AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My throat tightens. That’s still more losses than I’d prefer.
How are we ever going to confront Lothar’s full force? Eventually we’re going to have to go head to head with him… and we’ve just witnessed how much damage even a few scourge sorcerers can do.
Sulla looks up and catches my eye. “I see you get plenty done even without turning to your magic.”
Her tone is dry, but I can’t summon enough amusement to form a smile.
I lift my voice to carry to our companions who remained in the forest. It comes out ragged. “Come on. Let’s give this place a thorough search.”
I decide to take the stairs down rather than flinging myself back out the window. Along the way, I peer into the other rooms along the hall.
The door right by the top of the stairs is locked. I break the deadbolt and peek inside to find myself gazing at three mutilated forms draped in gray shrouds.
“Mistress?” one of them mumbles.
My heart sinks. We were hoping to find more of the sacrificial accomplices, but it still horrifies me to see the results of the scourge sorcerers’ greed.
“We’ll be taking you somewhere else,” I say. “Somewhere safer.” Then I hustle down the stairs in search of Casimir, who’ll know how to reassure the Order’s victims leagues better than I can.
“Cas—” I’m calling out as I reach the bottom of the stairs, and jar to a halt at the sight of Stavros, Alek, and a couple of the royal soldiers leaning over a table on the other side of a nearby doorway.
Alek’s face looks grimmer than I’ve ever seen it. Stavros’s jaw is clenched tight.
I march over to join them. “What did you find?”
Alek taps the papers scattered across the table. “I think these are some of the Order of the Wild’s plans for their kingship trials. They’ve been testing out different strategies… If they go through with something like this, Petra won’t stand a chance. They’re setting everything up as a trap.”
A chill races through me. “Then she’ll refuse to compete.”
“And Lothar will say that proves she isn’t worthy.” Stavros lifts his head. “He must intend to move forward with them soon if they’ve gotten this far with their plans. We’re going to need far more allies than we’ve already pulled together—and quickly. If we don’t present our own version of the trials soon, the scourge sorcerers will steal the chance right out from under us.”
Thirty
Stavros
Every hoofbeat of the horse next to mine sends more tension coiling around my innards. I glance over at my foremost companion on our journey. “You didn’t need to join me for this expedition, Your Highness.”
Petra lifts her chin with the stoic determination I’m becoming used to in our future queen. “I know you and Ivy want to keep me out of danger, but I can’t hang so far back that I’m shying from my duties. We’re going to be asking a lot of Provinca Yessaine and her household. She should know I’m taking my fair share of risks as well. The request will mean more coming directly from me.”
I’m sure that’s true, but every instinct of my military training tells me that the meeting we hope to initiate could easily turn into an ambush. I trust Provinca Yessaine’s loyalties enough to be riding out to one of her homes with a small entourage of associates, but not so much I want to stake the security of the royal family on it.
As if she’s read my mind, Petra shoots me a pointed look. Her tone is dry with amusement. “If something happens to me, you still have two other Melchioreks currently safe under Baron Cyris’s roof to take the throne.”
I grimace at her. It’s obvious why she and Ivy get along so well. They’re both damned stubborn and far too good at arguing their case even when I want to refuse them.
“I’ll endeavor to ensure that’s not a concern,” I say, smoothing my frustration from my voice. “But please don’t stray from your guards.”
If I were coming on my own, I’d have brought only one or two comrades with me to assist the provinca and her staff if they agree to set our plan in motion. Because we have a Melchiorek among us, I insisted on four soldiers on top of that, and even that number feels insufficient.
Petra’s mouth slants as if she’s going to reject that suggestion as well. “I suppose I should be grateful for the freedoms I had in those years when no one knew I was anything other than a distant relative of the queen’s.”
I study her as I formulate my answer. How can I know what goes on in the head of a woman who’s lost her parents and found herself thrust into the highest leadership role so suddenly and violently?
Especially when she’s talking to a man who should have been there to protect her father but wasn’t.
But I did know her father. I might not have agreed with every decision King Konram made, but I can imagine the lessons he passed on to all his children while he could.
I adjust my grip on the reins. “There are different freedoms that will replace those you lost, once we see you back where you belong. You can’t protect your people as you’re meant to unless we protect you in turn. But you’ll wield more power than most of your subjects could conceive of.”
