Chapter 29 #2
“All wars are the same, people fighting for power. People die, Theo. It’s a part of life.”
The only person Luther had ever lost was their mother. He’d been eight when she’d passed, but he’d never been to battle or war. He’d never looked death in the eyes or watched someone he trusted his life with die.
“You’re blinded and arrogant,” Theo growled.
“And you’re severely misplaced. Maybe when I take my place as Duke of Luana, I’ll appoint my own chief.”
Theo didn’t stop to allow him to see the relief settling over him. “You’ll drive this place to ruin.”
“You’re doing a fine job of that all on your own.”
The door swung open, followed by laughter, warming Theo’s heart. Adelaide and Esaias passed over the threshold, but their movements ceased as they spotted Luther at Amaris’s worktable. Adelaide’s smile faltered, but she regained her composure, putting up a front.
She grinned, coming up beside Luther and nudging her fist into his shoulder. “Have you come to wish Theo a quick healing?”
Luther turned to Theo, his face shrouded from their view as he flashed a look of warning. “Of course, I would hate to see what could befall Luana without his unrelenting protection.” He closed the book and darted down the steps, his shoes clacking.
Esaias slammed the door, muffling the sinister echo. “It still perplexes me how we’re all even related to him,” Esaias grumbled, jumping up onto the worktable. “He’s dreadful.”
“You didn’t have to sit beside him at supper for the last three years, hearing him complain about how much longer the war would last.” Adelaide reclined in the chair closest to the hearth, studying her jacket sleeve and brushing off an invisible piece of lint.
“We have a problem,” Theo blurted out. There was no sense in dancing around it. “The duke is planning to send Amaris to Elric after the Conjugation.”
Adelaide sat up, and Esaias clenched his fists.
“What happened to proving herself?” Esaias asked.
“He never planned to let her go,” Adelaide cut in.
“What about her betrothed?” Esaias began, adding extra emphasis as he rolled his eyes.
“He beats her.” If he made an appearance, Theo would ram his dagger through his gut.
Theo had mentioned Derek to Esaias, in the case he came looking for Amaris while he was confined to his bed, but he hadn’t shared further about her circumstances.
Any intelligent person, though, would’ve been able to put it together, but the whites of Esaias’s eyes expanded as his lips gently parted.
He was a stronger fighter than most, but he hardly paid attention to detail.
He’d be one to forget his head if he had to put it on every morning.
“Lord Freville’s family wants answers and for someone to pay for his death.” Theo leaned back against the stone. He winced, but he forced himself to lean into its cooling touch through his thin shirt. Amaris had removed the bandages since all the wounds had finally scabbed over.
“Then we’ll help her escape. If she stays here, she’s as good as dead.” Adelaide took the lead, pulling a dagger from her boot and twirling the tip and hilt between her fingers.
“I won’t allow either of you to be associated with this. I’ll sneak Amaris out during the Conjugation. If I’m caught, it’s my burden, not yours.”
“Sorry to squash your act of heroism, but you aren’t doing this alone. Amaris is our friend too,” Adelaide said, draping an arm around the back of the chair.
Theo gave them a heated stare, but neither of them backed down. “This is going to be incredibly dangerous, and we’re going to Elric if we’re caught.”
Esaias clasped his hands together, rubbing them back and forth. Theo could already see the plan forming within his eyes, and he waited for him to say the dreaded words.
“Alright, hear me out,” Esaias said. “Amaris will be accompanying me to the Conjugation.”
“I highly doubt she’ll consent to that,” Adelaide retorted, twisting her blade in her hand.
“She already has.” Esaias gave Theo a dreadful smirk and a twinge settled in his gut. “This will allow her to be free of the tower or anyone else’s watchful eye.”
“Luther said you’re bringing a merchant’s daughter.”
Esaias’s eyes gleamed as he laced his fingers together. “I am. Ann Lawson will be my escort, the only daughter of a widowed father who owns a small jeweler’s cart.”
“I have to give it to you. That’s not a bad idea,” Adelaide added, not even bothering to give Esaias a glance. “Where did you get Ann Lawson?”
“Her idea.”
“What if someone recognizes her?” Theo asked.
A mask wouldn’t be able to hide Amaris’s features. Her bright-blue eyes and head of curls would give her away instantly.
“I have her gown and mask already in the works. Adelaide, you’ll do your part with hair and makeup to disguise her.”
“I can try, but she’s hard to hide. She’s quite beautiful.”
“Isn’t she?” Esaias sighed. “If only she could stay. I’d love—”
“Too much detail,” Adelaide groaned.
“I haven’t even said anything.”
“Your intentions permeate the very air we’re breathing.”
Theo rolled his eyes as they both sent each other darting grimaces of mockery, but Adelaide was right. It was still a risk. They’d need to plan each moment, prepare for the unexpected.
“Toward the climax of the party, Adelaide, I want you stationed on the beach,” Theo said, the rest of Esaias’s plan forming in his mind. “All the other entrances will be heavily guarded. The bay is our only means of escape.”
“Where do you plan to go?” Adelaide asked.
“We’ll make our way to Duncaster, and I’ll see she’s safe.
” Safe was a broad statement. She may have wished to find other accommodations outside Duncaster, but for now, it was their best option.
She’d have access to a ship if she preferred or the safety of a large city to hide in.
The missing tenants were still a frightening issue, but Theo could stay with her until she was safe or headed for somewhere new.
“You’re forgetting a fatal flaw in this plan. If you aren’t here the next morning, the duke will know you aided in her escape,” Adelaide began.
Theo’s head fell back against the wall. If they were both missing, it wouldn’t take anyone smarter than Esaias to put it together.
“I hate to say this, but either someone doesn’t come back, or Amaris has to venture herself.”
“I’ll gladly volunteer,” Esaias said, jumping on the opportunity to follow Amaris into a small boat, where there would be no one but them and the ocean for days.
“That I know she won’t agree with,” Adelaide snapped.
Theo grasped his jaw, rubbing at a nick Amaris had left that morning. Theo had insisted he shave himself, but after a few failed attempts, she’d ended up doing it for him.
“I don’t disagree, but I’m inclined to go with Esaias,” Theo said. “If he doesn’t turn up the next morning, everyone will believe he’s taken an extended holiday with this Ann Lawson.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” He grinned.
For once, Esaias’s lifestyle would be useful. “Esaias, will you grab Gris for me? I had her looking into Freville’s death, and I want to know why she hasn’t come to me with anything.”
Esaias and Adelaide both eyed each other, passing hesitant glances.
“What is it?”
“Gris isn’t here,” Adelaide began.
“Where is she?”
“No idea,” Esaias added. “She’s been having Sephardi cover her sentry duties the last few weeks.”
“When was the last time you saw her?” Theo attempted to stand from the bed.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Adelaide grasped his waist, guiding him back to the bed.
“I’ve rested enough. I’m tired of being cooped up here. Besides, evidently, I need to find Gris.”
“No, Theo, it’s not that she isn’t working. She’s gone. As far as we know, she’s left Luana Bay,” Adelaide said.
That would explain why she hadn’t checked in, but he wished she would’ve told him before traveling to Duncaster.
Adelaide leaned into him, forcing him back on the bed. She braced her hands against his shoulders, her face pinching tightly as she scowled at him.
“Wait, if Amaris isn’t with Gris, where is she?”
“Sephardi is watching her.” Esaias jumped from the worktable. “She’s held up with Pricilla in that small alcove of hers, and we figured she’s the safest person to have watching over her, since Bennet feels she’s neutral in all of this. We don’t want to risk him sending one of his inner circle.”
“I hope she is.” Theo recoiled, forcing himself onto the bed. He wanted to see if he could tolerate the walk down the steps, to see Amaris with his own eyes.
“Don’t worry. Sephardi’s our friend foremost, but she also tried holding Amaris back before she jumped in front of the whip,” Esaias said.
A ringing formed in Theo’s ears. “She did what?”
“You don’t know?” Esaias questioned. “She jumped in front of you and took a lash around her forearm. She tried to get them to stop, but Gerard held her back before your father stepped in.”
Theo owed Amaris for too many life debts. She’d now saved him twice by putting herself at risk.
“I’ll let Amaris in on the plan,” Adelaide said, disappearing down the steps.
“I’d be happy to assist.” Esaias smirked and steepled his fingers.
Before Theo could protest, Esaias followed her. He sighed and reclined. In a week, the Conjugation would be upon them, and they’d smuggle her out. But he couldn’t stop the growing ache in the pit of his stomach at the thought of sending her away.
Theo was only pulled from his troubles when a pile of books caught his eye.
There wasn’t much for him to do with his bed rest. Reading was a nice comfort, but he’d devoured countless novels secluded in the tower.
The stack beside his bed, however, was new.
Amaris brought him a variety every week, but her stack hadn’t even been touched yet on Theo’s other side.
He bent over and picked up the first tome.
It was an old Gorrin sailing book he’d read many years ago.
Amaris had only selected Akaric, and many of them were romance novels.
He initially believed her to think she was torturing him with steamy books, but he’d begun to realize she might have caught on to his guilty pleasure.
A note slipped from the first page written in Pricilla’s curly hand.
Amaris told me about your curiosity with the phrase aslorn per de eclahard in The Merry Sheridan. I recalled your questioning of its meaning and took it upon myself to research the phrase. Here are a few tomes I think will please you.
Theo flipped through the pages, stopping where Pricilla had inserted a bookmark.
His finger scanned the page until the phrase came into view.
Theo spent the next few hours reading through Pricilla’s notes and thumbing through the books she’d left him.
All of them had the same conclusion and led back to the Serpent.
Not a single mention excluded the pirate ship.
Theo pondered the idea, but the ship had sunk nearly fifty years ago.
Pirates hadn’t been a problem since. They’d caused significant damage to the port cities and set to raiding merchant ships.
What if they were the ones stirring the mayhem in Duncaster?
Theo brushed aside the thought. It was impossible. They’d taken refuge deep in the Black Sea. With their dwindling numbers, pirates wouldn’t stand a chance against Godwin’s armada.
He set aside the books and rubbed at his eyes. He hadn’t received a letter from the governor in weeks regarding any more disappearances. He’d hoped their extra soldiers had been enough to cease whatever plagued the city. Theo shuddered. He couldn’t allow himself to think on Duncaster’s issues.
He had minimal time left until the Conjugation. Amaris’s safety was a pressing matter. Duncaster, missing persons, and pirates could wait.