Page 71 of Of Masks and Fury

He strode to the door and opened it. The head guard from last night stood in the hall, scowling at Trew.

Before he could speak, Lexie nudged the guard aside. “Out of the way, if you please. I have Her Highness’s breakfast.” She bustled inside with Kerralyn following, a tray loaded with food in her hands and a somber expression on her face.

“I’ll ensure that’s done for you, Princess.” Trew strode out into the hall without a backward glance.

I pressed a hand to my racing heart, willing my breathing to slow. His ward hummed, a reminder of his protection.

Kerralyn placed a tray on the low table in front of the sofa and turned to look my way, sympathy in her eyes.

Lexie slammed the door in the guard’s face and turned the lock. “There. Nosy man.”

We settled around the low table, the aroma of fresh tea and warm pastries cutting through the tension in the room.

“You’re alright?” Kerralyn whispered, pouring tea and placing a pastry on a linen cloth and handing it to me.

I nodded, not wanting her to worry. My friends had enough to think about already.

She served herself and Lexie, and we ate, sipping our tea.

The pastry tasted like sawdust, but I ate it and another. Food in my belly would help me face what was coming today.

As we finished, Lexie squeezed my hand. “You killed a man, and you’re still standing. You’re already a queen.”

I hushed her with a look, but warmth bloomed in my chest.

“Did you two discover anything?” I asked.

“I did some digging.” Lexie’s voice dropped. “I talked with some dungeon guards last night. Flirted a bit, played the wide-eyed new lady’s maid. They mentioned that there’s an old woman down there, that she’s been locked up for years. No one knows why.”

The woman who’d helped me escape.

“I’m going to help her,” I said softly.

“Let me know when, and I’ll distract the guards,” Lexie said. “Someone I know well and love has joined that group, by the way. He’ll…assist as he’s able.”

“Perfect.”

“I overheard some chatter in the kitchens while scrubbing pots,” Kerralyn said. “The head cook’s a gossip when he drinks ale. Someone asked why there were so many guards around and the cook said that the king has been like this since Amarissa left to travel to meet suitors in the north. He said Commander Thorne might also be part of the reason, but when I asked why, the chef went silent. He actually looked terrified. Everyone got back to work fast, and no one said anything further.”

“I’m not sure how me traveling played a role, but Thorne left quickly for a completely different reason. Unless him rescuing Addie has made my father paranoid.”

We stared at each other with all sorts of reasons for his behavior jumbling through our minds. It wasn’t like him to be this worried. He’d always been strong. Mean, too, especially after my mother died.

I placed the cover over the now-empty platter and looked between them. “Can you both stay a bit longer? I want to take another look at that book I found in the library. In my bedroom, if you don’t mind.”

“I can stay a bit,” Kerralyn said, glancing toward the door. “The chef told me to wait in the hall for the tray.” Her lips pursed. “If he grumbles about how long I’ve been, I’ll make up a story about how you needed help with something. Frankly, he won’t say much as long as I get back to my dishes.”

“I’m your lady,” Lexie said, rising and giving me a grand curtsy. “I’m yours to command.”

We went to the bedroom, where the real work waited.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

ISI

Ishut the door behind us and retrieved Velacross’s journal I’d discovered behind the wall in the Syllavar library. We sat on the bed together, leaning against pillows. Pherin flew in through the cracked-open window and perched on the headboard.

I laid the journal on my lap and flipped open the cover.