Chapter 46 At Any Cost
Castien took measured breaths.
In and out.
In and out.
Perci—he grit his teeth.
In and out.
I, Prince Castien Valengard, swear that so long as I bear the Valengard name, I will be both weapon and shield for my kingdom. Cunning as a fox and strong as a lion shall I be. No enemy will prevail under my watch. I promise to defend my kingdom at any cost, unto my dying breath.
“Castien.” Wren’s voice broke into Castien’s recitation of the Valengard creed.
He couldn’t look at her. If he did, he’d break. And Castien could not afford to break. His weakness cost too much.
“Finnick,” he called over to his cousin, who was holding a sobbing Letta. He could see the pain in his eyes. Pain that was reflected in Castien’s heart. “We’re going to escort the ladies to House of Adira, then we’ll go to my chambers.”
Finn nodded. Castien worried Wren might press him or argue, but she did not. She looped her arm through his without a word. He breathed easier knowing she was allowing him to get her to safety. Her touch was a welcome comfort, too.
The guards looked at Castien, then at Finn—who still had his sword drawn—and stepped away.
Good. The less interference, the better.
Castien didn’t want to cause a scene by taking his sword to their necks.
He did not have the restraint to resist at the moment.
All of his willpower was keeping his emotions under control.
“Kierana—” Castien began, his eyes focused on Finn and Letta who had begun to slowly walk ahead of them.
“I’ll follow.”
He dipped his chin in thanks. They set off in silence toward the house. All around them, students and staff rushed to and fro. Some were crying; others stumbled along with shocked expressions. It was madness.
They made it to House of Adira, where Finn handed Letta off to a maid with wide eyes.
She didn’t seem to notice the transition, blinded by her tears.
Castien stood inside the foyer and allowed himself to glance down at Wren.
He needed to be sure she was faring well given the high emotions of those around them, but if he looked into her eyes for too long, he would be of service to no one.
She was paler than usual but seemed well enough. He didn’t want to leave her here without protection, but he had a duty. One that he had already failed. His eyes burned.
“Cas,” Wren whispered, her voice broken.
Castien clenched his jaw and shook his head.
“I must go. I need to get information while everything is still fresh. I will check on you as soon as I can. Keep your doors locked. Trust no one.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes brimming with tears.
“I love you.”
Castien felt the sum of all she wanted to say but couldn’t. He bent down and brushed a kiss across her forehead.
“I love you too. I’ll send word when I am able.”
He pulled back and turned toward the door where Finn was waiting. His cousin’s chest was heaving. Castien saw the raw grief overtaking him. The same that had grabbed hold when his mother had died.
“Let’s go,” Castien ordered calmly.
Finn nodded and pushed through the door into the too-sunny day. What had been a symbol of Castien’s recent joy had now become grating. Perci was dead, and yet the sun shone above.
Perci was dead—
Castien clamped his jaw down.
I, Prince Castien Valengard, swear that so long as I bear the Valengard name, I will be both weapon and shield for my kingdom.
“Cas, I-I can’t breathe. I can’t–” Finn choked out. He stopped in the path and pushed his hands into his hair.
Cunning as a fox and strong as a lion shall I be.
Castien grabbed his cousin by the shoulders and caught his tear-filled gaze.
“You can breathe. You will get through this. One step at a time. We’re going to walk to House of Arythes. Then up the tower to my chambers. That’s all you have to do. Put one foot in front of the other.”
Finn nodded, taking in a shuddering breath. “Okay, one step.”
Castien let go of his shoulders and turned toward the path again.
No enemy will prevail under my watch.
They made it to House of Arythes without conflict. Many of the students were already locked away in their chambers. Up the stairs they climbed. At some point along the way Finn had begun counting out each step they took. Castien did not mind. The numbers helped him as well.
Heathford stood by Castien’s door, stoic as ever with his hands clasped in front of him and his mouth straight. Not a hair out of place or a wrinkle in his clothes.
“What do you know?” Castien asked as the butler unlocked the door to his chambers.
They walked inside, and Castien went straight to his desk to grab a quill and ink, then over to his investigation wall. Finn sank onto the edge of Castien’s bed and stared blankly ahead.
“Percilean was found in one of the laboratories he frequented,” Heathford began.
A sob wracked Finn’s body. Castien clutched the quill so hard it snapped. He growled and stalked back over to his desk.
“Perhaps we should wait, Your Highness. Allow for some time to grieve,” Heathford entreated.
“No,” Castien replied sharply. “We will not lose precious investigation time. Who found him?”
Castien pushed aside stray parchment and journals. Where were his extra quills? He opened a drawer and riffled through it before slamming it shut again.
“Where are my quills, Heathford?” he asked as he opened another drawer.
“In the cup on the right corner of your desk,” Heathford answered quietly.
Castien pushed aside the stack of books that had been hiding the collection of quills. He drew one out at random, then returned to his spot at the investigation wall. Castien didn’t spare a glance at Finn.
“Who found him?” Castien repeated the question when Heathford didn’t immediately say.
It was silent for a moment. Finn sucked in a ragged breath, as if he was attempting to get himself under control. Castien braced himself for the answer.
“Lady Letta, Your Highness.”
Finn cried out again. Castien shut his eyes. Saw Perci’s shy smile as he told Wren of his plans to take care of Letta. Recalled Finn’s words the day before they’d captured Soren and Ambrose.
“I think he wants to be strong, to protect her.”
Letta’s distraught face and tortured wails filled his mind’s eye next. Castien drew on his fortitude and forced himself to focus.
“Do you have any other details? In what state was he found?” Castien asked once he’d gathered his strength.
Had he been wrong about Soren and Ambrose? Were they dealing with the same killer? Or had someone—possibly Calypsia—taken up their mantle after their death as revenge? She was at the training grounds this afternoon, but that didn’t rule her out entirely.
“Perhaps I should escort Lord Valengard to his chambers before continuing,” Heathford suggested.
Castien hit the wall with his fist.
“No! We do not have time for coddling, Heathford. Do as I have commanded you. Perci is dead!” Castien choked on the words. He cleared his throat. “Someone murdered him, and they are out there roaming free. At any moment they could strike again. Tell me what you know this instant.”
Castien stared at the words on the wall.
Just this morning he’d thought of having Heathford paint over them.
Thought perhaps he could fill the walls with sketches instead of suspects.
It was good that he hadn’t. Not just because Castien would need the investigation notes.
He also needed to be reminded of his failure again and again.
“His throat was slit,” Heathford said after a long stretch of silence. “And his hands were removed. In his lap was a rose.”
Castien’s world tilted. He placed his palm on the wall.
“His hands,” Finn cried. “Why? Why would they—” He cut off as his grief overwhelmed him.
Castien’s heart cracked. He struggled to get air to his lungs. All he could picture was Perci bleeding on the ground alone. All he could think of was what would happen if he couldn’t find the killer. Who would he lose next? Wren?
He had to pull himself together. Weakness had a price.
I promise to defend my kingdom at any cost, unto my dying breath.
Castien straightened as the words became his only thought. He dipped his quill. And began to write.