Page 51 of To Save a Kingdom

“The castle’s on fire!”

Chapter 20

Aliya

“The castle’s on fire!” Zadé’s shout jolted Aliya from her contemplations as to how she was going to distract Elessan and pay him back for the amazing climax.

“Hold on,” Elessan said, leaning over her as he flicked the reins.

Their horse spurred into a canter, racing up the hill until they stood next to Zadé.

Aliya squinted. The general was correct—a column of smoke rose from where the castle perched, highlighted against the setting sun in the distance. It was almost too far away for her to make out.

“What happened?” she asked, even though there was no way the two elves would know. At least it wasn’t a Whisperer. Whisperers didn’t burn everything in their path.

Neither of her companions answered.

“Why are we just sitting here?” Nudging their horse’s ribs with her heels, she leaned forward. “Come on! We have to get back!”

Elessan pulled on the reins, keeping the horse in place despite her urging.

“That may not be the best idea, Princess.” Zadé’s solemn eyes met hers. “We need ta know out what we’re walking into ‘afore we bring yeh into th’ middle ‘o it.”

Elessan nodded. “You’re the human’s queen. Our first priority has to be your safety.”

Clenching her teeth, Aliya growled. “Then I’ll shapeshift into someone else! No one will know it’s me.”

Shaking his head, Elessan studied her. “Regardless of your appearance, you can still be killed. Especially if your enemies have infiltrated the castle and decide to blow it up.”

With gaping eyes, Aliya shook her head. That wasn’t what was happening. It couldn’t be.

He shook his head. “No, we don’t go rushing in with no plan. We’ll take it slow and figure out what’s going on before we make our entrance.”

Aliya opened her mouth to argue, but shut it as her brain processed what he’d said. It could be Brooks, or any other host of enemies who chose now to move against her. For all she knew, it was Tsara throwing some sort of royal fit that Elessan wasn’t going to marry her. Because of course he wouldn’t, even if he hadn’t admitted as much out loud yet.

That didn’t seem like the princess Aliya knew, but she’d only made the woman’s acquaintance about a week ago, and Aliya never would’ve figured Tsara would attempt to claim an already taken man.

Elessan nudged their horse forward. “We’ll stay off the road and approach from the east. When we get close, I’ll go ahead and reconnoiter. Try to figure out what we’re up against so we can come up with a plan.”

Aliya sighed, still fighting the urge to rush to the castle’s rescue. As much as she hated to admit he was right, and that he had a better understanding of the political ramifications than she did, there were so many innocent and defenseless people inside. “What if we’re too slow, and more people die because we took our time?”

“Jus’ b’cause it happened at Brisimin doesn’t mean it’ll happen here, Princess.” Zadé said as she brought her horse alongside theirs.

“But what if it does? The last thing I need is more deaths on my conscience.”

Elessan’s arm tightened around her. “And the last thing we need is your death on ours,” he said.

“You’d put my wellbeing ahead of everyone else’s?”

“‘S what it means ta be queen,” Zadé said. “And if our enemies have taken the castle, there is a very real chance they will demolish it, and they won’t care if’n yer inside.”

“Sorry, sweetheart,” Elessan added. “I understand the urge to rush in—my mother’s still in there. But you’re outvoted.”

She turned until she could meet both their eyes. “This is not a democracy! I’m the monarch. The nobles may not respect or obey me, but I expect the two of you to do so.” She grabbed the reins from Elessan’s grip. “And while I acknowledge you have a point about my safety and knowing what’s happening before we go charging in, we need to get home now.” Nudging the horse with her heels, they took off into the forest.

Aliya watched the shadows creep across the castle walls from the alleyway where Elessan had stashed her and Zadé before slinking off to get a closer look. She brushed her hand against her forehead, catching a few strands of errant hair and pulling them away from her face.

They’d deposited the horses several blocks away. After cantering all day, they deserved every bit of care and rest money could provide, and Aliya was far too distracted to rub them down herself.