I could not answer quickly because I was astonished to see that he was talking about me. Did he recognize me? Did he know who I really was? I took a deep breath to pull myself together, taking advantage of the fact that he had his head down and hadn't noticed my nervousness. I had to pull myself together before I lost everything.
- No, I'm good. - I answered. - And what happened to her?
Alec sighed, raising his head.
- I don't know exactly, but I intend to find out. - he answered with a smile. - Some say she became a witch, so she was sent to the convent. Others say she's dead.
- And what do you think about that?
He brought your face closer to mine.
- That she's alive and hidden for some reason that I intend to find out what she is.
Those words sounded like a threat and I swallowed them dry.
- Are you finished? - I asked him roughly, changing the subject.
Alec stared at me for a few seconds, until he let go of my arm and got up.
- Yeah. - He answered and took off the belt that held the hem of the sword. - I talked a lot with Keilan and he told me about his efforts to find a way into the fortress. That's why I decided to capture one of those soldiers.
Alec untied the cape by loosening it from his neck and threw it on a chair.
- I'll go over there and try to get something out of him. - he smiled holding a dagger to his left boot. - Maybe I can get something that can help us.
- I want to go along! - said trying to stand up, but as I leaned my hand on the bed I felt a hook on my arm and made a face.
- No! - he ordered and approached me helping me back to bed. - You stay here and get some rest. Keilan also told me that you haven't slept in many nights.
I snorted against it.
- Keilan's a big mouth!
- It may be, but you still have to stay and rest. - he said. - Let me handle this. I'll tell you what I can get out of him.
I took a deep, frustrated breath, but I smiled at him. Somehow I knew he wasn't telling the truth. I'd get out of there as soon as he turned his back.
- All right, then, Your Highness! - he said in an ironic way. - I'll stay and sleep like a good girl.
Alec laughed at me and took my right wrist. Pulling the chain with the grill I had put in my room and which had previously caught him, he held my wrist.
- What the...?
- I don't believe you're a good girl. - he whispered. - To make sure you keep your word, here's an old acquaintance of yours.
I growled pulling my wrist.
- Alec, you bastard!
- At least he learned to speak my name.
Alec disappeared laughing and I realized I was without any of my daggers. Did Alec disarm me while I was asleep? Frustrated, I leaned my head against the pillow and decided to read the letter that was still in the saddlebag. In it Alistair explained why Alec was here. He also said that he wished Keilan and I would stay on the front to help him, since he would be absent. He also asked me to trust his brother and said that he had enough ability to handle the confrontation politically.
- I don't need speeches, Alistair! - I whispered by kneading the letter. - I need men to get close to that fortress. Just standing here watching and hoping Roy gives up won't do any good.
Looking at the grill that held my wrist, I shook my head with disgust. I could not free myself and there was nothing to do, so I decided to take Alec's advice and get some sleep. Maybe some of the men would come along and help me as usual. But before I could make any effort to sleep or not, I just went out like a lighted candle with its flame already at the end.
Chapter 08
Alec
I walked among the men who organized themselves to surrender some who were on the lookout. I thought it was a waste of time to surround the fortress from afar. If any man went through the siege, the best thing would be to spare the others for an eventual battle. I was trying to get rid of those unnecessary lookouts. That would depend on the information I could get out of the idiot I imprisoned.
As I walked to where my prisoner was waiting for me, my thoughts flew to the beautiful redhead who was in jail. The story she had told me about being kicked out of the house and having an accident seemed too absurd to believe. Whereas, many angry parents used to do that, until it was plausible. The reason her father expelled her only increased my suspicions about her noble origin. That would increase the chances of my theories about her being true. I just needed to understand why she was hiding in the middle of a battlefield.
- Good night, Your Highness!
The soldier in the guard had said as soon as he saw me entering the reserved tent to shelter the man who had been captured.
- Good night! - I responded by settling down. - Can you leave us, please?
The man nodded, coming out of the tent and I looked at
