Chapter 32 Keane
THIRTY-TWO
KEANE
Winton Castle stood before us, a pale ghost in the burgeoning dusk.
Darkness seemed to swirl around it, bringing a malevolence I’d never encountered from the old stone walls.
Shadowy figures lurked along the perimeter—both Riala’s illusions and any of Malren’s guards still loyal to her.
Malren, of course, would not be joining them in the fight.
I gathered my guards and the lords into a huddle far enough away from the castle that we wouldn’t be seen while we waited for Raith to arrive with Lily. Frost crackled quietly on nearby branches, and our breath puffed in white clouds from our mouths.
“Do you think it’s warded?” Danzin asked.
“Likely,” Covack said, and for once he wasn’t suppressing a yawn.
“There were originally wards against magic on the palace, left by Queen Fellina many years ago, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Riala has removed them,” I said.
“There’s definitely something at work,” Theund said, his voice gruff as he clutched his weapon. “The tops of the walls look like a mass of wriggling serpents. Like snakes waiting to sink their fangs into anyone attempting to sneak their way into the castle, and I can’t see a front gate at all.”
I turned to where I knew the gate existed, but Theund was right. The castle wall continued unblemished over where the main entrance usually stood, and the top of the wall moved and coiled constantly.
“They’re only illusions.” I offered the reassurance to myself as much as to anyone else. “Simple illusions, most likely created and controlled by Riala to prevent any sort of challenge to her coronation. She knows she is crowning herself Talador’s queen with no authority at all.”
Shadows began to curl nearby and I tightened my grip on my sword, ready to brandish it and protect our group, but then Raith appeared, holding Lily against him.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that mode of transport,” she said, as she stepped away and took a long breath. “But thank you, King Raith. If we’d traveled by road, we wouldn’t have returned in time to save Talador.”
Raith glanced toward Winton Castle. “She has powerful wards in place, different from the ones here before.”
“There are illusions, too,” Theund said.
“I can help with the wards.” Raith paused and seemed to think about something. “But if I dismantle the illusions, Riala will know her magic is being tampered with and she’ll be forewarned of your interference in her plan.”
“That’s fine,” I said. “We’ll deal with the illusions.”
Raith stared at the castle for some time, and then nodded. “It’s done. The wards are gone.”
Lily studied him closely. “Rose said you didn’t draw your runes in the air, but I’m not sure I believed her until now.”
He focused on her with his serious gray eyes. “With more training, you could do the same.”
“I’d like that,” she said, in a low voice.
He glanced around at the gathered crowd. “Unfortunately, this is where I must leave you. Good luck…Queen Lily.”
“Thank you for your help,” she said, sounding regal.
She drew away from her brother-in-law as he disappeared into the shadows for the final time.
Raith had done all he could, and now we were alone, without his powerful magic to aid us.
I gripped Lily’s hand, and strength and determination surged through me.
We could do this. For Lily, I would do anything.
I signaled to my men before I drew everyone deeper into the forest. “There are some very old tunnels that run beneath Winton Castle. They exit out into the forest right around here. I think they’re our best chance at sneaking into the castle undetected.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “Of course. Dahlia’s tunnels.”
Very few people knew about these tunnels, used by Dahlia and Garon for their spy work, but as Captain of the Guard, I’d been given a master key.
I led everyone around an outcrop of rocks and slid alongside a large piece of stone that jutted out at an awkward angle.
The keys jangled as I slid them from my pocket, and I selected the oldest one on there.
It was long and thin and made from a dense black stone that shimmered in the twilight.
I inserted it into a hole in the rock and twisted.
Although I opened this door every month, I rarely ventured far inside, I simply checked the tunnels were safely locked and secure.
Adrenaline rushed inside me knowing we would use them to ensure Lily reached her castle, even when Riala thought she’d covered all entrances.
The stone door slid open, and dank, pitch black darkness awaited us. No one moved forward.
“I’ll go first.” Theund wielded his hatchet and pushed past me as he spoke. Then he glanced over his shoulder. “You should stay at Princess Lily’s side, Captain Keane.”
“I’m not entirely helpless, you know,” Lily said, and to prove her point, she drew a rune in the air and lighted a nearby torch. I nearly jumped at the sudden burst of flame and light, before one of the men grabbed the torch.
“When did you learn to do that?” I asked.
She shrugged. “I’ve been practicing the basic runes from my mother’s spell book. It seems about time I learned these things.”
Pride made my chest swell at how far she’d come, from hiding and denying her fae magic, to openly using it in front of others. We’d likely need that magic now if we were going to stop Riala.
Covack also used his own magic to light some of the torches along the tunnel walls, and we continued forward.
The tunnel widened from three feet to four feet, and we moved quietly down it, pausing frequently to listen for footsteps, voices, or even breathing—anything to indicate another presence under the castle with us.
“Lily.” A female voice spoke from the shadows, and Lily automatically turned toward the sound.
“Who goes there?” I stepped in front of her, my sword ready as Theund raised his hatchet beside me.
Dahlia stepped forward into the light, her dark hair tangled and her gown ripped and covered in dust. She carried a dagger in her hand.
Beside her was Garon, her husband, who always looked deadly even though I saw no obvious weapons on him.
As a former assassin and the leader of the Ravens, he was definitely not a man I wanted to fight.
“Dahlia!” Lily said, starting to rush forward, but then she stopped herself. “I’m very happy to see you, but before we go any further, you need to prove it’s you. We can’t trust anyone with Riala’s illusions in the castle.”
Pride and love for Lily swelled again. “Ask her something only Dahlia would know.”
Lily nodded “What did you give to Rose before she married Raith?”
Dahlia smiled faintly at the memory. “Your mother’s wedding gown.”
Lily rushed forward, and the two women embraced. “I’m so relieved to see you alive,” Dahlia said. “Riala has told everyone you are dead.”
“We tricked her into believing that.”
Dahlia patted Lily’s cheek. “Smart. I’m so proud of you.”
“What are you doing here in the tunnels?” I asked.
“We managed to evade capture and were on our way to our tower to plan what to do next and to gather reinforcements,” Dahlia said, before turning back to Lily. “Riala is holding your sisters captive in the throne room and plans to crown herself queen within the next hour. We must hurry.”
“I’ve sent word to my Ravens, but I don’t know whether they’ll be able to organize an attack in so short a time,” Garon said.
“We’ll have to rely on the small force we have,” I said. “We need a distraction to delay the false coronation so we can enter the room unnoticed and stop Riala.”
I looked around the gathered men, seeing determination written across each of their faces.
This was the moment that would prove their loyalty to Lily and maybe even determine their continued existence.
I didn’t want to think of it in such terms, but it was a very realistic possibility that we might not all survive.
Riala was a very powerful fae mage. I clamped down on another shudder.
I didn’t want to leave Lily when I’d only just claimed my place at her side.
“We’ll do it.” Vasso spoke—the first words I’d really heard from him since his injury. “We’ll create a distraction.”
Lasloe nodded. “Yes, we can cause a disturbance while you and your guards can position yourselves to defend the castle. You know the layout the best, and really our only advantage is that there are seven of us with differing skills that they won’t expect.
” He glared around the gathering of lords like he was daring them to disagree.
“What can we use as a distraction?” Hirth looked at Danzin. “Is there anything you can do with your herbs?”
Danzin shook his head. “Not from this range. Even if I had enough to grind to a fine powder, I have no way to disperse them into the air in the throne room. There are sleeping draughts but, again, the delivery is a problem.”
Covack yawned as he leaned against the craggy wall. “I can start a fire, I suppose.”
“There is a tunnel that leads to the throne room,” Garon said. “I will guide your group there.”
“Good. Let’s go.” Theund signaled to Vasso and they walked up the tunnel first, wielding their weapons.
“You go ahead.” Dahlia stepped closer to us. “Lily, I need you to come with me for a moment. It’s important.”
I hesitated, almost unwilling to be parted, even though I trusted Dahlia. “I’ll take the guards to prepare for the attack.”
“I’ll be there soon,” Lily said.
I gestured for them to follow the lords as I wrapped my arm around Lily and surprised her with a kiss, lingering over her lips and trying to tell her everything I needed to say in case I didn’t get to say it again.