Chapter Seventeen
Inside one of the palace guest rooms, Emmaline sat on a bed, knees pulled up to her chest, chin resting atop them.
So much had happened since she’d disembarked from The Queen’s Garden.
She’d delivered the news of the events at Causley Estate, how her mother was still in danger, and her father’s bargain with General Varro.
Then Silas told her about Mama’s letters, that Archer was already on his way to help her.
The knowledge comforted Emmaline, but it also left a strange, hollow ache in her chest. All her efforts to save her mother had only made things worse and none of it had been necessary.
A sharp knock on the door drew her out of her melancholy thoughts. “Em?” Echo called softly.
“Come in.”
Echo slipped through the door, closing it so quickly that she caught her skirts in the frame. “Dammit,” she muttered, tugging them loose. She frowned at the wrinkles, then shrugged carelessly and sauntered over to the bed.
“You changed your face again,” Emmaline observed
“Felt more proper this way,” Echo replied, her roguish grin out of place on the sweet, heart-shaped face. “Nobody will bat an eye at a lady midnight visitor.”
Emmaline huffed a laugh. “Did you need something? Or were you lonely without someone to bother?”
“The second,” Echo replied as she flopped onto the bed at Emmaline’s feet. She rolled around, grabbing a corner of the sheets and bundling herself up. “Gods, these are soft. You think he’d notice if I pilfered a few sets?”
Emmaline watched Echo without replying. She was so carefree, even with a potential battle looming over her head.
Once Echo was bundled up so tightly only her blond head was visible, she settled down and gazed at Emmaline. “You’re upset,” she stated. “I thought you would be happier, hearing news from your mother.”
Emmaline took a deep breath, trying to order her thoughts.
“I feel like I made everything worse. Mama never expected me to save her—she sought Archer’s help instead.
And she was right to. I could do nothing for her.
And when I tried ... when I told ... Everett about Mama, I put so many more people in danger.
My father never would have bargained with Varro if I hadn’t told him about her. ”
Echo sat up, letting the blankets fall into a puddle of silk around her lap. “Em, is that what’s worrying you?”
Tears dotted Emmaline’s eyelashes and she tried to surreptitiously wipe them on her folded arms. “If I was stronger, I could have saved her from Alistair on my own. Then my father wouldn’t have learned where she was, and he wouldn’t have bargained with Varro to capture her for himself.
Then we wouldn’t be waiting for Varro’s attack”
Echo scoffed, the sound loud and phlegmy. “No offense, Em, but you simply aren’t important enough to be the catalyst for a war.”
She blinked at them, unsure how to react. “What?”
“Let’s say you defeated Alistair single-handedly.
Were you then going to hunt down Varro and stop his revenge plot?
You wouldn’t even know about it. Maybe without your mother, Varro wouldn’t have any leverage to bargain with your father, but he wouldn’t have stayed away.
Nobody who arranges a whole coup is going to give up after one failure! ”
Echo placed her hand on top of Emmaline’s and squeezed gently. “You’re just one player in this game. You can’t control anyone else’s actions; you can only control your own. And I, for one, am happy that your actions led you right to me.”
Emmaline’s lips parted in shock. Gone were the roguish smirks, cheeky winks, and crass suggestions. In their place was simple, sweet sincerity. She turned her hand over and entwined her fingers with Echo’s. “Thank you.”
Taking a deep breath, Emmaline straightened up. “There’s nothing else I can do to help Mama, but there are still people here in Litus I can help.”
“That’s the spirit,” Echo murmured before releasing Emmaline’s hand. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day of preparations, so we should both get some sleep.” She flopped down on the pillow next to Emmaline and grabbed the edge of the sheet, pulling it up to her chin. “G’night.”
“Echo,” Emmaline said, sighing in fond exasperation. “Go to your own room.”
Echo sighed and rolled out of the bed. “Fine, have it your way. I’ll have you know I’m a very good cuddler. All my clients say so.”
“You’re your only client.”
“And I was very pleased with my own services.” As she walked to the door, the overconfident swagger returned to her hips, shedding her sincerity as easily as she shed any of her faces. “See you in the morning, Em. We’ll prove to those pirates that they’re messing with the wrong princess.”
“Not a princess,” Emmaline corrected, but she was still smiling even after the door closed.
More than a dozen people crowded into the small meeting room in the Merchant’s Guild, but the most important person had yet to arrive.
“Does your king plan to join us?” Moira drawled.
Cal cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly. “He’ll be here shortly, I’m sure.”
Emmaline twisted her fingers nervously in her lap, her eyes locked on the door.
What if he’s sick again? Although her mother had broken Silas’ curse, Emmaline couldn’t completely erase the memories of his illness from her mind.
Too many times, she’d seen him unable to keep food down, weep blood, and suffer through terrible headaches.
The Silas she met last night appeared healthier, stronger, but there were purple bruises of exhaustion under his eyes.
“Perhaps I should find him?” she suggested. If he really was sick, she would be the best person to treat him, even without her supplies.
But when she stood up, Braden held a hand out, gently gesturing for her to sit.
His presence at the meeting was the only one she didn’t understand.
After the argument with the captain, she expected the father and son to remain on the ship until they dealt with Varro, yet both men had already been present when she’d arrived.
“Let me,” Braden said. “I’d like to speak with him privately anyway.” He stood up and gestured for his son to join him.
Instead, Koen slumped further in his seat. “You said privately. I can wait here.”
Braden sighed and shook his head. “You were so excited to meet him.”
Koen scoffed, a blush coloring his cheeks. “No I wasn’t.”
The door opened and everyone turned toward it, expecting Silas to walk in and end the argument.
Instead, Griselda strode into the room. When she saw everyone’s eyes on her, she scowled and demanded, “What?”
“Have you seen King Silas?” Cal asked.
Her eyes narrowed. “No, he skipped dawn exercises. Don’t tell me Silas has gone and gotten himself kidnapped. Again.”
Emmaline’s heart jumped into her throat. “Could my father have ...”
“Nah,” Echo said, waving away her concerns. “Too sneaky for Everett. He likes direct confrontation.”
Emmaline arched an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten how we met?”
Echo stared at her for a moment, then stood up so fast the chair clattered away from them. “Maybe a few of us should look for him.”
Emmaline was halfway out the door before they grabbed her hand. “It’ll be faster if we split up,” she said, though she didn’t shake off their grip.
“True, but if your father is involved, I’m not letting you out of my sight.” They flashed her a cheeky grin. “Besides, it’s a good excuse to hold your hand.”
Emmaline huffed in exasperation but didn’t shake them off.
“His Majesty? I haven’t seen him this morning, but around this time of day he’s usually in the Council Chambers.”
“No, we haven’t seen him today.”
“Last I saw him was in the kitchens.”
“He left, said he had a meeting.”
“Have you checked his office?”
Emmaline had, but that’d been half an hour ago. She thanked the maid and hurried down another corridor.
“I almost wish he’d tackle me again if that meant we’d find the damn man,” Echo grumbled from a few steps behind her.
Before Emmaline could reply, she spotted Langley standing outside the office door. Her heart soared in relief. “Good morning, Langley! Is Silas inside?” She didn’t wait for the guard’s answer as she knocked briskly.
A few moments later, Silas called, “Come in.”
Overcome with relief, Emmaline burst into the room. “We’ve been looking all over for you!”
“You were supposed to meet the captain an hour ago,” Echo scolded, wagging a finger in Silas’ face like a displeased tutor.
“We’ve got plans to make, defenses to raise, bullies to scare off.
And we had to leave your dear general with my dear captain and I’m pretty sure if someone doesn’t intervene, one of the deer will turn into a wolf. ”
Silas’ lips quirked in a small smile. “I received a letter from your mother.”
Tears sprang to Emmaline’s eyes as she accepted the letter, clutching it to her chest. It was the most wonderful thing she’d ever seen, and she hadn’t even read it yet.
“She’s all right! Oh, thank you, Silas! Thank you!
” She leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, then whirled out of the room again, already reading the letter as she walked.
Silas,
I hope things are well in Bellacosta. Archer arrived safely, bringing news of everything you’ve faced since we’ve parted. You’ve survived so much and I am sorry to lay more worries at your door, but there are things you must know to protect your kingdom. To keep my daughter safe.
Emmaline sniffled as she read the last sentence. Even now, when she faced her own dangers, Mama was still determined to protect her.
The next few paragraphs summarized the events of Causley Estate, Niall’s deception and how Alistair had possessed Valerian. Emmaline skimmed the contents, not wanting to dwell on those memories. She gasped when she reached a part of the story she hadn’t known.
Penn made a deal with Alistair. He would stay with the mage, serve him, in exchange for mine and Emmaline’s freedom. I followed them, trying to assist from afar, all the while unaware that someone else was hunting me.
His name is Everett Shaw and he is Emmaline’s father. The man I knew was only a facade, a handful of fake smiles and charming lies. Underneath it all, the real Everett is cruel, calculating, and determined. He has allied himself with Varro, and I fear what he will do if he finds Emmaline.
Archer arrived in time to thwart Varro’s men. Thank you for sparing him, as I know it must be difficult to part. I would return him to you now if he weren’t needed in Casselarn.
I can only hope that Emmaline has arrived by now. Protect her. My first letter was an order, this is simply a mother’s plea. I would give anything to see my daughter again, to know that she is safe.
May our troubles soon end,
Adelaide
“Bad news?” Echo asked, voice soft.
Emmaline looked up and smiled through her tears. “Good news,” she assured them. “Mama is safe.”
For now, at least. Her mother’s letter confirmed that Everett remained a threat. He would continue to chase Mama down, using whatever resources he had available.
But maybe this time, Emmaline could protect her mother. She had to find a way to ensure her father would never threaten her or Mama again.