The Reign of Trees Read Online Free PDF Page A

and scream as he carried her to the castle. Montague was at the heels of the soldier. At one point, he said, “You are making a scene, Princess.”
    It reminded her of the scene she had seen earlier in the day as Kasba fought off her captors. Illianah had never imagined that she would meet the same fate. Where was Kasba? Had she too been dragged here to Deltegra? And for what purpose had they been taken captive? Illianah’s heart felt as if it had been crushed. She was a hostage of war, just like a horse. A horse! She really was nothing more than a possession to be bartered for, traded with, and taken captive.
    “You will pay for this!” she yelled. “All of you! Vengeance will befall you for this!”
    She caught sight of Prince Henrick near the castle door. “Do you hear me Henrick? Mark my words: you will suffer death for doing this to me!”
    Although she could not focus very well on Henrick’s face, due to the fact that she was hanging from the shoulder of a behemoth, she did see an expression upon Henrick’s face that looked foreign on his usually pleasant face. It was fear.

Chapter Three
    Illianah was not brought before the king that evening, as Prince Henrick had said. However, she had been taken to the top of the tower, as promised. It was comfortable, and not a prison, as she had expected. It was simply a bedchamber, likely used by visiting dignitaries. The bed was draped in fine linens, the walls were adorned with rich tapestries, and the floors were covered with thick animal-skin rugs. The only thing missing was a fire; the room felt chilly with its absence. She surmised that the lower bedchambers were more elegant and would be graced with magnificent hearths. This told her of her place in the castle: she was not a lowly prisoner, yet her high station was not to be to be acknowledged by honoring her with an opulent room.
    Supper was brought to her, as was breakfast the next morning. Just as her stomach was beginning to growl with anticipation of another meal, a lady’s maid entered the room to help Illianah prepare to see the king. The maid braided Illianah’s hair and fastened it at the back of her head. This time, Illianah fought the urge to wear her hear down. She was married and there were unmarried men in this castle. She did not want to be accused of being a seductress. Illianah carried her modesty even further as she insisted on again wearing the partlet, not to cover whisker burn this time, but to cover her décolletage. The gown the servant had brought was a delicate pink, and cut as low as a day gown was allowed by the decorum of society. Illianah would not give the king or his son the satisfaction of seeing her allure. She even ordered the servant to not lace the bodice tight, hoping that her shape may seem frumpy. But when she looked in the mirror, she realized that her objective had fallen short. The deep V of the waistline only accentuated her small waist. “I wish to wear a different dress,” she said.
    “I’m sorry My Lady, but this is the only pink gown we have available.”
    “Pink? Why must I wear pink?”
    “Prince Henrick was insistent. He said it is your favorite color.”
    Illianah’s cheeks flushed, making the pink of the gown even more flattering. Her pale skin had been brought to life like a field of pink fireweed blooming in the spring. To have Henrick remember her favorite color both disgusted her and ignited her at the same time. Did her prince know she adored pink? She had never brought it up in conversation with Leif and even if she had, would he have remembered?
    She tried to recover from Henrick’s flattering recollection. “Then I shall wear yellow,” she said. Yellow was possibly the only color that did not look good against her fair skin and hazel eyes. She always thought yellow made her look as if she was knocking upon death’s door.
    The maid blinked heavily. She was being ordered by her lady to fetch a different dress and no maid could go against her