Riches to Rags Read online

  Table of Contents

  chapter one

  chapter two

  chapter three

  chapter four

  chapter five

  chapter six

  chapter seven

  chapter eight

  chapter nine

  chapter ten

  chapter eleven

  chapter twelve

  chapter thirteen

  chapter fourteen

  chapter fifteen

  chapter sixteen

  chapter seventeen

  chapter eighteen

  chapter nineteen

  chapter twenty

  chapter twenty-one

  chapter twenty-two

  chapter twenty-three

  chapter twenty-four

  chapter twenty-five

  chapter twenty-six

  chapter twenty-seven

  chapter twenty-eight

  chapter twenty-nine

  chapter thirty

  chapter thirty-one

  chapter thirty-two

  chapter-thirty-three

  chapter thirty-four

  chapter thirty-five

  chapter thirty-six

  chapter thirty-seven

  chapter thirty-eight

  chapter thirty-nine

  chapter forty

  chapter forty-one

  chapter forty-two

  chapter forty-three

  chapter forty-four

  chapter forty-five

  chapter forty-six

  chapter forty-seven

  chapter forty-eight

  chapter forty-nine

  acknowledgements

  Riches to Rags

  Copyright © 2017 by Casey L. Bond. All rights reserved.

  First Edition

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior express permission of the author except as provided by USA Copyright Law. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.

  This book is a work of fiction and does not represent any individual, living or dead. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Book cover designed by

  Melissa Stevens / The Illustrated Author Design Services

  Formatted and professionally illustrated by

  Melissa Stevens / The Illustrated Author Design Services

  Professionally Edited by

  The Girl with the Red Pen/ Stacy Sanford

  Published in the United States of America

  ISBN-13: 978-1977662897

  ISBN-10: 1977662897

  ALSO BY CAsEY L. BONd

  The Frenzy Series

  The Keeper of Crows Duology

  The Harvest Saga

  DEDICATION

  To everyone who’s ever bravely fought for something their heart wanted.

  table of contents

  chapter one

  chapter two

  chapter three

  chapter four

  chapter five

  chapter six

  chapter seven

  chapter eight

  chapter nine

  chapter ten

  chapter eleven

  chapter twelve

  chapter thirteen

  chapter fourteen

  chapter fifteen

  chapter sixteen

  chapter seventeen

  chapter eighteen

  chapter nineteen

  chapter twenty

  chapter twenty-one

  chapter twenty-two

  chapter twenty-three

  chapter twenty-four

  chapter twenty-five

  chapter twenty-six

  chapter twenty-seven

  chapter twenty-eight

  chapter twenty-nine

  chapter thirty

  chapter thirty-one

  chapter thirty-two

  chapter-thirty-three

  chapter thirty-four

  chapter thirty-five

  chapter thirty-six

  chapter thirty-seven

  chapter thirty-eight

  chapter thirty-nine

  chapter forty

  chapter forty-one

  chapter forty-two

  chapter forty-three

  chapter forty-four

  chapter forty-five

  chapter forty-six

  chapter forty-seven

  chapter forty-eight

  chapter forty-nine

  acknowledgements

  about the author

  CHAPTER ONE

  Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a kingdom ruled by a heavy-handed king. He was stubborn, refusing to budge from deep-seated and long-held beliefs, and his people paid the price. He never thought about the decrees that fell from his mouth until after the repercussions became evident, and even then, refused to apologize. Foolish pride prevented him from making amends, and he was prideful to a fault—cruel and unforgiving.

  His word was law. And he was never at a loss for words.

  Because of his harshness, many of the surrounding kingdoms, all of which had been great allies with the King’s father, now refused to trade with the Kingdom of Aelawyn. But Aelawyn could not supply itself with all the things necessary to thrive, and the royalty and nobility could no longer live the life to which they had grown accustomed.

  The King grew desperate. But more than that, he felt he and his kingdom had been wronged. His rage and indignation fell upon everyone who dared cross his path, even the innocent.

  The King authorized raids on trade routes and ordered his armies to steal and plunder from his neighbors in the name of survival, in the name of what he thought was right and justified. The neighboring kingdoms’ rulers sent warning after warning to the King, each and every one of which went unheeded; the parchments sizzling at the corners as he tossed them into the hungry fire, one after another. Until one day, a different type of message arrived. This was not another parchment with a warning scrawled in slanted ink, sealed with a stamp in melted wax. No. This message was written in blood.

  ONE wEEK EARliER ...

  The castle yard was full of people from the village, everyone eager to receive their share of the rations Father would share with them. The sound of laughter and friendly chatter made me smile. Yesterday, the people were probably starving, but today, a heavy burden would be lifted. They would have full stomachs tonight.

  Curled up in the window seat, I watched the soldiers uncover the wagons and begin to distribute what they held, a thick shawl drawn around my shoulders to guard against the frigid wind.

  Soldiers paced atop the walls surrounding our castle, armed with swords, bows, and daggers. They wore the color of Aelawyn, her King, and his ancestors: a shade of crimson, the color of freshly drawn blood. Their eyes were alert, searching the crowd for any sign of disturbance.

  Villagers formed a line that already stretched toward the back of the castle yard alongside the wall. The gate was raised for the villagers to pass in and out of the yard. Men, women, and children, old and young, from every walk of life needed help these days, and there were some things only Father could provide for them. I didn’t know how long he would provide for them, since trade had ceased between our kingdom and many of the on
es that surrounded us.

  I leaned over, listening to their conversations. Children petted the animals as they fed on hay and scraps. Times may have been hard, but the people were resilient. They brought items to trade among themselves: dyed wool, scarves, candles made from the wax of bees, and carved flutes for the children.

  The villagers brought a vibrancy to the castle that was missing when the gate closed and the yard was empty. It had been a long winter, but my favorite season was almost here. In the spring, villagers set up booths in the castle yard. Last year, a woman sold bouquets of flowers below my window, their cloying scents wafting up to me from where I perched on my window seat. I’d watch the people, the women wearing dresses in every color of the rainbow and the men tossing their little ones into the air, making them giggle.

  When spring came, food wouldn’t be so scarce. The people would be busy and happy. They would forget the harshness of winter and enjoy the sunshine.

  My lady-in-waiting suddenly burst through my door, looking frazzled. Her gray hair shot out in all directions. “You must hurry, Princess.” She waved me forward.

  “What’s the matter?” I smiled, but as she grabbed my hairbrush and all but jerked me by the arm off of my bench, I knew something was wrong.

  “Your father wishes to speak with you. He’s waiting.” I didn’t miss the flash of fear in her dark eyes. Father hated to be kept waiting. He was probably counting how many minutes it would take me to get to the Throne Room.

  “Do you know what my father wishes to speak with me about?” I asked, swallowing the thick knot forming in my throat as she quickly brushed the tangles out of my dark hair and placed the small, but heavy crown of gold and diamonds on my head.

  “No, milady, but we mustn’t keep him waiting.”

  Father’s temper scared Hetty. Father’s temper scared me.

  Rushing across the room, I stepped into the pair of golden slippers she pulled from my wardrobe. They were a gift from my parents and one that he would appreciate seeing used. Or so I hoped.

  Following Hetty down the hallway, my emerald skirts billowed behind me despite the thicker fabric that winter required. We made our way down the main staircase, past servants scurrying this way and that, to the throne room. Hetty waved me on as two guards swept open the enormous double doors. I kept my eyes dutifully averted as I entered.

  The throne room—floors, walls, and ceiling—was gold. It was decorated with fine paintings and intricately woven tapestries, and towering columns lined the great hall on either side. Father sat on his dark throne tapping his fingers impatiently. I flinched as his voice echoed harshly through the hollow space.

  “Come, Carina.”

  I walked across the room quickly but carefully. I’d once made the mistake of tripping on the fabric of my gown in front of him. I refused to make it again. Father’s punishments were infamous. My fists knotted the thick material on each side, lifting it enough so I could step easily and fast.

  Mother stood to the left behind Father and my sister stood to his right, several steps away. Her green eyes flashed in warning.

  I stopped at the bottom of the four stone steps that separated me from my family. “Father?”

  “I have decided you will marry Prince Yurak of Galder.”

  My eyelids fluttered in surprise. Marriage? They’d only just announced Ivy’s betrothal to Prince Enik of Halron, but at least Ivy was seventeen, while I was three years younger. I opened my mouth, careful to avoid the protestation that sat readily on my tongue. My heart thundered in my chest. “When shall we be wed?”

  My mother’s face was emotionless, but her grasp on the back of the throne was severe. Her knuckles were white and strained. Ivy looked at me and then back to her feet.

  “You and Ivy shall be wed on the same day. Won’t that be grand?” He stroked his dark beard and watched me with his hawk-like eyes, searching for a single sign of defiance.

  Ivy knew the storm building beneath my skin, on my tongue, and she shook her head sharply. For her sake and mine, I played along. “Yes, Father. When shall I meet my betrothed?”

  The Kingdom of Galder lay to the south, positioned along the edge of the great sea. Surely we would have a long engagement.

  “You’ll meet him on the day you’re wed. You’ve no need to get acquainted with your future husband before the day of your wedding, and you will marry Yurak. This will help repair the alliance between our kingdoms. That is the end of the discussion.”

  “Yes, Father.” My fingers clawed the fabric of my skirt. I knew he didn’t care about relationships or alliances. He’d severed them all without a second thought, and now his people were paying the price. This was about riches—the only thing he loved and coveted. What price had Yurak of Galder paid for me? And why didn’t he want me to see him before our wedding day? Ivy’s wedding was already being planned. It would take place in three weeks, as would mine.

  “Return to your chamber,” he said dismissively. He turned and told my mother to have the seamstress prepare a proper dress for me.

  Mother inclined her head in response. How long had it been since I heard her voice?

  When he was finished speaking, his eyes flashed in anger to see me still standing in front of him.

  “Father?”

  His beady eyes hardened and then glinted, daring me to begin an argument. Beneath the warning was a hope I’d take him up on it. It had been a long time since I’d been stupid enough to try his patience.

  “I was wondering if I might walk the grounds for a little while.”

  He blew out a breath of frustration. “No. The gates are open. It’s not safe until they’re sealed. Return to your chamber immediately. You too, Ivy.”

  Ivy’s shoulders slumped slightly as she walked down the steps toward me, strands of her light brown hair streaming behind her. We walked out of the throne room side by side. When the guards closed the doors behind us, we rushed upstairs. Outside our rooms, Ivy hugged me tight, sobs wracking her body. “I’m so sorry. I begged Mother to talk him out of this.”

  “When Father’s mind is made up, there is no use to argue.” We both knew that. It was why Mother didn’t even try.

  “I understand why he’s pushing me to wed. I’m seventeen. But you’re only fourteen, Carina!” She blinked away tears, staring toward the ceiling and inhaling deeply. I swallowed the knot in my throat. Soon, I wouldn’t be able to hug her, wouldn’t be able to talk to her. The stone wall between our chambers might as well have been an ocean while we were locked inside our rooms, but after we married and moved away, I might never see her again.

  “Yurak of Galder must have made quite an offer,” I said. “That’s all he cares about.”

  She nodded. “I know.”

  For as long as I could remember, Father had damned us both for not being born male. If he’d had a male heir to follow in his footsteps, things would be different, he said. He was right. Things would be different. He’d teach his son to be a tyrant as well, the kingdom would continue down the path to ruin, and my brother would ultimately pay the price for our father’s sins. Maybe that was why God only saw fit for Mother to conceive females.

  “I wish we could run away,” Ivy whispered, her soft brown hair brushing my cheek. She seemed off somehow, desperate and frantic in her words.

  Clinging to her, I told her I wished we could, too. “Where would we go?”

  “Anywhere but here.” She squeezed me tighter. She only wanted what every girl wanted: to marry for love.

  I’d decided long ago that there was really no point in wishing for things that would never come true. A princess couldn’t marry for love. As Ivy’s fingers trembled on my back, a foreboding shiver crawled up my spine.

  “I thought you were excited to be married,” I said softly.

  She pulled out of my arms. “I was excited to leave this God-forsaken place; that was all!
” she cried, angrily swiping tears from her face. “But it’s all too much. I’ve heard awful things about Enik, things that make me think our Father is a saint! This isn’t the life I want, Carina. If I marry Enik, I’ll only be trading one cage for another. I just can’t…” She paused. “But you’re strong, Carina. You’ll be fine.”

  “Everything will be fine,” I said with false enthusiasm. “Don’t listen to the rumors. People love to tell lies for no other reason than to make their mundane lives interesting and to hear themselves speak. I love you, Ivy, and I am sure that Enik will instantly love you as well.”

  She gave me a watery smile. “I love you too, Carina, and I’m sorry,” she answered, tears streaming down her cheeks. She studied my face a long moment as we stood in the hall outside our doors, her palm on my cheek.

  I held her free hand as long as I could, until we heard footsteps on a nearby staircase. The tips of our fingers remained hooked together until space and sadness finally parted us, each stepping into our rooms. We shared a wall, but had no way to penetrate it with sound or paper. I had so much more to say to her. I should have told her that she was strong, too. Everything was going to be okay. She’d see.

  On days like this, the castle served more as a prison than as our home. It was a gilded cage.

  Pretty.

  Confining.

  And inescapable.

  CHAPTER TWO

  CARINA

  I was in my chamber one week later, lost in my own worries, when the world as I knew it was torn to shreds.

  My room was large, and with only a bed and wardrobe inside, it was far too spacious for what I needed. But it was also my sanctuary. It had to be. Father didn’t allow me to leave this space without an escort, and only then when he gave me permission, which wasn’t often. Until that day, I’d always considered myself lucky to have a window.

  The horrors I saw from that window would stay with me forever.

  Sitting quietly in the alcove, people-watching, was how I learned the ever-changing styles in fashion, how gentlemen and ladies were supposed to act, and how some acted very improperly when they thought no one was watching.

  The day the Kingdom of Aelawyn fell, I was watching and envying the lives of the servants and staff. It wasn’t ration day, but supplies sometimes came unannounced.