Reid groaned. These two men were Henrick’s sons—Dexter and Colbert. Which meant the man she’d just fought with couldn’t be a Knight. When a man pulled her to her feet, her bag fell to the floor, the strap cut.
The man behind her took hold of her arm, pushing her out of the room. “Get her bag,” he said to his brother. Out in the hallway, a dozen soldiers stood waiting for them. “Escort her to the throne room. I’ll inform Prince Henrick and Princess Nara that we have her in custody. We’ll meet you there.”
The soldiers formed a circle around Reid. They started walking, and she had no choice but to go along with them. She tried wiggling her wrists free, but the rope was tied too tightly. The soldiers escorted her down the stairs to the first floor. Stopping before a set of double doors, they waited.
After a solid twenty minutes, the doors opened. The soldiers escorted her inside the throne room. At the end of a long aisle was a raised dais with two high-backed chairs. Princess Nara sat in the chair on the left, a man in his mid-fifties in the chair on the right. Reid recognized him as Prince Henrick. He looked just like the portraits she’d seen of King Hudson at the castle. Although Henrick’s dark blond hair was shorter than his twin brother’s, and he sported a neatly trimmed beard. He wore plain black pants and a black tunic. The only item indicating his station was a simple necklace with the crest of the Winston family engraved on it.
Reid reached the dais as the soldiers fanned out behind her.
Princess Nara stood. Dressed similarly to yesterday, she appeared more warrior than princess. Yet, she was stunning and commanded authority. Her posture spoke of confidence, her eyes intelligent, and the simple crown atop her head indicated power.
Two men stood on the dais a few feet behind the throne chairs. The one on the left, by Princess Nara, had dark shoulder-length curly hair. He wore black pants and a black shirt, a couple of the top buttons open, revealing a portion of his chest. Along his collarbone was an intricate tattoo. He also had on a leather jacket. His dark eyes focused on Reid, contemplative. That had to be the prince who’d come up behind her and tied her wrists together.
The other man, the one on the right near Henrick, had the same dark blond hair as his father, although his went just past his shoulders and was poker straight. The light in the throne room revealed his well-defined muscles running along his bare arms. He’d strapped a sword to his waist, and he wore knee-high boots. This was the man she’d faced in the prince’s room.
“I see you’re back,” Princess Nara said, claiming Reid’s attention. “I’d hoped you would take my warning and leave.”
Reid didn’t know what to say.
“That’s my son, Prince Dexter,” Nara said, indicating the warrior prince who possessed Reid’s bag. “And this is my other son, Prince Colbert,” Nara said, gesturing to the man near her. “And my husband, Prince Henrick. And you are?”
Reid pursed her lips. Should she be honest? Or come up with a cover story like she had the other day?
“I know you’re not from Axian,” Nara said. “I also know what you were trying to steal. I suggest you tell us the truth.”
At this point, Reid had nothing to lose so she decided to be honest. “I’m Reid Ellington.”
Prince Henrick’s eyes widened in surprise. “Tatum’s child?” he asked, speaking for the first time.
“Yes.” Hardly anyone used her father’s first name.
“Which daughter are you?”
“The youngest.”
“I could have sworn he had a son named Reid. Not a daughter.”
“Well, yeah, that’s the problem,” she mumbled. Henrick seemed to know an awful lot about her family. She shifted her feet, trying to decide if she should say anything else. So far, these people hadn’t harmed or mistreated her. “My mother died after giving birth to me, her fifth daughter. My father decided to tell the world I was a boy so he wouldn’t lose his title and land.”
Nara sat on her throne chair. “Were you raised as a boy?”
“I was. At least outside of the home.”
“And how is it that you made your way here?” Henrick asked.
“Prince Gordon and Prince Ackley demanded my father give them soldiers to fight the invading parties Axian is sending into northern Marsden. I was forced to lead Ellington’s soldiers to the border. Prince Ackley discovered I was a woman, and he took me to the City of Buckley.”
“Did you say there are Axian invaders?” Henrick asked.
“That is what we were told,” Reid answered carefully. “While I was traveling, a group of men attempted to kill us. And then at the castle, another group tried to assassinate the royal family.” As to whether the men were Axian, Reid couldn’t be sure. She’d assumed they were until she saw the miners in Bridger.
Henrick glanced at his son, Colbert.
“I’ll investigate it,” Colbert said.
Then Henrick looked at Dexter.
“We’re monitoring the border,” Dexter replied. “To my knowledge, not a single one of my men has crossed over.”
Henrick focused on Reid. “Continue.”
“At the castle, King Eldon offered me a deal. In exchange for a full pardon and a deed for my father’s land, I agreed to come here to retrieve the box for him.”
“I didn’t think Eldon ever employed women,” Nara mused.
“He doesn’t. However, I know how to fight because I was raised as a man. Since I’m a woman, I can get into places men cannot. The king assumed you’d never suspect me.”
“Regardless of your qualifications, I’m still shocked given how backward northern Marsden is.”
“Backward?” Reid asked.
“The way they oppress women,” Nara answered. “Not allowing women to own land, join the army, or even choose who they marry.” She reached out and took hold of Henrick’s hand, squeezing it.
The gesture reminded Reid why she was there. She glanced at her bag, still clutched in Dexter’s hands.
Prince Henrick stood. “Lady Reid, will you please join me on the patio for a private conversation?” He extended his arm to the left, toward a set of double doors.
“Of course.”
Dexter set the bag down and stepped toward Reid, pulling out a dagger. She twisted her body, prepared to kick him to defend herself.
“You don’t want me to remove the ties securing your wrists?” Dexter asked.
He was going to cut her bindings even knowing she was about to be alone with his father? Did he think so little of her that he didn’t consider her a threat? When he approached, she froze, staring at the massive man before her. He had to be twice as wide as her. She couldn’t believe she’d tried fighting him. No wonder she hadn’t gotten far. His brown eyes narrowed. Turning, she lifted her arms away from her back. She felt Dexter approach, heat radiating from his body.
He sliced through her bindings. “If it were up to me,” he whispered so only she could hear, “I’d kill you.”
She spun around, facing him again.
“Son,” Nara said, “don’t intimidate her. She’s scared enough.”
“I’m not scared,” Reid said, her voice softer than she’d intended.
Dexter smiled, seeing through her lie.
“This way,” Henrick said, recapturing Reid’s attention.
She pushed the door open, then stepped onto a small enclosed patio in the interior courtyard.
Prince Henrick closed the door after he joined her. “I’m sorry you’ve been put in this situation.” His hands clutched the railing, and he let out a sigh. “I’m going to ask something of you. It may seem a little odd, but I’ve learned to trust my instincts over the years. I suspect something, and I’d like to verify it before we continue this conversation.”
Having no idea what he was referring to, she agreed.
“Can you please pull up your left sleeve?”
Her heart started pounding with the implication of what he was asking. Only Knights knew about the tattoos.
The corners of
his lips rose as he watched her reaction. “This may help.” He pulled his left sleeve up, revealing a dagger tattoo, the exact replica of hers.
Reid shoved her sleeve over her elbow, revealing her tattoo. She had a million questions for this man…this prince…this fellow Knight.
“Do you know what’s in the box?” he asked.
“Not specifically,” she admitted. “But King Eldon told me there is evidence you tricked Leigh into sleeping with you so you could hurt your twin brother.”
“That’s the story he concocted?” He shook his head in disgust. “Eldon is so similar to Hudson it frightens me.”
“Is Eldon your son?” Or had the king lied about everything?
“He is. But I did not force Leigh to do anything she didn’t want to do.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Inside that box are a handful of love letters between Leigh and me. We planned to get married before my father fell ill and everything changed.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“The last letter Leigh gave me revealed she was pregnant with my child. It is dated twenty-five years ago, two months before her wedding to Hudson.”
That was enough proof for Eldon to lose the throne. “Do your wife and sons know Eldon is your son?”
“They do.”
“Then why are we having this conversation in private?”
“Because of this.” He tapped the spot on his arm where his tattoo was located. “I need to ask you some questions, and I need you to answer honestly.”
“Okay.” Because Ackley had told her to trust anyone who bore the mark of the Knights. Did Ackley know Henrick was also a Knight?
“Did Prince Ackley recruit you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you romantically involved with anyone from the royal family?”
Gordon invaded her thoughts. “I don’t see how that’s relevant.”
Henrick rubbed his face. “I’m trying to assess the situation, so I know how to move forward.”
She was attracted to Gordon. However, he was engaged to another woman. Ackley was married to his job, and she’d never considered him as anything other than a friend. “No. I’m not promised to or courting either prince.”
As Henrick processed what she’d said, Reid couldn’t help but marvel at how things had turned out. Instead of being arrested, thrown in the dungeon, or killed, she’d found a fellow Knight.
“I’m afraid if you return without the box, Eldon will kill you.”
That hadn’t even crossed Reid’s mind. Probably because she’d never considered returning without it. “Do you really think Eldon would do that?” Just to keep his secret safe?
“I don’t know. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?”
She shook her head. “So I take it you don’t plan to invade northern Marsden?” Had Eldon invented the story to have a reason to go to war?
“No. Everything I do is for the well-being of my people and to maintain peace. I don’t believe in war—especially with my own family.”
From what Reid had seen, Axian was doing well under Henrick’s control. Far better than northern Marsden. “You have an army even though you don’t believe in war?”
“Yes. My wife insists on maintaining one. That is why my son, Dexter, is commander of the army instead of me. I don’t have the stomach for that sort of thing.” He clasped his hands behind his back.
“But you’re a Knight.”
He smiled. “Let’s just say my talents lie elsewhere.”
There were so many questions she wanted to ask him. Like what his talents were, what he did for the Knights, if he’d ever met Ackley, and if his sons knew about the secret organization.
“Right now, we need to come up with a plan,” Henrick said. “Northern Marsden is living in peace, correct?”
“Yes.” For the most part.
“Do you consider Eldon to be a good king?”
“I don’t know. Before coming here, I thought he was a good king and everything in Marsden was fine. But I feel like I’ve been sheltered from a lot.” She stopped pacing. “Just because we don’t have the same wealth and freedoms doesn’t mean the king is bad or unfair, though.”
“I agree.” Henrick leaned against the railing, folding his arms across his chest. “I fear Eldon intends to invade Axian.”
“If you’ve told him you have no intention of taking the throne, why can’t he let things be? Why go to war?”
“As long as I live, as long as my sons are alive, we pose a threat to him.”
“Even if you renounce the throne?”
“I’ve done that.” He pushed off the railing. “All these years, I thought if I focused on ruling Axian, we’d be left in peace. I’ve done everything I can to tell the dukes and king I am happy here and pose no threat. However, it will never be enough.” He shook his head and went to the door. “Come, let’s go back inside.”
Reid followed Henrick into the throne room. Dexter and Colbert were no longer there.
Nara was sitting on the dais, the box in one hand and Reid’s bag in the other. “Is everything all right?”
“Give her the bag,” Henrick said.
“Including the box?” Nara asked.
“Yes. She needs it more than we do. I’ve done everything I can to prevent a war. Yet, it isn’t enough.”
Pulling out a key, Nara unlocked the box and opened it. Several folded letters rested inside. She ran her hand over the papers. “Leigh used to be my best friend,” she mumbled to no one in particular. Closing the lid, she locked the box and stood. “Here.” She reached out, handing Reid both the box and her bag.
Reid took the items, placing the box in the bag. Someone had knotted her cut strap back together. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she feared war was imminent. Once Eldon had control of the box, there would be nothing to stop him. Except maybe the Knights. Was that something her organization would do? She wondered how much Ackley really knew about what was going on.
“Use that to keep your father, family, and land safe,” Henrick said.
“Are you certain you want me to have it?”
“At this point, the box will do you more good than it will me. I wish you luck. I’m sure our paths will cross again.”
“Thank you for everything.”
“Please give your father my regards. It has been a long time since I last saw him. And I’m sorry to hear about your mother.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Nara said. She led Reid through the palace to a side entrance. Pushing the door open, she held it for Reid.
Reid stepped outside into the cool night air. Clutching the bag, she started to walk away.
“One more thing,” the princess said.
Reid glanced over her shoulder at Nara.
“From one warrior to another, always trust your instincts.” Nara went inside the palace, closing the door behind her.
Chapter Eighteen
It was well past midnight when Reid finally caught up to Harlan. He was asleep on the side of the road right where she’d left him. She curled up next to him, not bothering with a blanket, and fell fast asleep.
When Reid peeled her eyes open, she blinked, momentarily blinded by the rising sun. “What time is it?”
“Time to get going.” Harlan handed her a chunk of bread.
Reid clamored to her feet, her bag still slung over her shoulder. Reaching down, she patted it, making sure the box was safely inside.
“Did you get it?” Harlan asked.
Reid nodded, feeling off kilter. Even though she’d accomplished what she’d set out to do, she had a nagging suspicion she was missing something. Last night, wolves had filled her dreams. They’d chased her. Every time they caught her, the wolves tore the box away from her. She would reach for it, and the wolves’ faces would transform into people she knew. Sometimes it was Ackley and Gordon. Other times, it was her father and sisters. Sometimes, all the wolves had Dexter’s face.
The two friends traveled all morning. When they came to a crossro
ads, Harlan pulled out the map. “Looks like we take the road to the right to get to the City of Buckley.”
Reid started walking to the left.
“What are you doing?” Harlan asked, rolling up the map.
“Going home.” She wanted to discuss the county of Axian with her father. And she needed time to figure out how to use the box to ensure she received her father’s pardon and the deed for their land. Since Prince Henrick had mentioned the possibility of the king killing Reid, she now feared for her life. To come out of this alive, she would have to use her position as the duke’s daughter and heir.
The journey across the Axian fields gave Reid plenty of time to think. By the time they reached the Modig Mountains west of Lake Folme, she had a solid plan in place. Instead of crossing over the mountains, Reid and Harlan trekked west. Almost three weeks later, the two friends reached the Wendan Ocean.
“How are we going to cross the Gast River?” Harlan asked.
“My grandfather built a bridge around here a very long time ago.” Back before Henrick ruled Axian.
“I didn’t know there was a bridge.”
“It was used for trade,” she explained. And since they no longer traded with Axian, they no longer used the bridge. “I think I see it.” Hopefully, it was still intact. They trudged through waist-high grass until they came to the base of a large wooden bridge wide enough for a horse to pull a cart across.
Putting his foot on the bridge, Harlan tested its sturdiness. “I see some boards missing here and there. But for the most part, the wood isn’t giving with my weight on it.” He took a couple of tentative steps farther out on the bridge, to where the water met the land. Here, the bridge was only three feet above the ground so if he fell through it, he’d still be okay. Harlan bounced a few times. “It’s safe,” he declared. “I want you to walk in the middle and go slowly.” Taking another step, he was now on the portion of the bridge that went over the water. He went a little farther, then glanced back at Reid, giving her a thumbs-up.
Stepping onto the bridge, she was thankful it didn’t shake. She made sure to move slowly as she went across the bridge. The water rushed below, drowning out the sounds of the nearby forest. The wind whipped by, stinging Reid’s eyes. On the other side of the Gast River, she jumped off the bridge and patted Harlan on his back. “We did it.”
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