Chapter 9 #3
“Right, the girl. Her name is Nola and she’s a scullery maid.
She’s never been late or missing before.
The other maids mentioned that she could often be found wandering around the smithy, talking to one of the blacksmith’s young apprentices.
” Carrick and Tal exchanged a knowing look.
This confirmed Egan’s findings from the kitchens.
“Apparently the boy has gone missing too, but no one seems to have noticed. The blacksmith said he’s prone to forgetfulness and loses track of time.
But he and Nola disappeared the same night. ”
“Is it possible they ran off together?”
He shook his head. “They boarded with other servants who said they barely have a coin to their name. The two were never seen leaving the palace that night, and no horses or carts are missing.”
“If they didn’t leave the palace, then where are they?” Carrick frowned.
Faron’s attention caught two figures entering the tavern, and he waved them over to their table. “Perfect timing.”
The two men sat beside Faron, each taking one of the remaining drinks. Carrick tensed beside Tal, who shifted in her seat with a deep exhale.
“I’d like you to meet—”
“Eddard.” Tal eyed the man with the carefree smile and sandy blonde hair.
To his credit, Faron appeared only slightly taken aback. “You know each other?”
Eddard nodded. “We’ve met. How goes the horse riding?”
“I get in the saddle here and there. Find the perfect sunset yet?”
“Alas, I’ll have to search another day.”
Tal nodded. She met Eddard shortly after Daire had been appointed to captain. He was just as much a dreamer then as he appeared to be now. She turned to Faron. “What does a member of the king’s guard have to do with this?”
“Did you know that the palace was built in an age of great espionage? It’s riddled with secret tunnels, passageways, rooms hidden from the public, even dungeons that no one knows about.
And thanks to your little incident last night, I did some exploring.
” He winked. “One of the tunnels led to an underground chamber where the two are being held.”
“So, you just happened to find a secret tunnel that led you to a secret dungeon that held the two people you were searching for?” Tal didn’t believe it for a second.
“What luck, right?” He tipped back his ale and ignored the skeptical expression she aimed at him.
“Actually, no. I grew up visiting the palace and was a very curious child. What I just found is that there are others who know about the tunnels and are using them for nefarious deeds. The problem is, I need help. The boy appears to be hurt pretty badly, and the girl has been given a sleeping elixir. I can’t carry them both out. ”
Carrick gestured to the two men sitting beside Faron. “It appears you already have help.”
“Ed is going to distract the guards at the gate so we can get in and out.”
Eddard beamed, but Tal eyed the other newcomer.
He wore the fine clothing of a noble but took little care to present himself as such.
His shirt lay open to a chiseled chest, the buttons undone and one even appeared to have been torn off.
He had disheveled dark brown hair, and a bit of rouge colored his cheek in the shape of a pair of lips.
Tal guessed he had just left some woman’s bed. “And you?”
Unlike Eddard’s childlike smile, this man’s grin smoldered. “Waylon, milady.” He leaned as far across the table as could be comfortable. “I must say, Faron. You never mentioned how beautiful this one is, nor how—” his eyes raked over Carrick appreciatively, “muscled that one is.”
Carrick choked on his drink and spilled the ale down his shirt.
Faron blinked, unbothered by Waylon’s behavior. “Waylon is great at distractions.”
“Among other things,” he interrupted with a wink, causing Carrick to erupt into another round of coughing.
Faron continued. “He’ll help us avoid any altercations.”
Tal turned her attention from Faron to his friends. “Weren’t you just saying it’s bad that we snuck into the palace? Now you’re asking us to sneak back in, and help two prisoners escape? Does the king know they’re there?”
Eddard gave Faron a side-eye while Waylon wiggled his eyebrows at Carrick, and the oversized man scooted closer to Talwyn.
Faron’s eyes darkened. “I think there are some things going on in the palace that are being kept from him. He had no knowledge of the kidnapping until I told him.” He clenched his jaw, and his brow ticked up a notch.
King James, often referred to as the “boy king” by townsfolk, had a reputation for spending more time in high society and brothels than with his council.
“So, why doesn’t he just release them then?” Tal asked.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“Look, he doesn’t know who to trust. We have reason to believe there are members of the council that are keeping him in the dark in order to undermine him.
If they catch wind that he’d been involved in the release of these prisoners, they may suspect that he’s onto them.
He doesn’t have the support he needs to remove these men from his council yet. ”
“And so, he’s asked you to take care of it?”
Two of the three men lost patience with each passing minute.
Faron adjusted his seat repeatedly while Eddard tapped his middle finger on the table incessantly.
Waylon leaned back in his seat and didn’t pay much attention to the conversation at all.
Beside her, Carrick sat straight-backed, accentuating his muscled chest even more.
Tal tried to indicate as much with a wide-eyed expression between him and Waylon, but Carrick only returned the look, seemingly misunderstanding her.
“The guard are controlled by the council. A direct order from James would need to be reported to them. I offered my help, thinking you might have the strength,” he indicated Carrick, “and the stealth,” his eyes returned to Tal, “to get them out quietly.”
“And yet you have a member of the guard right next to you.” Her expression softened when she turned to Eddard, and he smiled back as if they were talking about what to eat for dinner.
Out of all the guard members Tal knew, Eddard was the least likely to reveal their secret rescue, but she wouldn’t admit that.
“I trust both these men with my life. They’ll ensure our escape is without conflict.”
“And why couldn’t the king order the guard not to say anything?” Tal leaned forward with her eyes narrowed at the noble. “What aren’t you telling us?”
He clenched his jaw. “Do you know anything about the politics of running a kingdom?” He narrowed his eyes at her.
Tal hesitated. “No.” She never had reason to venture far enough within the palace grounds to mix with those people, and she never had a desire to know anything about them. She didn’t even know what the king looked like.
“I’ll do everything in my power to get you in and out quickly without issue. I only need your help carrying them through the tunnels and out of the palace walls. I’ll have a carriage waiting to take them somewhere safe once they’re outside of the grounds.”
“You’re sure they’re still there? We shouldn’t encounter much trouble?” Carrick asked. He purposefully avoided Waylon’s gaze.
Tal scrutinized him, still not sure about this plan, and the amount of trust they gave this near stranger. He may be handsome with his youthful eyes, dark hair, and sharp jawline, but she never met a noble who ventured to the docks, let alone one who asked for her help.
“They were there a few hours ago.” Faron straightened.
“Alive?” Something about a woman in distress always swayed Carrick. Hells, the man couldn't stop himself from helping anyone in need.
Tal sighed with resignation.
Everyone leaned closer. “For now,” Faron said through clenched teeth.
Tal watched as the muscle along his jaw flexed and relaxed several times.
Carrick stood. “Then we leave now.”