CHAPTER FOURTEEN ISI
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ISI
We slipped out the back door. I locked it carefully, replaced the key in its hiding spot, and we navigated back through the narrow streets.
Shouts echoed in the distance. The patrol, still searching for the man they’d been chasing earlier?
We kept to the shadows, Pherin scouting ahead. When we reached the marketplace, I spotted Lexie and Derren almost immediately.
Lexie moved through the crowd with my grace, wearing my face like she’d been born to it. Derren maintained the perfect distance behind her.
Four guards surrounded them still, seemingly oblivious.
I pulled my hood up higher and bumped into Lexie as she passed a fruit stall.
“Pardon me,” I said.
Trew and I slipped down an alley, circling around to approach the tea shop from the rear entrance. We stepped into the dim interior.
The shop was still empty, and we settled in the back room to wait.
Time stretched out. My heart thudded against my ribs, each beat counting down until someone discovered the deception.
Finally, the front door opened. Footsteps approached.
Lexie and Derren appeared in the second doorway, already shedding their pendants. Magic rippled across their features as they returned to themselves. They handed the charms to Trew, who stuffed all four into his pocket.
“Well?” Lexie asked. “What did you find?”
“Addie’s alive,” I said. “Thorne has her. They’re heading south, past Syllavar.”
“Into the wasteland?” Derren’s brows drew together.
“To my mother’s place, apparently.” I pulled off the cloak, handing it back to Lexie. “I didn’t know she had property there.”
Lexie and I switched positions, her adjusting my gown while I smoothed her hair back into place, the familiar ritual of women helping each other prepare, even if the preparation was part of an elaborate deception.
“The guards?” Trew asked.
“Completely convinced,” Lexie said, smugness clear in her voice. “Though a lord tried to intercept us near the fountain. I had to pretend interest in his hunting stories for ten excruciating minutes.”
“One of my suitors.” Lord Alfred, perhaps. My lips twitched. “Thank you for your sacrifice.”
“You owe me.” She adjusted my pearl necklace, her fingers gentle. “I’ll see you in your suite in a bit.”
I nodded.
Trew and I left the tea shop. Our guards stepped in to surround us, and we aimed for the castle. I maintained my composure and kept my spine straight, my expression serene, but my mind spiraled through everything we’d learned.
Your sister lives. Relief threatened to crack my careful mask, yet rage burned beneath my skin as images of Addie in the west tower, kept there, tortured, flashed through me.
Pherin shifted on my shoulder, puffing up bigger than ever, my anger feeding her fury.
She sent thoughts of pecking out my father’s eyes, then setting the castle on fire for good measure.
Later, I said. We’ll do it together.
She ruffled her feathers. Bite off head.
Only if I don’t get to him first.
One guard shot us a suspicious glance, his eyes narrowing before he looked away, spurring us to quicken our pace.
We passed through the upper part of the village, where afternoon shadows stretched long across the cobblestones.
Fewer people watched us now, most having gone to their homes to prepare their evening meal.
The notices announcing the Day of Mercy still hung on posts and walls, cream parchment stark against weathered wood.
Twenty-three names. Eleven days.
My chest tightened.
“Your Highness?” The lead guard’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Are you well?”
I realized I’d slowed, that my face must’ve shown the emotions churning through me.
“I’m fine.” I fanned my face and placed my hand on my brow, playing the delicate princess. “Just tired from the walk. I’m looking forward to going home.”
“Very well, Your Highness.”
We moved faster through the streets, and I forced myself not to look at the notices again. Seeing them wouldn’t change what was written there. It wouldn’t save any of those lives.
But I would. Somehow.
The castle rose ahead, stone walls glowing in the fading light. Home. Prison. The place where my father kept his secrets locked away in forbidden towers.
Where he’d kept Addie.
We passed through the main gate and took the path to the front door, entering the grand foyer. The guards who’d escorted us stopped.
“Thank you for your service today,” I said, giving them a gracious smile. “Please convey my gratitude to my father for his thoughtfulness.”
The head guard bowed. “We’ll report that the excursion was uneventful, Your Highness.”
Uneventful? If only they knew.
I climbed the stairs to my suite with Trew behind me. The performance continued even here, in these familiar corridors.
Only when we’d reached my door did some of my tension ease.
Mae waited inside with my other ladies, rising from her seat near the fireplace as I entered. Her eyes swept over me, assessing, concern written in every line of her face.
“Did you have a pleasant visit to the village, Your Highness?” she asked.
“Very, thank you.” I pulled off my gloves, handing them to one of the other ladies. “The people were kind.”
Mae’s gaze cut to Trew, who’d taken up his position near the door, and a frown bloomed on her face.
“Ladies,” I said, injecting warmth into my voice, “I’d like to rest before dinner. Mae, could you stay? I need your help with something.”
The other ladies curtsied and filed out.
The moment the latch clicked, Trew glanced my way.
I nodded, and he moved, his hands carefully weaving layer after layer of wards. The temperature rose. Pressure built and released, making my ears pop.
Mae went absolutely still, her eyes widening as she glanced around. “Something…is happening. We need to—”
“Mae,” I said softly.
She turned to me. “Amarissa, what’s going on?”
But before she could ask more, a knock echoed through the door.
Trew opened it.
Lexie stepped inside, dressed in her lady-in-waiting clothing. Kerralyn entered behind her, carrying a full tray that smelled of roasted meat and fresh bread.
“Delivery from the kitchens,” Kerralyn said cheerfully, her violet eyes bright with excitement. “Cook thought the princess might be hungry after her excursion.”
“Thank you. You can set it on the table by the fireplace.” It was all I could do not to race to Kerralyn and hug her. Knowing that I had someone other than Trew inside the castle I could go to meant everything.
Mae’s gaze moved between us. “You…” Her frown deepened. “I haven’t seen this woman before.” Panic lifted her voice, and she backed away from Kerralyn as if my friend was offering poison.
“It’s nothing. I’ve seen her around.”
“I recently started working here, my lady.” Kerralyn sent Mae a short bow.
“But I’ve seen Isi—” She slapped a hand over her mouth and sent a wide-eyed gaze my way.
“Her Majesty, that is. She’s come to the kitchen and spoken to me herself.
” The words rushed out of her. “We’ve talked about pastries.
Cakes. Cookies. She’s been kind and I…” She must’ve realized she’d said too much already because she cut herself off.
Mae blinked at her for a long moment.
“You…know them,” she said instead, and I could see from her face she was putting it together.
“Tell me to call the guard this instance, and I will.” Her hand snapped to her pocket, and she drew out a small knife, stomping over to wave it between me and the others.
“Stay back or I’ll hurt you. I won’t allow you to harm the princess. ”
“Please. Mae. Put down the knife.” I laid my hand on her arm. “They won’t hurt me. They’re…friends.”
“What?” she barked, though she lowered her arm to her side.
I pried the knife from her hand and gave it to Trew. “They’re here to help me. It’s complicated, Mae, and I can’t explain more right now.”
She glanced between us, her frown tightening. “They’re not coercing you into saying this, are they?”
I looked into her eyes, hoping she’d see the calm I was trying to project. “They’re not. Not one bit. I promise.” I hesitated, knowing what I was about to ask would be difficult. “I need you to trust me without knowing all the details. Can you do that?”
For a long moment, she studied my face. Then she nodded. “I’ve always trusted you, Princess.”
“Thank you.”
“But,” her expression turned fierce, and she shot each of my friends a glare, “if any of you hurt her or put her in danger, you’ll answer to me.”
He inclined his head, respect clear in the gesture. “Understood.”
“I truly do need rest,” I said. “Could you make sure I’m not disturbed? I’ll call if I need anything.”
Mae nodded. She squeezed my hands once more before leaving, pulling the door closed behind her.
“Will she talk?” Trew growled.
I shook my head. “She’s been my friend all my life. She won’t allow anyone to hurt me.”
“I’m sorry,” Kerralyn said, tears in her eyes. “I almost gave us away.”
“It’s alright,” I said. “This is new to all of us.” I raced over and swept her up, spinning her around while she half-laughed, half-cried. I finally set her on her feet. “When did you get here?”
“I came with Derren and Lexie. We didn’t want to infiltrate ourselves into the court all at once.
” Kerralyn sucked in a breath and released it.
“The head of the household staff is one stiff woman. She quizzed me for what felt like hours before hiring me. You’d think they’d be glad to find more staff.
She said the library didn’t need any help but if I would lower my standards, she’d put me in the kitchen.
I’m not much of a cook, but I’m pretty good at washing dishes. ”
Lexie dropped down onto the sofa, her skirts fluffing around her legs, and kicked off her slippers with a groan. “Fates, these shoes are torture devices. How do you walk in them?”
“Practice.” I strode over and sat beside her. Kerralyn joined us on my other side.
“We made a deal, though you seem to have forgotten,” Kerralyn said. “Syllavar and Caldrith, working together. That includes infiltrating enemy castles.”