Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Seeing double
“P–Princess??” The soldier stepped back, bewildered. Anaisa was glad the darkness of the cave would hide the subtle differences between her features and Sapphira’s.

Trace jumped out beside her, clearly displeased that she’d deviated from the plan.

But he’d always said the plan would adapt as things unfolded, and the men here were clearly not going to listen to Trace.

They might listen to her.

“Barnabas–Count Oakdown–is a scoundrel, a murderer, and a liar,” She spat. “The marriage cannot happen. My father is under the influence of the Count’s magic, and does not want the wedding to happen either. You must help the king by stopping the evil man!”

The soldiers tensed, confused by the words. They looked towards their commander for orders, but the man stared at Anaisa intently.

“How did you get here more quickly than we did, Your Highness?” He asked skeptically. Anaisa paled, but made a show of rolling her eyes like Sapphira might do.

“Much is possible with magic,” She replied easily. “That’s what Oakdown’s after. The magic in this cave.”

“I beg your pardon?” The soldier went from suspicion to confusion, lowering his weapon.

“There are stones in this cave that can imbue people with magic powers. Give people without any magic access to abilities of their own. It’s how Oakdown got the magic he has over others. He’s been plotting for years!” She declared.

“Sir, the rumors back in the city–” One soldier piped in, but another cut him off.

“Shut up, they’re Foundrel liars, trying to ruin the princess’s marriage and destabilize our nation.”

“That’s the princess, and you’re saying she’s a liar, Nivan?” The man next to him asked.

“Nivan!” Anaisa declared suddenly, “I was hoping we would get to talk. Did you hear the news?”

The seemingly unrelated question sent some confusion through the soldiers, and she noticed several nervously glancing at the man she addressed.

“News?” He blinked, and his face darkened. “There could be no news here that I want to know of.”

“I have someone with me that you’ll want to see,” She smiled for a moment, and he tensed, anger seeming to roll off him in waves.

“What do you mean?” He asked, raising his sword a little higher.

“Calvin, can you come out, please?” Anaisa said over her shoulder.

The freed prisoner stepped out from the darkness, over the barricade, and his eyes filled with tears.

“F-Father?” Nivan dropped his sword and fell to his knees.

After much discussion, Anaisa, Trace, and Emily had decided to relay to Sanders that an old man had been killed in the rescue.

Sanders would continue to comply with Oakdown’s commands because he was under magical pressure to do so, but to their knowledge, Calvin’s son Nivan was simply acting out of fear for his father’s life.

Anaisa had reasoned that Barnabas would leave behind or get rid of a soldier who he no longer had sway over… unless he could twist that into accusing the people in the cave of maliciously killing the man. A man with a personal vendetta against them would be moved to the forefront of the troops, where she could reach him.

Nivan’s sudden change from vitriolic responses to overwhelmed relief assured her she’d made the right decision. Oakdown would never have allowed the young man to come here and see that his father was free on purpose. Surely Nivan’s discovery would be the turning of the tide.

Or so Anaisa hoped.

“How…?” Nivan scrambled to his feet and left the formation to rush to his father. “Are you real?”

“I’m real, Son,” Calvin threw his arms around Nivan and the two men hugged tightly. “I’m sorry… I was used against you all these years.”

“No, no… I’m sorry I was a coward who couldn’t come and save you.” Nivan’s shoulders shuddered with emotion.

“You don’t have to be like that anymore,” Anaisa assured him softly. “You can help us. You can help the kingdom.”

“Please, Son. I’m free now. If even a portion of what I’ve learned about that man is true, he has to be stopped. You’re a royal guard, it’s your duty to protect and serve the king.” Calvin, thin and aged from his long imprisonment, clutched his son to his chest.

“I… I will, Father.” Nivan straightened his back and pulled away, turning to the commander, who was watching in stunned silence. “Sir. These people… they’re telling the truth about Oakdown. I’ve been blackmailed for years, first by the previous Count, and now by the current one. Mostly, it was to deliver notes, but some things, I am deeply ashamed of. I’ll willingly submit myself to court martial and execution after this is over, now that my father is safe.”

“Nivan!” The old man cried, but the son shook his head.

“I have committed terrible crimes against the kingdom. I will confess to each one in turn, but first, the Count must be stopped.” Nivan swallowed. “I do not know how to proceed, but I hope that with the confirmation I have given you, it will be enough to guide us to victory and our king to freedom.”

The commander blinked several times, bringing his hand to his head as if trying to clear his muddled thoughts. He turned around to face his men for a moment.

“Anyone who can hear me, be silent. Say nothing to those behind you. Relay no orders. Spread no gossip. Be still until I give you further orders.” The man turned and looked at Nivan, then at Calvin and Anaisa. Trace came from behind the barricade to stand with her, and the commander’s eyes flickered with recognition.

“You were the princess’s bodyguard,” He murmured. “Were you not?”

“Yes,” Trace smiled and stuck out his hand. “I wasn’t sure you would recognize me. I’m glad to have you on board with us. I’m Trace, and this is actually Anaisa, the princess’s loyal double. We will explain everything. If you could tell me the exact situation outside, it would help tremendously as we move forward. Oakdown is not to be underestimated.”

“I’m deeply troubled by all this,” The commander hesitated, looking at both of them and at Nivan. “What did you have planned?”