“So you’re saying the Head Mage is planning something, and you will not tell me.” She nodded. “That seems understandable.”
He smoothed a hand over his hair and let out a deep breath. “Will you fix this?” he asked and pointed to his jaw.
She laid a healing pattern, knowing that Nolen was behind it. She could feel where a tooth had been knocked loose, and she pushed it back in and made his eyes water.
“Queen Challis sent me a bird today saying she is sending ten of her best soldiers to put under your authority. They should be here in a week. She told me she can thank you no other way but to protect you, and hopes you will not take offence but will use them wisely.”
“That is very gracious of her.” He spread his hands. “But there will be little to protect soon enough.”
Chapter 3
Night fell so slowly Robyn was sure the sun had stopped moving. “A watched pot never boils,” Andolyn told her as she paced the floor of their small inn room, but she paced regardless. She had sharpened her arrows and knives, polished and oiled the metal and leather, and still night had not fallen. Even when the sun winked out of sight behind the Gray Mountains, there still was more waiting to do. The City had to settle before they could sneak out and make their way to the old bridge hinges.
The Ellonine River that divided Anatoly City parted the wealthy from the lesser folk on the western bank. The western bank was filled with fishermen and farmers mostly, but it was known for having shadow-lurkers and pillow-maidens that were anything but maidens. It was dangerous for a pretty noble to go alone and often damning to be seen there. A simple bridge had once spanned the Ellonine, but it fell a hundred years ago. Since then the eastern City had drifted away from its sister to become prosperous and safer. The nearest bridge was further east along the Cendal Road.
Kilkiny Palace glowed orange with fires springing up around it and illuminating arched halls. It was a beautiful structure. Each Queen added to it marking their reign brick by brick. The tallest tower was Queen Gellian’s who signed the alliance with Cinibar. The twirling spiral was Queen Efrania’s who fought off marauders back when the Northern clans were hostile. The outermost wall was Queen Taybar’s addition; the Library Hall was Queen Ykiri’s; the open suspension hallways were Queen Konna’s; the twin beacons that burned at night were Queen Lania’s, and the fourteen-year reign of Queen Rincarel marked an unfinished bridge.
Robyn nearly launched out of her seat when Calsifer entered and said it was time. She was already dressed in her darkest clothes, dyed her hair dark brown to hide the roots, tied and retied her boots, synched her belt, and braided her hair twice. She barreled past him in her haste to the stables.
Calsifer assigned every member of her party to different parts of the City. Two axe wielders accompanied the contortionist outside the foundation of the unfinished bridge, near the easiest entry. Three archers set up outside on separate inns where they could pick easy targets should Robyn be followed. Halberd-men and swordsmen hid in alleyways along the retreat path; the Shalabane hand-to-hand fighters were to cause a distraction in the main street, and Talon, Andolyn, Robyn, Calsifer accompanied by three large men who knew several weapons made for the entryway. They all had to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice and regroup outside the City. The contortionist carrying a lit torch on a slender white pole would mark their signal for escape.
Robyn fumbled at the horse’s girth in her nervousness. The mare would not take the bit and struggled with the beast until Talon showed her how to do it better. She would not be able to take a strung bow into the palace, so she tied her bow and quiver across her saddle for easy access. She would rely on a set of knives stuck in her belt and boots should anything arise. She was fully prepared to kill if necessary.
Swinging aboard, her group dispersed last, having been staggered over the past hour, and they rode out into the silent City. The few taverns and hop houses they passed were still alive with song and dance. One drunken man called for them to join him, but Calsifer declined and gave his best wishes, which the drunkard thought most considerate.
The river muffled the sounds of the horses on the cobbles that echoed off the main wall surrounding Kilkiny. Andolyn whispered encouragement as they rode together, but her voice was nervous and excited. She dressed like Robyn with a dark hooded cloak, long-sleeved blouse, side-split tunic, and slender leggings tucked into boots. Unlike Robyn, she was excellent with knife throwing and had two braces of slender knives wrapped around her shoulders hidden beneath her cloak. Her hair hid under a cap, giving her a boyish look but for her large flashy eyes.
“This is it,” Robyn said and dismounted as they reached the unfinished bridge. They left their horses tied outside a ferry berth with an axman to watch them. Robyn searched for the false wall, but it had been years since she had seen it. It sprawled with ivy and was surrounded by a small thicket, but that was what kept the door hidden. She pushed through the bushes and ducked around a tree to get to the stone. The broken star cast as much light as a full moon, and she wished for more darkness.
Thankfully, no cry was raised as her cousins and Calsifer made it in. Her hands searched the wall, pushing against the stones. There would be no discernible break, for mortar was invented after the wall was built. The stones sat flush on one another with little space for even a coin to fit through. The men joined her, and it was not long before Calsifer pushed hard enough against a section, and the whole thing slid slowly inward. It was wide enough for a person to squeeze through, though no overweight person or beast of burden could make it.
Pushing the door in, it slid sideways on an old rusted track that gave a terrible screech. Robyn held her breath in fright but no steps sounded overhead. They stepped into a black tunnel, and Andolyn uncovered her lantern, illuminating the corridor that stretched into darkness. The tunnel was slender and tall, enough for two people to walk abreast, and the floor was made of sand to muffle their footsteps and voices. It smelled of water and stale air, musty as a cave yet still earthy.
The tunnel was created to smuggle the royal family out in the event of a crisis. It had been laid before the palace itself was built. There were a dozen like it that led to hidden caches, holding wells, and supplies if the royal family needed to hide. The palace proper had another hundred tunnels and passageways, built into the stone and ceilings, but knowledge of them had been lost. In fact, there were so many tunnels that the palace was designed to collapse in on itself should danger arise. By collapsing the outer halls, stairs and rooms, the Queen would be kept safe in her quarters.
The tunnel sloped upwards and ended a near half-mile later deep under the palace. They came upon a marble wall with hinges and handle on the back. Once opened, it led into a long storage room strewn with old chairs and tables collecting dust. The wooden arched door at the end was unlocked, and they stood for a while listening to the silence outside to make sure it was clear.
Calsifer went first, lowering his hood to not look suspicious. His was a face people would know and not question his presence. The others followed and found themselves in the east wing, the Queen’s Wing. Robyn knew the way but let Calsifer lead up the servant’s staircase, hoping it was empty. They passed a couple kissing in a dark corner that did not raise their eyes as the darkly-clad figures slid passed.
They reached the fourth floor and stepped out onto the carpeted hall. Robyn’s heart beat so loudly she thought it would give them away. The carpet was red and gold with twirling black vines woven along, a gift from the Mages of Jaden many years ago. Carpet was a time-consuming thing and very difficult, but the Mages had little problems setting cloth-patterns and had the whole fourth floor covered in a week.
Robyn’s mind was wrapped around Gabriel. The reality was setting in, and she held her breath. She did not know what state she would find him in. Lex said he was not broken, but that was a vague comfort. She also had no way to guarantee her plan would work. She had considered waiting until her birth anniversary, but it was days away.
If she could save him now, she could put a stop to Nolen and Ryker and strengthen her ascension to the throne. That would also be no easy feat. Miranda would not hand it over easily, and Nolen would surely fight for it.
Lex and three other guards were at their post outside the Queen’s door, and when Lex spotted his father step around a corner, he motioned for them to come. The guards paid them no mind; in fact, they did not look at them at all.
“They are loyal to the Star Breaker,” Lex whispered as he stepped up to join them. “But it will mean their heads if you fail this.”
“We won’t,” Robyn stated and pushed past him to unlatch the ornate door. It swung outward soundlessly, and she slid in.
“He’s got one in there but Balien…” Lex whispered to Calsifer as Robyn stepped inside and fixed her eyes on the door that prevented her from rushing to Gabriel. Starlight cast narrow beams on the floor, and she stepped around them silently to reach the door. It was locked.
Andolyn was close behind and bearing a worried look. “What?” Robyn asked, but Andolyn smiled and shook her head, taking out a set of iron prongs padded with wool. She fit them into the keyhole and took only a moment to unlock it.
“Whatever you find in there,” Andolyn whispered and trailed off. “Be gentle with him.”
Robyn did not care to ask what she meant exactly. She was too eager to see him. Carefully unlatching the door, she pressed herself against it and slid along inside. She closed it behind her silently.
The room was dark, but her eyes had already adjusted. A few cracks of light filtered through the curtains and cast lines upon the bed. Somewhere in the mass of blankets was her Gabriel. Her boots on the carpet were soundless, but her heart beat a marching tune loud enough for the Queen herself to hear. She swallowed and crept closer.
The copper Castrofax gave off the faintest yellow glow in the darkness, and she spotted his wrist and neckpiece easily. She stepped up and saw him at last. His black hair and tanned skin were surrounded by white sheets balled up around his shoulders with one hand over his stomach as he usually slept. His quiet breathing soothed her racing heart that leapt at seeing his face. The face she missed so much. She reached out to brush a lock off his forehead and felt the electricity of his touching skin make her heart race again.
She wet her lips. “Gabriel,” she whispered and put a hand on his shoulder. His eyes shot open, and his body jolted as he woke. His head jerked away from her to the other side of the bed. He scrubbed a hand over his eyes and slowly returned his head to look up.
“Gabriel.”
His eyes snapped over to hers, and his hand suddenly grabbed her wrist. She reached out for his other hand, but he flung her away.
“Gabriel, it’s me,” she hissed and stepped up and away from his hands. “It’s Robyn.”
He sat up quickly, and his dark face instantly softened. His eyes brightened in the gloom as his smile reached them. “Robyn? I’m so sorry, I thought you were…. What are you doing here?” He reached a hand out to her and took hers, drawing her into a tight embrace as he spoke. His bare skin was warm and his hair had the same earthy, oily smell she remembered so well. She pressed her face against it. “You cannot be here.”
She released him and kept her hands on his shoulders. “We’re getting you out. Calsifer, my cousins, even your soldier friends.” His shoulder rolled under her hand as he threw the covers back across the right side of the bed, casting a glance over the rumpled blankets. He almost looked…concerned.
“I cannot leave,” he said as she finished. “I swore an oath—”
“I can free you,” she cut in. She grabbed his pillow. “Lie back.”
He looked down at the pillow and back at her. “Why?”
She mustered her courage. It did not escape her that this was the same way her father died. She had planned to do this on the road, but now was as good a time as any. “I’m going to kill you, remove the Castrofax, then revive you.”
He kept his eyes on the pillow and ran a hand through his hair as his sleepy brain worked, then stopped and snapped his eyes up. “No.”
“Suffocation is the easiest way to do it, and I can return the breath to you—”
“No,” he stated more forcefully. “Not like that.”
She stopped, unsure what to do next. That had been her only plan. “Then something else, but you must come. I have men all over the City to help us.”
He raised his hands in argument but dropped them defeated in his lap. “I cannot. Nolen will kill my father if I disobey. My place is here.”
‘Disobey? Oh, my Gabriel, when have you ever been bonded to a higher authority?’ she wondered. She had never heard him sound so beaten.
“I can get you out of the City and to Jaden. You’re coming with me.” She turned and flung the curtains open to let the starlight in, illuminating the room a little. It was well furnished, and the closet she opened was stocked with fine clothes. She grabbed whatever looked dark and returned to him. He stood out from under the sheets, dressed in a draw-string pair of long, loose trousers. He looked thinner and harder, as if cut from marble, but his face and slump of his shoulders said he was weary. The Castrofax had worn red rims around his neck and sharper raw wounds around his wrists.
She held the clothes against his chest. “Put these on.”
“Highness,” he began again and trailed off. “I’ve done horrible things.”
“So have we all.”
“No, you haven’t. I cannot go with these burdens knowing you loved the man I was. I am not him anymore.” He set the clothes aside.
“I would keep you as mine anyway. Lover or friend or acquaintance. You were meant to be with me.” She handed him the clothes back. “Put these on, or I will dress you myself.”
He sighed deeply and thinned his lips. “Turn around.” She did and folded her arms, listening to the whisper of clothing sliding off and on him. She faced him when she heard him buckling on a fine pair of black-and-brown boots. “I will walk you as far as the wall, but I cannot go further. If Nolen knew you were here, he would have my hide for letting you escape. If he finds you, he will kill you.” He slung a black Mage cloak around his shoulders and left it unbuckled, his sign that he was not going far. “He knows who you are. What is your plan from here?”
“We will go to Castle Jaden for a few days until I can take the throne. Maybe by then you will permit me to smother the Castrofax off you.”
His blinked rapidly for a moment before looking away. “It won’t happen.”
She put a hand on his. “Lex told me Nolen tortured you.”
“It wasn’t him.” Gabriel clasped his fingers around hers and pulled her towards the door without another word. His grip was solid and tight, almost nervous as he kept her close to him. In the anteroom they found Calsifer and Talon waiting outside his door. Lex and Andolyn talked quietly off to one side.
“Hello, lad,” Calsifer nodded.
“Why is she here?” Gabriel cut in. “I asked you to keep her safe.”
“I gave him no choice,” Robyn defended.
“You could have locked her up.”
Calsifer raised a brow. “This one?”
Robyn pushed past their argument and pulled him towards the door. The three guards nodded when they stepped out, and Gabriel pulled her to a halt. “Nolen will kill them if I leave.”
“No,” Robyn corrected and turned to the men. “There is a secret passage into the Queen’s rooms. We came through there, and upon exiting struck you unconscious.”
The guards looked at each other. “That you did.”
“I will have to sound the alarm,” Lex explained. “I’ll give you as much time as I can, but as soon as someone turns the corner to this hall, I will have to begin it.” Calsifer nodded and patted his son on the shoulder.
“If I had known he was this handsome, I wouldn’t have waited so long,” Andolyn said as she stepped over the soldiers.
Gabriel would have usually blushed at such a comment, but Roby
n was surprised to see he ignored her. “Where did you come in?” he said.
“Through a passage on the bottom floor,” Robyn said and pulled him back the way they came. The kissing couple in the servant’s passage was still there, getting into something more serious, and they paid no mind as the party passed through. Robyn relished the feel of Gabriel’s hand in hers and wondered how long it would last. She would have to convince him to come with him, or jump him and bundle him up on a horse. He would thank her later.
They heard a shout through the passageway, and Calsifer yelled for them to move faster. The alarm had already been sounded. Adrenaline beat through Robyn’s veins, sharp at first but smoothing gently to calm her and pull Gabriel faster. They spilled from the corridor, and out onto the ground floor, they could hear shouting from the main staircase. Someone had found the fallen guards. The palace would be alive with soldiers in moments, and it would not take long to realize Gabriel was gone.
She jerked him towards the storage room, but he pulled her up. “I cannot go further. I can still protect you if you let me stay here.” She knew he would take the blame for the guards. Nolen would surely cause him pain.
Robyn looked behind Gabriel and saw Talon and Calsifer link their forearms together. At a nod from her, they surged forward, gathering Gabriel up, and pushing him into the room. Robyn did not let go as she cut her way through chairs, tables, and bookcases though he tried to wrench free. She pulled him into the tunnel still lit by the lantern Andolyn left.
“Nolen will kill my parents if you do not let me go back!” Gabriel shouted and dug his heels in, pausing only for a minute before Talon and Calsifer pushed him forward. Andolyn grabbed an edge of his cloak and pulled him along with Robyn.
“Parents?” Robyn asked, her hand still in his.
“Aisling,” he said and tried to skid to a halt with no success.
Robyn’s eyes widened. It seemed Cordis had some explaining to do. “She is second in command here and a Councilwoman. She ranks over Nolen.”
Breaking Stars (Book 2) Page 4
