Chapter 27
Scavenger Hunt
Rory was waiting outside of Evelyn’s room when she arrived with her newly appointed guard, Simon.
“Oh great, there are two of you now,” Evelyn said sarcastically.
The guards whispered updates to each other while Evelyn rushed into her room to change clothes. There wasn’t any time to process the horrible things she had seen.
What right do I have to panic, anyway? Leo lost his father and now he’s supposed to run a kingdom. All I have to do is stay nearby and keep my shit together even though my own home was also threatened. No big deal.
Rory and Simon walked Evelyn downstairs.
This level of supervision is going to get old in a hurry. But… would I be safe without them? How much danger are Hannah and I in?
The ballroom turned into a command center. Leo was talking to King Tristan and General Savatier. Commander Magalie was giving directions to various guards from both kingdoms, and an officer was addressing a group of soldiers.
“Do the two of you need to check in with Magalie for orders?” Evelyn asked her guards.
“You are our only orders, Princess Evelyn,” Simon said seriously.
“Surely I don’t need both of you. Wouldn’t you be more useful somewhere else instead of babysitting me?”
“Your Highness, the two kings are extremely concerned with your safety,” Rory explained. “Our job is to limit one source of stress today so they can focus on everything else.”
Two kings? But King Gerard is dead, so it’s only my father… No. Leo is a king now. I need to get used to that.
Two days ago, I thought he was a guard who didn’t like following the rules. Today he’s a king. The Leo who kissed me is now King Alexander. I don’t even know what to do with that information.
Guards scattered when Commander Magalie finished giving directions. She approached Evelyn and bowed. “Your Highness, I heard about your abilities that allowed you to find the missing soldiers. Alexander wants you to try your luck with the missing guards.”
“Certainly,” Evelyn agreed. “I don’t know if I can be helpful, but I’ll try.”
Magalie led Evelyn around the palace, through the garden, down to the beach, over the docks, and up to the stables.
Evelyn didn’t see anything out of place and definitely didn’t find seventeen bodies.
She did learn that Rory was allergic to flowers, based on the dozen times he sneezed in the garden.
They went into a large, utilitarian building used as living quarters for the guards and other palace staff. Magalie used magic to unlock each door so Evelyn could check every room, including closets. But there was nothing to find.
“I’m sorry to waste your time,” Evelyn said.
“It’s not a waste of time to know we aren’t missing anything on the property,” Magalie replied.
They returned to the palace. King Gerard’s body had been taken down while they were gone, but Evelyn wasn’t sure where he had been moved to. Still, she felt better without a corpse looming over the entrance.
Leo looked up expectantly when they walked in. “Anything?”
“No, sir,” Magalie told him.
“We’ll add the missing guards to our list of problems,” General Savatier said, clearly frustrated. “My soldiers will keep an eye out.”
“Thank you,” Magalie said before leaving.
“Were any of the guards from Carrowmore?” Evelyn asked.
“No,” King Tristan said. “Our guards were stationed inside.”
Damien joined their Circle of Bad News. “The borders are closed. Movement has been restricted on the coast and the river to only allow for military communication. We were able to get in touch with Prince Rowan in Carrowmore and he is taking the same precautions.”
“You talked to Rowan?” Evelyn asked, hopeful for good news.
“Not directly. But we have enough soldiers stationed along the river to quickly relay messages.” Damien gave her a sad smile. “Nothing is out of the ordinary in Carrowmore.”
“What about within our borders?” the general interrupted.
“All four courts have been informed,” Damien continued. “The lords are on their way.”
General Savatier faced Leo. “Are you set on remaining in the palace?”
“Yes,” Leo said without elaboration.
“Then the lords should be invited to stay here as well,” the general decided. “I know they enjoy the royal guest houses, but the last thing we need is to spread security too thin.”
“I agree,” Damien said. “And it’s not like they’ll be in bunk beds. There’s plenty of room in the palace.”
“Father, are you staying?” Evelyn asked.
“Yes,” King Tristan said, “for as long as I can be helpful. Though I would prefer you and Hannah to be away from all of this.”
“I don’t want to leave.”
“Then we will protect you here, Princess.” Damien gestured toward Rory and Simon. “I see your guards have already multiplied. Does the new one know he needs to be fireproof?”
Simon’s eyes went wide and Rory suppressed a smile.
“He’ll figure it out,” Evelyn teased.
“We should put you in charge of security,” Damien suggested.
“A wall of fire around the palace isn’t the worst idea,” the general considered.
“I would appreciate you keeping my daughter out of military operations, gentlemen,” King Tristan warned.
Lord Stuart Fontaine entered the ballroom and bowed. “Alexander.”
No one knows what to call Leo yet.
“Thank you for coming,” Leo said.
“It is my pleasure to serve the Crown,” Lord Stuart declared. “The Auditory Court is loyal to you and your family.”
“Suck-up,” Damien whispered into Evelyn’s ear.
“I appreciate that,” Leo said in a monotone.
“I’m afraid there isn’t much that can be done yet,” General Savatier said. “Not until the other lords arrive.”
“You can make yourself comfortable in the sitting room,” Damien told his father.
Lord Stuart hesitated. Taking orders from a captain was beneath him. But when no other directions came from the new king or the general, he didn’t have a choice. “I will do that.”
Once his father was out of the room, Damien stepped away from Evelyn. “I have more work to do, but I will return if I get any updates.”
“Thank you, Captain Fontaine,” the general said.
Damien whispered something to Rory, then left.
“Sweetheart,” Evelyn’s father said. “You should get some breakfast and relax while there’s time.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I was just on a scavenger hunt for seventeen probably dead bodies. You want me to eat a pastry and take a nap?”
General Savatier turned his laugh into a cough almost fast enough.
King Tristan wasn’t amused. “Stay out of trouble and with your guards.”
Evelyn rolled her eyes and walked away, not entirely sure where to go.
“Princess Evelyn,” Lord Stuart called as she passed the sitting room. “Do you have a minute?”
“I—”
“Apologies, Lord Stuart,” Rory interrupted. “The princess is needed elsewhere.”
“Of course,” the lord said with his lip curled into a fake smile.
Rory and Simon ushered Evelyn out the front door.
“And where is it I’m needed?” she asked.
“Captain Fontaine gave me additional orders to keep you away from Lord Stuart,” Rory explained.
“Why?”
“He didn’t say, Your Highness.”
“What am I supposed to do out here?”
“Anything that doesn’t involve setting things on fire or running from your guards, Princess.”
“Well, damn, there go all my plans for the day.”
Simon snorted, and the first layer of his professionalism slipped away.
Maybe having these two around won’t be so bad.
Evelyn looked at the stake in the ground where King Gerard’s body had been. Blood stained the grass around it.
There was so much blood in the bedroom. I’m not going to think more about his eyes lying on the bed. We can all pretend that detail didn’t happen, especially with his wife asleep beside him.
Was the king already dead when he was impaled, or was he up there screaming for help? There weren’t any guards outside to hear him. Maybe he couldn’t scream because he was drowning in his own blood. Maybe—
No. We’re not doing this right now.
Evelyn wandered over to the stables. She didn’t have strong feelings about horses, but animals were always better than people on a bad day. It ended up being perfect timing because Lord Nicolas arrived on horseback with several Vision Court soldiers.
“Lord Nicolas,” Evelyn greeted, pretending to be cheery.
He handed his horse to a stable boy and bowed to Evelyn. “I wish I were seeing you again under better circumstances, Princess. Are you headed somewhere, or can I escort you to the palace?”
“I was just getting some air. I’ll go with you.”
Nicolas offered his arm and Evelyn took it. The blood-soaked stake caught his eye. “Is that where…”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “They found him at dawn.”
“What about you? Are you okay?”
Evelyn hesitated. She didn’t want to lie, but she didn’t want to talk about it.
“Sorry for the stupid question,” Nicolas said, understanding her silence. “No one is okay today.”
He let go of Evelyn’s arm when they got to the front door, but she stayed by his side as they made their way into the ballroom.
Lord Nicolas bowed to Leo without saying anything, avoiding the decision of picking a title. Leo actually looked relieved and nodded in thanks.
“Where do you need me?” Lord Nicolas directed the question to General Savatier.
“Nowhere yet, but we can catch you up on what’s happened.”
“I’m going to skip the recap,” Evelyn said before going to the dining room.
A pastry does actually sound good.
The dining table was as long as it could possibly be and every inch of it was covered with dishes full of food. Soldiers and guards came through randomly and grabbed what they could carry before scurrying off again, like disorganized ants attacking a picnic.
Who knew the kitchen staff would be so essential in a crisis?
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Evelyn turned and found Leo behind her. She put two chocolate croissants on a plate, then clasped his hand and pulled him into the kitchen.
It was so busy that no one even noticed them.
The frantic energy and noise of cooking was the right kind of distraction.
Leo and Evelyn sat together at the small table in the corner.
She handed him one of the croissants. “Eat this.”
“I’m not sure I can eat anything,” he protested.
“Eat it anyway.”
“Between you and Damien telling me what to do, I don’t get to make many of my own choices,” Leo joked but the humor fell flat.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll have lots of opportunities.”
Leo picked at his croissant, pinching off one bite at a time. “I missed you yesterday.”
Okay, so we’re not talking about King Gerard right now. Got it.
“It wasn’t a great day,” Evelyn said.
“What happened with Councilor Ritter?”
“Nothing important.” Evelyn fidgeted with her hair. “I heard your fight with Damien on the stairs.”
Leo winced. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you could hear us.”
“He’s your friend.”
“You’re my friend, too. Right?”
Evelyn nodded.
“Please don’t hide from me anymore,” Leo pleaded. “I couldn’t bear it yesterday.”
“Don’t lie to me again,” she said, staring directly into his eyes.
“I promise.”
This can work. Leo and I can be friends. I can help him cope over the next few days.
But I don’t think I can watch him with Hannah. Is he going to court her again now that he’s a king? His father wanted him to get married before he took the crown, but it’s too late for that. So what happens now?