Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Sabine and Otto crossed the bridge, her guards following close behind.
“I’m glad we’re out of the palace,” Otto said. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
She peered at him sidelong. “About what?”
He whispered, “You need to be careful with Rainer.”
A dark laugh escaped her lips. “Trust me, I know—I’m married to him.” While she didn’t know him well, the fact that he’d had the entire Avoni delegation killed, kidnapped the Bakley children, and planned to wage war was more than enough for her not to like the guy.
“The longer I’m here,” Otto said, “the more I hear about him that is disturbing.”
“Like what?” She couldn’t imagine what else there could possibly be.
“His temper is brought up repeatedly.”
“By whom?” She wondered who he’d been talking to and where his information came from.
“Guards, soldiers, some of the nobles in the palace. Just be careful.”
Sliding her arm around his, she pulled him closer. “Thank you for caring. But you don’t need to worry about me. I’ve got this.” He likely wouldn’t believe her false bravado. However, she needed to assure him so he’d leave. The longer he stayed, the more she feared for his life.
He patted her hand. “I really hope so.”
They stepped off the bridge and headed along the main road, into town.
“What, exactly, is your plan for today?” Otto asked, nodding at the first set of buildings they were about to pass.
She dropped her brother’s arm and opened her arms out wide. “This is my kingdom; these are my people. I want to get to know them.” She reached up, making sure her crown was in place.
“And why is this considered mischief?” he asked.
“Rainer asked me to stay in my room for my own safety. When he finds out I’ve been wandering the palace, he’ll be upset. When he finds out I’ve been in the town, he’ll be livid.” A smile slid across her face.
“And your goal is to upset the man?” he asked incredulously.
“No, that’s just a perk.”
The streets were crowded and many began to notice her. The people moved to the sides of the street, bowing, allowing her and her brother to pass through the center untouched.
“All right,” Otto mumbled, “you’ve got their attention. Now what?”
“We shop.”
The two of them entered the blacksmith store on the right.
Sabine introduced herself to the owner and asked about the swords and weapons he forged.
A small dagger with a handle made for a woman caught her eye, so she bought it.
The next store she went to sold jewelry.
She perused through the necklaces and bracelets before buying a couple of items. Next, she went to a leather store where she bought a belt for Otto.
The two of them continued shopping, buying something from each store they entered. By the time they reached the end of the main street, her guards had their arms full with food, wine, clothes, bags, and other various items.
Word spread quickly that the queen was out buying goods. Many came to catch a glimpse of her while children began bringing her bundles of stonecrop. The beautiful pink flower was one of her favorite colors.
Seeing the citizens of the kingdom she ruled over made her realize she needed to make a point of shopping here at least once a week and employing some of these people in the palace.
Since this town was so close to the crown, she wondered if all towns were as well off as this one, or if this was the exception.
Once she figured out how to stop the upcoming war, she’d find a way to visit the other towns in Lynk.
It was time she got to know all her people.
Back in her room, which was now filled with flowers thanks to the children from the town, Sabine plopped onto her bed, exhausted. Harta jumped up and lay beside her, licking her face. Sabine laughed.
Someone knocked on her door. She groaned, too tired to get up to answer it. “Who’s there?” she called out.
Markis stepped inside. “Your Majesty, Prince Anton is here to see you.”
She waved him closer. “Do you know what it’s about?” she whispered.
“No. But everyone in the palace is talking about what you and Prince Otto did today. My guess is it has something to do with that.”
If that was the case, then she could speak with Anton. “While we were out, were you able to do what I asked?”
“I’ll discuss that with you later.”
“Okay, let Anton in.” She sat up but remained on her bed. It was probably better to use the royal rooms for receiving guests, but this was just Anton and those rooms felt like Rainer’s, not hers.
Markis opened the door, admitting Anton.
“Queen Sabine, may I have a word in private?” Anton asked, eyeing Markis.
She nodded and Markis left the room, closing the door behind him. It surprised her that her guard would leave her alone with Anton but not Axel.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, petting Harta.
“There’s not much that goes on in this kingdom that I’m not aware of,” he said, coming farther into the room, his posture relaxed.
As the king’s spymaster, Sabine assumed Anton knew a great deal about the goings on in the kingdom.
“Commander Felix dispatched two highly confidential letters today,” he said.
Her hand froze on Harta. She blinked several times, not sure how to handle this situation. Not once had she considered Anton learning about her conversation with Felix.
“Obviously, I had my spies read the letters.”
Closing her eyes, she wished she could go back in time and insist Felix send a single messenger to deliver her instructions verbally. Only, that would have meant even more people being aware of the changes she’d issued. The less who knew, the better.
“Rainer is going to kill you when he finds out what you did,” he said, his voice low.
“If,” she murmured, “if Rainer finds out.” She kept her focus on Harta, refusing to look at Anton and read the judgement that was sure to be on his face.
“How are you going to keep this from him?”
“No one knows.”
“My spy who intercepted the letter knows. I know. The captains in charge of the army camps and on the boats know. That’s at least six people.”
And Otto knew but she kept that to herself. “There’s no reason for any of those six people to willingly tell Rainer anything.” If Anton decided to keep his mouth shut, she would get away with it. It all depended on the prince.
He perched on the side of her bed, near her feet. “What’s your goal?”
“Peace.” At that, she finally looked him in the eyes so he’d know she was serious.
His eyes remained on hers as if searching for something. “Even if you manage to pull this off—and that’s a very big if—you may save the other kingdoms but destroy this one in the process.”
“I don’t think Lynk is so fragile that it can be ruined by peace.” To stop this war, she needed Anton on her side and willing to help her. “And what about the League?”
“What about it?”
“Are you aware that Rainer intends to destroy it?”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean destroy it?
“He doesn’t want it to exist any more. He wants to make his own laws instead of being under the League’s rule.” Harta jumped up and trotted out onto the balcony. Sabine pulled her feet under her, fidgeting with a string on her bed.
“Are you certain?” Anton asked.
“I am.” When he didn’t respond, she decided to push him.
“Where do your loyalties lie?” She’d asked him this very thing back in Nisk when he’d questioned her about her own loyalty.
Would Anton uphold the League’s rules and stand with the League?
Or would he side with and follow Rainer?
At some point, he would have to choose because he couldn’t be loyal to both.
He ran a hand through his hair, the only sign of his agitation.
“Why did you come here? To warn me? Arrest me?”
“Technically, no laws have been broken.” He sighed. “I came to hear your side. That is all. I should go.” He stood and started to head to the door.
“Wait.” Sabine hadn’t considered doing this until this very moment.
“I have something for you.” Reaching under her mattress, she pulled out the late queen’s journal.
She came and stood before Anton. “I found this at the castle when I married Rainer. This belongs to you. You and Axel.” She handed it to him.
His hands shook as he reached for the journal. “Is this my mother’s?”
“Yes. It was in the room I stayed in.”
He took it, his eyes filling with tears as he carefully opened the cover and read over the first page. “Why are you giving this to me now?” He closed the journal.
“I don’t know Rainer well like you do,” she said. “At first, I didn’t think he was like his father, but the more I learn, the more I wonder about that. And it scares me.”
“My step-father was a monster.”
“And Rainer?” she asked, her voice barely audible, afraid of the answer.
“He is the same.”
A monster disguised as a handsome king made him all the more dangerous. “You should know that my plan is to stop the monster by any and all means,” she whispered. “Even if that means sacrificing myself.”
“You’d do that for Lynk?”
“For Lynk, Bakley, all the other kingdoms. I don’t want a needless war where fathers, husbands, brothers, and lovers die. The League has kept us at peace and it needs to remain in place.”
“Can I keep this?” he asked, placing his palm on the cover.
“It belongs to you.” While she’d wanted to read through it to discover more about the past, hoping it would give her insight into Rainer, this belonged to Anton since it was his mother’s, and she had no right to keep it to herself.
“Rainer doesn’t deserve you.” He made no move to go. “Be careful. I’ll do what I can on my end.”
Hope bloomed in her chest since this meant they were allies on some level. He’d already proven he could keep a secret and was beginning to earn her trust. “Can I ask you something?”
He lifted the journal. “After giving me this, you can ask me anything.”
“Did Rainer give the order to kill the entire Avoni delegation?” For some reason, she’d feel better knowing it came from one of the captains instead.