Page 73 of To Save a Kingdom

“Come on,” the sentry said, gesturing to them. “Let’s quit wasting the lieutenant’s time. I’ll give you a quick tour.”

He led them through the library showing them the dumb waiter they used for access to the kitchens, where rows of blankets lay for people to sleep in shifts, and then, finally, the back room where the elven prisoners clustered.

Aliya scanned the faces until she met the eyes of the single mountain elf. She fought back the urge to smile or nod in reassurance to Sorisana. All the woman would see was another guard, another kidnapper. So instead, she made her a silent vow. I will come back. We’ll get you out.

The sentry was still talking, so Aliya allowed herself to be led away.

After a complete tour of the library, which revealed no other obvious entry points, Aliya and Shadow clustered around the dumbwaiter under the pretense of getting something to eat. The tables on either side were overflowing with bread and cheese. Aliya frowned—Brooks had at least one ally, possibly multiple people, in the kitchens. The face of the kind store owner who had given her shelter and food when she’d first arrived back in Lions Grove and was now head royal cook flashed through her mind—she hoped Patrick was safe and evacuated with the rest of the staff. Anyone still down there would probably be on Brooks’ payroll. “We can’t get people up here quick enough to be any good through the dumbwaiter,” she muttered to her aunt, taking a moment to kick the speaking stone beneath the table. Since she couldn’t get it into the lord’s meeting, at least it could pick up gossip as the guards ate.

Shadow studied her face, likely following her train of thought. “But we could use it to escape, and figure out the traitors who are keeping this group fed.”

Aliya nodded. Without food, an army wouldn’t be effective, but neither could they free the hostages. “I have an idea,” she said, “but we can’t discuss it here.”

“Then it’s time for you to go,” Shadow said. “I’ll stay and see if I can learn anything else from the captives.”

A quick glance over her shoulder revealed that, for the moment, they were alone. Aliya opened her mouth to protest, but her aunt was already disappearing in a pile of empty clothing.

“I thought you didn’t like the elves?” Aliya hissed.

“I don’t,” was the muffled reply. “But I do like what’s best for our kingdom, and letting the Arcane Inquisitor win is not it.” Stepping free from the guard uniform, the black cat stepped out, its fur twitching as though someone had rubbed it the wrong way.

Rolling her eyes and biting back an exasperated sigh, Aliya kicked the discarded outfit beneath the table and scrambled into the dumbwaiter. At this point, she’d accept any info Shadow could uncover, even if her aunt’s motives weren’t pure. “Be safe,” she said.

Her aunt glanced back over her shoulder. “Why are you still here, child? Go!”

With a quick push of a button, Aliya sent the platform down onto the next level.

Chapter 28

Aliya

Aliya barely managed to shrug her gown back on and collect Zadé before she raced back to the council chamber. She shoved both doors open with a dramatic crack. “I have an idea,” she announced to the room.

Everyone stopped mid-sentence as she approached, her eyes dancing over them. Tsara’s eyes were bright, her mouth curled in smug satisfaction. Beside her, Elessan looked sick. She ached to go to him, to find out what was wrong, but now wasn’t the time.

Roland’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes hard as they met hers. “And where have you been?” His eyes flicked down to her left hand.

“Locating General Brightleaf and scouting the library.” She pinned him with an equally rigid stare. “And you?”

Roland cleared his throat, his face reddening.

Tsara stepped forward. “My father agreed to help free the hostages, reinstate our trade agreement and provide enough food to get your subjects through the winter. In exchange,” her arm encircled Elessan’s, “my husband promised to return to the sun elf kingdom and take his place at my side.”

Her husband? Aliya hadn’t realized Princess Tsara was engaged, much less married. She studied the possessive way Tsara was latched on to Elessan, and his bleak expression. Sudden realization slammed into her.

“No.” Her voice cracked, her knees threatening to buckle. A blade made of ice rammed its way between her ribs and into her heart. This had to be some sort of sick joke. Or a nightmare. Her breath hitched as she shifted her focus to Elessan. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“El?” Why wouldn’t he look at her? “El, what’s going on?” Her chest burned as her vision sparkled around the edges.

Another thought careened into her mind. Holding up her hand with the thin line slashed through it, she turned her glare on Roland. “You and I already negotiated all of that. I have the scar to prove it.”

Turning her left palm toward the ceiling, she stared at the imperfection marring her flesh.

Roland shrugged. “It’s not my fault the two of you didn’t communicate before you approached me.”

A sour taste pushed its way up Aliya’s throat. Dark spots flashed in the periphery of her vision.

She was going to faint. Her gaze flew across the room, searching for Elessan, but her eyesight was watery from the tears burning her eyes. She blinked, forcing her vision to clear.