Cage of Deceit(32)

Jarvik laughed. “So every time I ruffle the princess’s feathers, you’re going to ask me to leave? Is that it?” He took a step toward Marek, the two men now only inches apart.

“I’m not asking,” Marek said. “I’m telling you to get out of here.” His hand gripped the hilt of his sword so hard his knuckles turned white.

Allyssa had never heard Marek speak so forcefully before.

“It’s not wise for you to order me around,” Jarvik said in a deadly calm voice. “I’ll leave when I’m ready to leave, not when some whelp tells me to.”

“Stop,” Allyssa demanded. She moved around Marek and stood between him and Jarvik, forcing the two men to each take a step back, away from one another.

The squire’s eyes narrowed as he looked from Allyssa to Marek and back again. “What are the two of you hiding?” he asked.

The door opened halfway and Mayra slid inside the room, carrying a large laundry basket. When she peered up and saw Jarvik, she froze.

“I want to speak with the princess, alone,” Jarvik said, staring at Allyssa with cold eyes filled with contempt. Mayra nodded and left. Jarvik turned to Marek, waiting for him to leave.

Marek shook his head. “I’m her personal guard. She is never alone, especially with a squire.”

Jarvik’s face reddened and his hands clenched into fists. “I think I understand what’s going on here,” he said, his voice laced with anger. “The two of you,” he pointed to Allyssa and Marek, “are having an affair.”

“What?” Allyssa demanded, her temper rising. She’d had enough from this arrogant prick. “How dare you accuse me of such a thing? Why are you so determined to tie me to a lover?” She stood in front of him, pointing her finger at his chest, her hand shaking with rage.

He raised his eyebrows. “I’m simply looking at the overwhelming evidence.”

She reached up to wrap her fingers around his neck, but he latched onto her wrists with surprising force. The tip of Marek’s sword flew to Jarvik’s exposed side, resting there.

“I hate you,” Allyssa spit. “You’re cruel, uncaring, and don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Trust me, the feeling is quite mutual. You’re a pampered snob who is used to getting her way.”

“Take your hands off the princess,” Marek demanded. “Now.”

The squire released her. “I’ll inform the prince of what I saw,” he sneered. “I doubt he’ll want anything to do with you.” He glanced down at the sword, and Marek lowered it. And with that, Jarvik stormed out of the room.

Allyssa stood there, steaming with fury. Marek sheathed his sword, and Mayra came back in with the laundry basket.

“I can’t believe he thinks I’m having an affair,” Allyssa said, rubbing her face. “I’ve never wanted to physically hurt anyone as much as I want to kill Jarvik. He’s insufferable.” She clenched her hands into fists. “I’m going to win the prince over just to irritate the squire. Mayra—go to Prince Odar’s room at once and personally invite him, and only him, to dine with me this evening. Try to arrive before Jarvik does.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” She hurried from the room. Luckily, Mayra knew the stairwells the servants used and Jarvik did not.

“I can’t wait to see the look of ire on Jarvik’s face when the prince and I become friends.”

“I’d like to remind you,” Marek said, “that if you hope to still be alive and well in order to wreak havoc on Jarvik’s life, then you need make it back into your bedchamber before anyone discovers you’re missing.”

Of course, Marek was right. In Allyssa’s outrage over the squire, she’d forgotten she needed to slip back into her rooms unnoticed. She climbed into the basket. “I hope you can carry this by yourself to the laundry room.” Curling into a ball, she made sure her cape covered her body. If anyone peeked in, they would only see plain fabric.

“Hopefully I put you under the right laundry chute and can create a distraction.”

“I agree, seeing as how your job and my freedom are at stake,” she said, her voice muffled by the fabric.

He lifted the basket, grunting as he did so. “Here we go,” Marek whispered. “No more talking. You’ll know when it’s time to climb out and into the chute.”

As he walked, the basket jostled from one side to the other, her head banging against the wicker. The muffled sounds of people talking could be heard as he made his way to the laundry room. He set the basket down with a soft thump, and Allyssa had to stifle a grunt from the impact.