by Cate Dean
“Tunnel—in the old part of the castle. I used to play there with Micah. We’re the only two who still know about it.”
“Which explains why it wasn’t on the map I was given. I’ll have to correct that. Did you see your attackers?”
Liam shook his head. “But someone who knows me, knows my habits, sent them there.”
“It’s past time to set a trap for your resident rat.”
“I believe—you’re right.” Swallowing, he fought the nausea burning his throat, and met Ari’s narrowed eyes. “I have the meeting of kingdom councils to attend. I have to be there,” he said, before the anger flashing in Ari’s grey eyes could turn into an argument. “It will be my first as Duke of Palamar and representative of the Western Realm—”
A sharp cry cut him off and he clutched the ground, his head spinning.
“Blood loss, my lord.” Ari eased him down, his hand pressing harder against Liam’s shoulder. “Did you find his attackers?”
Liam blinked his vision clear in time to see Xander shake his head. “We did find where they jumped you, milord. They’d been there for some time, waiting.”
Liam swallowed. “I try to keep from falling into a routine, because of Micah’s abduction.” He closed his eyes, at the jolt of pain, and the memory. He nearly lost his brother to these fanatics. It was time to start pushing back. “Ari.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I need you to—find a way to pass along false information.”
Ari raised an eyebrow. “Mislead, misdirect, and point your enemy in the wrong direction?”
“Exactly.”
“It will be my distinct pleasure. They will come after you, when you leave for the meeting in Veran.”
“That is one of the misdirections I’d like.”
Giles arrived, and started prodding at Liam’s shoulder. He wished now he had passed out before the examination.
“I need him brought to the castle, immediately.” Giles stood, glancing sideways as Ari. Liam was well aware the captain terrified him. At least the captain’s reputation did; Liam knew Giles avoided him at all cost, sending his assistant to tend minor injuries on the training yard. “I trust that will not be a problem.”
“Not for me, physician.” Ari grinned when the man scurried off.
“You enjoy scaring him, don’t you?”
“I enjoy putting the pompous ass in his place.” He winked at Liam.
Laughing was not the smartest thing, but Liam couldn’t help himself. Ari had pegged Giles from their first meeting. The physician was arrogant, but he was also loyal, and honest to a fault. A trait Liam found he preferred in someone who treated the body.
Ari pulled him to his feet, holding on when he swayed. “Can you walk, my lord?”
“I—think so.” The way his head spun might prove him wrong, but he really did not want to have his captain carrying him into the castle, in front of everyone. “Can we—”
“Take a back way in? Already in my plan. Best not to let the bastards know they got the upper hand, if only for a minute or two. Xander—clear the way, make it look like you’re not clearing the way.”
“Got it, Captain.” He smiled at Liam. “I do look forward to playing a game of chase the mouse with these cowards.” The smile faded, and he bowed. “We’ll trap them, milord. One way or another.”
“Thank you, Xander.” Liam watched him stalk out of sight, the other guards with him. His new lieutenant had already proven his worth. And with his clever mind, Liam knew he would be a strong asset for Ari. “If I pass out before we reach my rooms, I want to warn you. I have a trip wire alarm across my door. You’d barely feel it, but I didn’t want you to be worried if you saw the alarm. It looks like one of Micah’s bombs.”
“Thank you for the warning, my lord. I won’t throw it out the window, then.”
He flashed a smile before they started moving—then Liam focused on staying conscious as fresh pain ripped through him.
Five
Thomas herded Micah out of The Black Arrow and on his horse, not stopping until they reached the steep road leading up to the castle.
“I am going to speak my mind, milord.”
“Go ahead, Thomas. It will stay between us.”
The guard looked surprised. After a hesitation, he looked at Micah. “I was ordered by your brother to keep you safe. My lord and Duke. When I am thwarted, or waved off like an unwanted presence, I am shirking my duty.”
“Thomas—”
“You could have been harmed, milord. Or taken again.”
Micah knew Thomas still blamed himself; for being distracted, for not reaching Micah in time. “I wasn’t alone. It was broad daylight—”
“As it was when your abductors dragged you away.” Thomas let out his breath. “I never want to be so helpless again, milord.”
His quiet words struck Micah. As long as he had known Thomas, he had never seen the guard hesitate, or second guess himself. It must have been torture to know where Micah was, and not be able to stop what was happening.
“I’m sorry, Thomas. I try to forget that day, but it is still a possibility. I won’t wave you off again.” He held out his hand. “You have my word.”
Thomas gripped his hand, his palm hard and calloused. “I will hold you to it, milord. With physical force, if necessary.”
Laughter burst out of Micah. For all that Thomas could be stone faced, he had a sense of humor that showed itself without warning.
“I have been warned. Let’s go home; Liam is probably pacing in the dining room, cursing my name while the food grows cold.”
“I sincerely doubt he would allow fine food to go to waste. Milord.”
Micah laughed again, and spurred his horse, leaning forward as the gelding galloped up the hill. They shot through the open gate, and Micah pulled up short in the courtyard.
His mother was waiting for him.
Elena Brachon, Duchess of Palamar, stood in the center of the courtyard. Her hands were clasped together so tightly her fingers were white.
Micah swung down, handing the reins to a groom. “Mother? What is it?”
“Liam,” she whispered. Micah’s breath caught in his throat. “He is missing.”
“What do you mean, missing?”
“There is blood near his office—so much blood—”
She let out a choked sob and clutched Micah. He had grown the past few months, and he was able to tuck her under his chin. Joseph stood near the main doors, silent and pale. When Micah met his eyes, he nodded.
“Mother.” He eased her back, fought the urge to let her go, to run inside and yell for Liam. “You need to calm down, talk to me. Please, Mother. You are useless to Liam like this.”
“Of course.” She dabbed at her eyes. “I am sorry, Micah—it was such a shock, to see all that blood. Joseph will tell you what he knows, and you both will find Liam.”
Once Micah was certain she wouldn’t collapse if he let her go, he moved to Joseph. “What happened?”
“The Duke never appeared for a meeting with your mother. When I went to investigate, I found—a large pool of blood near his office. And this.” Joseph held out a knife. Liam’s knife.
“No one could have entered the castle. Not without alerting the guard.” Micah’s voice shook. He wanted to run inside, find Liam in one of the hiding places he used to tease Micah when they played hide and find me. “Can you—” He cleared his throat, shoved his hands in his pockets. “Show me what you found. I want the captain to accompany us.”
Joseph looked startled. “Milord—is that necessary? I do not believe he will be of any assistance.”
“I disagree.” After Liam divulged the new captain’s past, Micah knew that if there was something suspicious, Ari would see it. “Have him sent for and meet me at Liam’s office.”
“No need, my lord.” Ari stood at the top of the stairs leading to the castle, his grey eyes unreadable as he studied Joseph. “And I’m afraid rumors of the Duke’s disappearance have
been exaggerated.”
Relief left Micah dizzy. “Where is he?”
“In his bedroom, resting, and under guard. He was attacked in the old passages under the castle.” Ari stalked down the stairs, halting in front of Joseph. “He requested that he not be disturbed. I am going to take a little trip down to the spot where he was ambushed, if you care to join me.”
“I would,” Joseph said.
For a moment, Micah thought he saw surprise in Ari’s grey eyes. But the captain covered any reaction by bowing, his shoulder length blonde hair swinging forward.
“Duchess?”
She stared at Ari, and finally shook her head. “I am afraid this whole thing has left me too distraught. I am going to my rooms if anyone needs me.”
Micah watched her leave, then joined Ari and Joseph. “Tell me what you didn’t want to say in front of her, Captain.”
“Whoever attacked your brother meant to do more than harm him. My men found shackles and chains in one of the side passages.”
Joseph’s already pale face drained of the little color that remained. “What are you insinuating, Captain?”
“I’m not insinuating. I’m stating straight out. Whoever is behind the young Duke’s abduction wants him gone.” He turned to Micah. “Come with me, my lord. I left the blood in front of the Duke’s rooms, and I’d like you to see it before it’s cleaned up. Then we will head to the tunnels. Will you join us, Joseph?”
Ari asked, but it sounded more like a demand than a question. Joseph nodded, joining Micah as he followed Ari up the stairs. Joseph’s presence helped; the advisor had always been a rock of stability and wisdom, especially after Father died so suddenly.
No one spoke as they walked through the castle. Ari halted them, and laid one hand on Micah’s shoulder. “The amount of blood will be shocking. I understand why your mother thought the worst when she saw it.”
He stepped aside. Micah was grateful for the warning when he saw the dark, glistening puddle. It looked like someone bled out on the stone floor.
“Heaven above,” he whispered. He met Ari’s waiting gaze. “If that’s not Liam’s blood, then someone else…” His voice faded, the words refusing to leave his throat.
“Someone was sacrificed for the charade.”
Joseph choked, one hand at his throat. Concerned, Micah touched his arm. “You don’t need to stay, Joseph. Liam is going to be fine.”
“Thank you, my lord. I believe I will lie down for a bit, if the captain will excuse me. I do want to examine the tunnels, once I am well enough to do so.”
He turned, all but running by the time he disappeared down the long corridor.
“Micah.” Ari using his name shocked him into turning around. “I left out some information.” He walked over to the pool, crouched, fingers touching the glistening liquid. “Come.” He held out his bloodstained hand, waited for Micah to join him. “This stays between us, young lord. This is animal blood.”
“How do you know?”
“After years fighting in the Arena, I know the smell of animal blood.” He stood, wiping the blood on his dark trousers. “This was well-planned, and meant to mislead us. If your brother had not managed to escape his attackers, we might be thinking right now that he’s dead.”
“Tell me everything, Ari. Including why you don’t trust Joseph.”
“That obvious?”
“I was looking for it. You were listening to our conversation before you made an appearance, weren’t you?”
“Guilty. But I had to know what they would say to you, how much they might reveal before I told them Liam was safe.”
“Them?”
Ari studied him, those grey eyes sober. “At this point, everyone is a suspect, except a select handful I already know I can trust. I want you to be as suspicious, in every part of your life.” He laid one hand on Micah’s shoulder. “I know it’s a tough way to live, but until we discover the identity of the traitor in our midst, it’s also the safest way.”
“I understand.” His life had not been the same since the day he was taken in the market. “Liam’s all right?”
“He took a knife in his shoulder, but it caused little damage, since he literally ran into my patrol minutes after being injured.”
“Luck was on his side today.”
“Yes—but that won’t always be the case, and we can’t rely on them making another mistake like they did today, or underestimate their target again.”
Micah nodded. People tended to do that with Liam. He was so easygoing, they forgot he was also the finest swordsman in the city, aside from Ari, as well as a talented tracker. “I want to see where he was really attacked.”
“I’ll take you. I want a closer look at these passages. It’s time I mapped them. Maybe that will help me figure out how strangers might have gotten into the castle undetected.”
That one detail worried Micah more than he let on. He followed Ari deeper into the castle, promising himself that he would create better safeguards for both of them.
War had been declared, and they had to win. There was no other option.
~ ~ ~
After a thorough investigation of the passages, and the tunnel Liam used to escape, Micah left Ari to his mapping, and made his way to the tower at the back of the castle that contained his workshop. The huge room was cold, since he had been out all day, and never lit a fire. Kres perched on the windowsill, glaring at him.
“I know, I forgot to leave you a warm fire to lounge in front of.” With a sigh, he moved to the woodstove and scraped one of the wooden matches over the rough exterior, using it to light the dry tinder. This late, it would take hours to warm the workshop, but he needed the distraction, needed the escape. A warm, heavy body leaned against his leg. “You know something is wrong, don’t you?”
Kres studied him, the dark eyes glinting in the firelight. Micah rubbed the spot between the drake’s ears before he stood, moving to the long wood table. The half-finished right wing spread across its surface. He wanted to work on it, to attach the rest of the metal feathers and slot it into the waiting joint on the leather harness he created to fit over his back and shoulders.
His hands shook when he reached for the closest feather. He pressed them together and lowered his head, finally acknowledging the fear that clawed for purchase in his heart. Kres sat next to him, laid his long snout on Micah’s thigh.
“We almost lost him today, Kres. A little less luck, and he would be gone, on his way to only heaven knows where, and with us thinking him dead.”
He didn’t remember ever feeling so helpless, so useless. The alarms he created for Liam were never triggered, meaning all the work had been for nothing.
“I won’t lose him, Kres. Not if I can do something about it.”
With a last rub of the drake’s snout, Micah stood, studying all the bits and pieces spread across his table. He had the tools—all he needed was an idea, a way to keep Liam safe.
Picking up one of his pencils, he grabbed a piece of scrap paper and started sketching.
Six
Ari was sitting next to Liam’s bed when he woke.
His shoulder throbbed, but he didn’t feel as weak, or as helpless as he had when Ari all but carried him back to the castle. He sat, slowly, but on his own.
“Good evening, my lord.”
“I slept through the day?”
“And the night, and another day. The physician gave you a strong dose of opiate, to keep you from restless sleep.”
“It worked. Can you—” He pushed past the embarrassment and continued. “Can you help me to the water closet?”
“Of course, my lord.” Ari didn’t even try to hide his smile. He was gentle, though, when he helped Liam stand, one arm around his waist as he shuffled across his room. Once he relieve himself, and splashed some water on his face, he opened the door to find Ari waiting for him. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Basic needs don’t bother me, my lord. I spent years in ba
rracks with men whose habits would make your hair stand on end.” Laughter escaped Liam, and he gripped Ari when the effort left him dizzy. “You’re far from healed, my lord, and probably starving. Let’s get you back into bed.”
The mention of food had Liam’s stomach rumbling in agreement. This time Ari laughed, and any residual embarrassment disappeared. Liam genuinely liked the man, found his life experience fascinating, and appreciated that he didn’t mince words.
Once he was back in bed, he was ready for a nap. His shoulder complained at the movement, and he ignored it. He needed to eat, and give Ari an assignment, before he let his body rest.
“Food would be nice.”
Ari moved to the bell pull, and tugged it twice, the signal for a meal.
“Anything else I can do for you, my lord?”
“Yes.” Liam eased himself up against the pillows. “Please, sit.” Ari returned to the chair, leaning forward. “I told you before I wanted you to start passing false information.”
“I remember, my lord.”
“Can you start tonight?” When Ari raised an eyebrow, Liam rushed to explain. “I know there’s a spy in the city. I’ve left him alone, because he’s proven himself to be—unobtrusive, and clearly not sending information back to his people.”
Ari sat back, crossing his arms. “Might I have the name of this supposed spy?”
“I think you already know. I want you to bring him into this, have him start a small but discreet network that reports only to him.”
“My lord—”
“I’ve been watching him since he arrived in the city, Ari. He’s an honorable man, and after learning something of his past, I believe he can be trusted.”
“Who?”
Liam swallowed, bracing himself for the inevitable reaction. “Damian T’Alon, the Delta gambler.”
~ ~ ~
Arguing with Liam proved to be pointless. Despite every instinct that told him he shouldn’t, Ari agreed to Liam’s demand and left the castle.
His former master would name him a coward for giving in—then proceed to beat it out of him.
