Page 75 of To Save a Kingdom

A few minutes later, Aliya had everyone broken up into groups. A small contingent of guards would go with her to the kitchen and clear out the servants who were supplying Brooks’ people with food. Aliya would sneak up the dumbwaiter and cause a distraction while Zadé and Roland’s forces broke down the library’s doors.

“I don’t see why you have to be the diversion,” Elessan said, stepping out of Tsara’s grip. “You’re the queen. If you get hurt…”

“Let her do it,” Roland said with a dismissive wave. “If she insists on putting herself in danger, it’s not our place to forbid it.”

Elessan bit back a snort. The king couldn’t be more obvious in his hopes that Aliya would perish so he could step in and lay claim to her kingdom. Turning to face Aliya, he tried to catch her eyes, but she wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“I’m the only person who will fit in the dumbwaiter.” She turned a scornful glance at him and spun away with a snarl. “The rest of you are too tall, too broad, or both.”

Elessan chewed the inside of his cheek. He’d bet ten gold pieces her insistence also had something to do with being a shapeshifter. There was a crucial detail to this plan she wasn’t sharing, but he was no longer in the position to demand those answers.

An invisible weight settled on his shoulders. In choosing his mother’s life and the survival of Aliya’s kingdom over a lifetime with her, he’d done this to himself. The thin white line across his palm was proof enough of that.

Aliya was still speaking. “And keep your earplugs in. There’s no telling what Brooks will do once he realizes he’s under attack.”

“When Brooks sets off a Whisperer,” Elessan said, “every single one of those hostages is going to die.”

The room froze as, one by one, everyone turned their attention to him.

Swallowing audibly, he continued, “I guarantee Brooks hasn’t issued the captives any protection.” He glanced at Aliya, who nodded in confirmation. “When we burst into the library, the last thing the prisoners are going to think to do as they’re scrambling for cover is to plug their ears. They’ll be using their hands for other things, like crawling and trying to escape. Every single one of them will die. Is that what you want?”

Muscles feathered across Aliya’s jaw. “Then what do you suggest?” The words were firm and clipped, like she was forcing them up her throat.

At least she was talking to him. He’d take that small victory. “First, we need to figure out if he has the Whisperers with him.” He tried to meet her eyes, but shifted his focus to Zadé when the silence became too much. “Did you see the Master Artificer, or the weapons when you were there?”

The muscles in Aliya’s jaw ticked. “Brooks is there. I didn’t see any silver canisters, or Garrik.” Turning her attention to Zadé, Aliya caught the general’s eye. “You’re with me. We can clear the kitchens.”

Zadé nodded, adjusting the sword at her hip. “I’ll help yeh get ta where ya need ta be.”

Aliya met Roland’s eyes as she tossed him half of a speaking stone pair. “That should let you hear what’s going on back by the hostages. Will your people breach the library once I’m in position?”

Roland and Tsara locked gazes, a silent conversation passing between them in a few heartbeats.

Elessan clenched his jaw. If he’d just given up everything for Aliya and the king refused to honor his word… His knuckles turned white as his nails pressed crescent-shaped marks into his palms.

Eventually, Roland met Aliya’s gaze and nodded as he pocketed the speaking stone. “Take my soldiers with you to bolster your numbers.”

Elessan bit back a scoff. If Roland did as she requested, he’d likely put her guards—the humans—on the front line, and Aliya couldn’t afford any further losses to her support base. Losing any soldiers would weaken her ability to hold the throne. But if he were to say anything, Aliya would disregard it out of anger. Catching Zadé’s eyes, he glared at her, shaking his head.

“Princess,” Zadé said, her focus on Elessan, “perhaps your escorts would be better off with us. We don’t know what we’ll find in the kitchen and His Majesty’s men should be more than sufficient to overpower a few of Brooks’ nobles.”

Warmth swelled in Elessan’s chest. Zadé may be upset with his actions, but her tactical mind was still intact. And the way she’d phrased it, if Roland objected, it would only make him look weak, or as if he didn’t have any confidence in his soldiers’ abilities.

Aliya rolled her eyes. “Fine.” Meeting Roland’s gaze, she cocked an eyebrow. “Shall we say, half an hour?”

The royal nodded. “See you on the other side of victory.”

Chapter 30

Aliya

Aliya flinched at the sound of so many footsteps marching down the marble hall. They would’ve been so much stealthier if it had been just her and Zadé, but the other woman had been quick to explain that, if Aliya’s guards had gone with Roland, they wouldn’t have survived. She may be no tactical genius, but even Aliya could see now that if she lost these men she’d have none left when this was behind them. After all, a dozen soldiers were better than nothing.

She was grateful Zadé was on her side. All the more so because she didn’t know what to make of Elessan anymore. Her initial reaction had been one of jealousy and betrayal. But she knew firsthand how manipulative the sun elf royals were. Tsara had likely backed him into a corner the same as Roland had with her. If what Elessan said about his relationship with Tsara and his lack of romantic interest in her was true, then he’d given up his happiness and freedom to guarantee the survival of Aliya’s kingdom.

It shouldn’t hurt as much as it did. The frustrating thing was she didn’t know who she ached more for—him or herself. Or both of them, for the loss of what they could have had together.

No! She shoved that line of thought aside. What was done was done, and she’d sort out the repercussions after she freed the hostages, killed Brooks and reclaimed the Whisperers.