Chapter Seventeen
Pamuna
Swinging on a rope of magic that was killing Prince Torex and climbing through a window while carrying a baby wasn’t something Pama ever wanted to do again. But she was chillingly aware that she’d been waiting to die beside her charge in the nursery before he arrived.
She’d tried to tell herself that the guards would arrive in time.
There’d been enough fighting beyond the doors that she was sure some guards were defending the nursery—but as the fight had gone on and the battering against the door had grown more frequent, she’d feared the protection wasn’t enough.
She still wasn’t sure she should have left Prince Torex, but he was right that Princess Cala had to be protected. Pama had sworn to protect the baby, and while she hadn’t really envisioned it would be with her life, she would do what needed to be done.
Prince Torex had given her clear orders that she could obey. She was a little embarrassed by how relieved she was that he’d taken charge and laid out a clear path to follow. It made her feel less responsible for leaving him in that room. She’d have to grapple with that… later, once Cala was safe.
Because now she had to figure out how to execute Prince Torex’s last order.
The room she was in was dark and quiet. She was tempted to just hide here until it was all over—which might even be the smart option if it was over soon.
If whoever was after them didn’t realize the baby was gone. If they didn’t start a search.
Pama had watched one of the guards try to let the attacking force into the nursery. She didn’t know who to trust—except for Torex, who adored Cala, and who’d ordered her to get the baby to her father.
So that’s what she would do. One hand on the baby, thankfully still quiet under the blanket, Pama inched her way through the room and cracked open the door.
There was no sign of anyone, though she could hear distant sounds of yelling.
Were those all coming from the nursery? She needed to get away from the area.
She didn’t understand how anyone could go after a baby, and she didn’t want to think about how many people had died to protect Cala—or how many might be dying right now to give Pamuna this time.
It made it doubly important that she do as instructed, that she get the baby to the High King—and only him.
He would have all his magic, and he’d be able to protect Cala from everyone. Pamuna had seen the shields and avatars Torex and his brother could make at full strength. Yes, getting Cala to her father was the smartest course of action.
She blew out a breath. If she were the High King, where would she be? She didn’t think he would simply stay in his quarters in the middle of all this chaos, but it seemed the most likely place to start.
She crept along, trying to keep to the shadows and the least used hallways—which lasted until she ran into a mercenary who was doing the same thing.
He looked startled to see her, but before she could even react, he was slashing at her with his sword. She screamed and tumbled to the ground from the force of the thrust, but she didn’t seem to be dead. So she grabbed her knife and stabbed upward, catching him in the leg.
He let out a roar of pain, and she just kept slashing with her knife.
Someone was screaming.
The man attacking her was suddenly wrenched away, and Pama thrust out with her knife again, but a voice was calling her name.
“Pama! Pama! Stop! It’s me.”
Dazedly, she realized that it was Nawila who was crouched down beside her, and she flung herself into her partner’s arms and burst into tears.
Nawa wrapped her arms around her and stroked her hair and assured her that everything was fine. Pama felt like nothing would ever be fine again, but she felt safer with Nawa than with anyone else. If Pama couldn’t do this on her own, she knew Nawa would help.
“Oh, Nawa.” She was gulping sobs and could barely get the words out. “It’s so awful.”
Nawa kept holding her and telling her that she was all right. Pama might be all right, but—
She straightened abruptly. “Oh, Nawa, you have to send more guards to the nursery right away! Torex is there, and he’s being attacked.”
Nawa frowned. “No, he’s locked up—”
Pama shook her head forcefully, barely able to get all the words out in her urgency. “He was released. He’s being set up! He’s in the nursery! There are too many attackers. Oh, Nawa, please!”
She looked stunned, but she said, “Yes, of course.” She turned to the three guards Pama hadn’t even noticed with her and issued curt orders. “Go to the nursery at once. You do whatever you have to to protect Prince Torex.”
They gave sharp nods and then set off at a dead run.
Pama chest burned with shame. Why hadn’t she said that the instant she’d seen Nawa? It had to be the shock, and she could only pray they’d be in time to help Prince Torex.
“We need to get more help,” Pama told Nawa urgently. “It sounded like there were a lot of attackers in the hallway. I’m sure they were defeating the guards, or maybe some of the guards were working with them. They were battering down the door when Prince Torex helped us climb out the window.”
Nawa looked shocked again. “What?”
Pama flipped back the edge of the blanket, and the color drained from Nawa’s face.
“The shield,” she breathed.
Pama could do nothing but nod. It was darker now that it had been when she left. “I swore I’d get the baby to her father.”
Nawa shot to her feet, and then she held out a hand so that she could pull Pama up.
“Right.” She nodded, almost to herself. “Guards first. It will be fine.”
The shield was alarmingly pink. Pama didn’t think it was going to be fine at all, but she appreciated that Nawa was trying to reassure her.
Nawa led the way, sword out, eyes darting in every direction. She nearly passed a corridor and then doubled back, sounding incredibly relieved.
“Guards! Go at once to the nursery. Mercenaries are attacking, trying to reach the Princess.”
“Yes, Lady Nawila!” one of them said, and they sprinted off towards the nursery.
Could they all be trusted? Goddess, Pama hoped so.
“When the castle has been compromised and royal quarters may be known targets, there’s a receiving room where the Royal Family is meant to be protected,” Nawa told Pama. “Our troop was informed for when Prince Torex is in residence. We’ll start there.”
Pama followed where she was led, desperately grateful for Nawa and her knowledge.
They took a circuitous route, trying to stay out of populated areas, which Pama heartily supported.
She had her dagger gripped in her hand, and the only reason she wasn’t holding Nawa’s hand was because she knew she needed it free to defend them if necessary.
And then Pama felt a jolt go through her. She stumbled and grasped frantically at the blanket. She pulled it back, and her heart sank like a rock. The shield was red as blood and completely opaque. And then, with a soft “pop,” it disappeared.
Pama’s breath caught in her throat. She looked up at Nawa, but she couldn’t figure out what to say. She wanted to believe that Prince Torex had let the shield drop voluntarily—but she knew he wouldn’t ever have done that. She knew what that blood red color meant.
He would have… he had protected Princess Cala with his life.
Nawa’s eyes were bleak and filled with the same knowledge.
Pama swallowed around the lump in her throat even as tears filled her eyes. “He saved my life. Both our lives.”
The tears spilled over, and Nawa pulled her into her arms and then kissed her hard on the lips.
“We both know how much he loves”—she choked and corrected herself—“loved the baby.”
Torex would have done anything for Cala.
Pama sucked in a breath and managed to choke out, “We need to get the baby to her father. I promised Prince Torex.”
It was the right thing to do for Cala, and Pama owed it to the Prince. Nawa gave a curt nod and led them on. When they finally arrived at the heavily guarded door, Nawa demanded, “Is the High King with the Queen?”
The guards exchanged glances, and then one of them nodded. Apparently, they knew better than to get on Nawa’s bad side.
“We need to see him.”
“He is not to be disturbed,” one of the women pointed out. “We can’t let anyone in there right now.”
Nawa’s tone brooked no argument. “Tell him it’s Pamuna with Nawila. He will see us.”
The guards eyed one another, and then one of them went to the door while the rest stayed alert. Pama supposed she couldn’t blame them, under the circumstances.
A moment later, they were ushered inside.
Varex
Var felt like he’d tossed and turned for most of the night, but apparently, he’d managed to fall asleep for at least a moment, because he was suddenly snapped out of uneasy dreams. Jerking upright, disoriented, it took him a moment to realize that a guard had entered the room. Ferna was clutching at him.
“Your Majesty! There is a fire in the kitchen!” The guard sounded like they were trying not to panic.
Cursing, Var hurried out of the bed, and Ferna rose with him. He turned and gave her a swift kiss. “Let me go see if there’s anything I can do, Sweetheart. Stay here.”
She frowned, looking worried. “Are you sure?”
He kissed her again. “Absolutely. I’ll be much more effective if I’m not worried about your safety.”
She sat back down on the bed, her gaze fixed on his. “All right. If you’re sure.”
Var hurried out of the room and followed the guards.
Soon, he was close enough to smell the smoke, then he could hear the crackling, and finally, the fire was in sight.
If this was a kitchen fire that had gotten out of control, someone deserved to be dismissed for letting it get so far. The room was practically engulfed!
He pushed the thought aside. He’d investigate how this had happened later. The staff with buckets were doing their best, but the fire was too large to be doused easily.