Camilla stared back at the stranger, unable to make a sound.
His green eyes narrowed and regarded her warily. "Are you alright? You took a blow to the head. Can you understand what I'm saying?"
"Yes," Camilla managed to rasp through dry lips.
"Then do you know who I am?" He asked again with a trace of annoyance in his voice.
Camilla slowly shook her head. Her first instinct was to run. To run until her lungs burst or until she found her father and brothers again, she didn't care which. But she couldn't stay here, not knowing what had happened and while this stranger eyed her coldly.
"I am Prince William Devon, nephew of King Edward Devon of Islia." The young man watched for her reaction. "And I know you are Princess Camilla, the Duke of Arlington's child."
Camilla's mind went blank. She couldn't care less who he was or that he knew who she was. The fact that he was an Islian prince and was no longer in full armour filled her with dread.
The man wouldn't have started discarding his armour unless they were no longer near the battle scene in the Duchy of Arlington, her ancestral home.
And if she wasn't in Arlington anymore, then she must be in-
"Yes, we're in Islia now," William stated as if reading her mind. "We're in Magdaline Castle, to be precise. You've been unconscious for over two days. I brought you across the border with me."
"Why?"
William shrugged. "Your father's uprising is over and his cause has been defeated. I could have either brought you with me, or left you to die in Arlen Castle as it burned down. I made a quick decision."
Camilla closed her eyes and let the truth sink in.
Her father had lost. The odds were never in his favour but she'd hoped - she'd prayed with all her might since she'd discovered he was going to try to usurp the throne - that he'd somehow succeed. Not because she agreed with his actions. But because she loved him.
Clearly it wasn't to be. So now, what would follow?
The sound of someone clearing their throat startled Camilla out of her thoughts and made her open her eyes again.
The Islian Prince was eyeing her sullenly. "When someone saves your life, the correct response is usually a thank you."
Camilla just gawped at him. She was trying to digest the news that her father had likely been taken prisoner and this man was acting offended because she had forgotten to thank him?
Thank him for what? Invading her country? Storming and pillaging the only home she'd ever known?
In her rising panic, all she could think about was her family. "My father…my brothers…where are they now? Do they know I'm here?"
"They're all dead." William's voice was flat and his gaze steady. "The fortunes of war, I'm afraid. You have my condolences." he added drily.
Camilla shook her head. "You lie!" she managed to croak.
It had to be a lie. Her father was almost legendary on the battlefield. Time and time again he'd managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Her brothers were all highly skilled knights. They couldn't just all be dead.
William shrugged again, unsmiling. "Your brothers fell on the battlefield and your father was attacked and killed inside the castle. If you choose not to believe me, that's up to you. But I don't believe in hiding the truth, no matter how grim."
Camilla could feel her throat closing with terror as she listened to the prince continue his explanation in a monotone.
"King Edward knows you are here and in a show of royal mercy, he has decreed you may stay as an honoured guest of our court."
"An honoured guest. You mean a hostage. A bargaining ship to be used by the winning side when negotiating with the loser. Let's speak plainly here."
William raised his brows and frowned but didn't deny the truth her cold words."His Majesty knows you would've played no part in the rebellion and has offered you his protection from your uncle. You're very fortunate. You'll be shown all the respect due to your rank while you remain here…"
His words meant nothing to her.
"Take me back." she interrupted in a whisper.
"Back?"
"To Moraigth, to Arlen Castle! I don't believe what you said. My father and brothers are famed for their skill…they can't all have fallen. A-and if they are truly dead then I need to see their bodies with my own eyes. They deserve proper burials-"
"Have you run mad?" scoffed the prince. There's no way in hell I'm returning to Moraigth and frankly, I don't know why you'd want to either. King Kenneth will kill you the moment you step across the border, niece or not. You're far safer here."
Camilla shook her head, the panic overwhelming her. She leapt from the bed. The movement made her aching head scream but she didn't care.
Quickly looking around, she bolted towards the bedchamber door. She had no idea where she was heading or who could help her, only knew that she couldn't stay in that room a moment longer.
William looked up in surprise at how nimbly the girl darted towards the door. He reacted after a split second and moved after her in long strides, grabbing her arm before her outstretched hand could reach the door. He pulled her back in his direction, spinning her to face him.
Camilla tried to free her arm but his grip was too strong. Struggling in frustration, she screamed and tried to claw at his face with her free hand.
"Dammit!" William hissed at the squirming girl. He managed to twist both of her arms behind her back with one of his hands but she continued to thrash against him, her eyes wild. "Take me back!" she yelled.
"Back to what?" he yelled back. "To a pile of burning rocks and a certain death sentence? Do you not get it? Your side lost!"
"I don't care! I'm not staying here with all you monsters!"
"For fuck's sake! This won't do. I didn't just lead a campaign and then nearly kill myself riding at speed across the border to get you to safety, only to have my eyes scratched out." William growled. He tightened his grip on both of her wrists, holding her firmly against his body.
With his free hand, he reached into the front pocket of his tunic and fumbled until he pulled out a small vial of amber coloured liquid. With a quick movement, he uncorked the vial with his teeth and shoved it towards the girl's mouth.
Camilla turned her head away but not quite fast enough. Some of the liquid slid down her throat before she could clamp her lips shut. It burned slightly with a bitter taste. She glared up at the prince. "What is that?"
"A powerful sleeping tonic." William drawled. "I don't have the energy or the patience to fight with a mere girl. I'm tired. Go to sleep and we can talk again tomorrow when you're calmer."
He had to be jesting, she told herself in a fury. She'd just been told the most dreadful things she'd ever heard, and this brute was suggesting she just sleep it all off?
Camilla kept trying to pull away from his iron grip but it was no use. She could feel her thoughts going cloudy and her limbs getting heavy. Her eyes started to droop closed.
In another moment, her legs gave out and she slumped against William's chest.
William caught her before she slid to the floor. Hoisting her slight weight in his arms, he carried her back to the bed and laid her down. He grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed and threw it carelessly over the girl's body.
"Good night, little princess." he murmured in annoyance as he stalked out of the bedchamber and barred the door behind him.
He was desperate for a meal and a bath to wash away the grime of the campaign. His rubbed his neck, which ached from having fallen asleep slumped in the armchair waiting for the ungrateful girl to wake up.
If he'd known she was going to try and blind him, he wouldn't have bothered, William thought in irritation.