Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
FYN
Ihad hours to formulate a plan to get her out. Hours to act like I knew what I was doing when I absolutely didn’t.
Lioran may never forgive me for what I was about to do. My life was spent heeding his every command, but I couldn’t any longer.
I still hadn’t heard anything from Lioran. A hawk should have carried the letter quickly to him from the border.
I would find my men.
We would strap together whatever plan I could give them and then maybe they’d follow me.
Maybe they wouldn’t.
“Lord Chancellor.” Lord Remus came up behind me as I turned the corner.
Two knights in metal armor trailed him.
I pivoted toward them. “Are you in need of assistance identifying something else?”
“Lord Fyn, you are under arrest by order of King Harlan of Estlen.” He seemed as if he enjoyed giving the order.
“On what grounds?” I asked.
“For violating Princess Ashlyn of Bailoc.” When he answered, the guards seized me.
I only kissed her. “You’re mistaken.”
The foul scent of his breath struck me as he leaned over my shoulder. “You assured me your proximity to her was for protection.”
“I am a foreign diplomat. You will release me. Nothing happened.” When I roared, they only tightened their grip on me.
“You have no immunity here.” Remus scoffed as they pushed me forward.
“When am I to be released?” I needed to get to her—to tell her everything I would have said. “I wish to see the princess.”
“That is no longer your right. Take him underground,” Remus ordered quickly as he left.
Their accusation condemned me. It would condemn her. I couldn’t protect her.
Every corner we turned in the castle, I begged the stars that she would be around it, but each path they took was empty.
Outside the eastern palace wall, the land bulged. A slender wooden door splintered further when they pulled it back.
A knight led me down a winding staircase. Each stone step became skinnier than the last. “Get in.” Moisture clung to the walls and dripped from the ceiling onto my brow as they pushed me forward into a slender cell.
When they locked the door, I could only hear someone mutter down the hall.
I pushed my back into the wall. Bits of water seeped through my tunic.
Mold clung to the air.
I would have gladly taken the scent of a pickle over this.