what we’ve done. I know we have to leave as well as you do. I prefer our chances alone in the cold to staying here.”

Lilia was glad Runa felt the burden of her position. If pushing her kept the focus on their escape plan, so be it. The longer they remained here, the greater the risk.

Lilia smiled at a new thought. “It’s like when I broke that porcelain vase five years ago. You know, the gift from the Isle Kingdom? We both knew I was in trouble, but you helped me hide the broken pieces. Mother was sure a servant stole it, and the longer I stayed silent, the worse it got for everyone as she expanded her hunt and interviewed everyone.”

Runa leaned back against the wall, wrapped in her blanket. “I remember. By the time your mother got around to interviewing me, you were irrational with worry.”

“Then Mother asked us to visit her together. I suspect she knew the truth by then, but I spilled the whole story and she assigned me to the servant’s detail every day for a month to make up for what I’d put them through.”

“So, what’s the moral of your story?”

“If you’re going to get caught, admit your mistake early.”

Runa pressed her lips together into a line. “That’s it? The Priests of Order have better morals to their stories. Listen to your parents. Be grateful you have food in winter. A fire in the hearth warms you for a day, while burning your house down warms you for the rest of your life.

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