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Pearl tucked some stray hair behind her pointed ear. “We dressed her for breakfast with King Tenebris, Sir Aldrich and two others. One I fear is a pale one, and the other a woman, not elven. She had golden hair and brown skin, eyes like rich buttercups, her fingers end in black talons… I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Varlett,” Thane murmured. That fire-breathing wench needed to die. Slow and painfully then he’d stand and watch as vultures stole her rotting flesh. “Where is she now?”

“She was taken to her room but… she was injured. A bruised, split lip, possibly broken bones in her hand. Reina told me just as I was leaving last evening. The lip will heal quickly but her hand…”

Angry heat flooded his body, flaming in his cheeks. Maker above, he regretted now more than ever he didn’t shove his sword straight through his father’s chest. It could have been a clean transition of power where he and Layala could rule together. Thane swore under his breath and turned to Leif. “We need to go get her.”

With a frown, Leif cleared his throat. “We should wait for darkness. There is no way we can infiltrate the castle in daylight. Not without killing many and risking our own lives in the process. And we’ll need more Ravens.”

“If I have to kill every last castle guard to get to her, I will.”

Leif folded his arms and looked to be on the verge of arguing.

“You’re either with me,” Thane shifted closer to Leif, “or you’re with my father. Those are the only two choices.”

“With you, sire. Always.”

“There’s more,” Gunner said, stepping into the circle. The lump in his throat bobbed, and he pushed his fingers through his hair. He turned to Pearl and let out a long breath. “I didn’t want to be the one to tell you…” his voice trailed off.

Pearl anxiously searched his face. “Tell me what?”

Gunner looked to Leif, who slowly shook his head. Thane growled and grew impatient. “If something happened to Layala. Tell me now.”

The clinking of glass on the counter drew everyone’s attention to Miss Adley. “Your friend Reina, the maid—the king slit her throat. As punishment to Layala when she tried to escape last night. I have a friend at the castle too.”

Pearl’s hand flew to her mouth and a moment later she dropped to her knees. “We told her.” Pearl sobbed into her hands. “We told Layala what would happen!” She cried louder and curled into herself. Leif dropped to his knees before her, and she fell into his chest. “Reina was terrified. Terrified—and now she’s dead!”

Her scream pierced Thane’s heart, and he averted his gaze, finding his focus on the bottles on the wall. He’d seen so much death and despair in his life and it never seemed to get easier. How many had he watched suffer because of his father’s brutality? Hundreds? Thousands?

“Leif, Gunner, I need ten more of my best Ravens here.” Thane went to the window and peeked out. The shop owner across the street swept the entrance to his place. A couple guards stood on the corner. They’d be on high alert today. “We infiltrate the castle at dusk.” He turned to Madam Adley. She polished a short stout glass with a white cloth. “If you don’t have young children, I need you to come with us. We’ll be in need of a good healer. You’re the best I’ve ever seen.”

She frowned and set the glass on the countertop. “Your highness, I am honored by the request but respectfully, I do have a ten-year-old daughter and her father is no longer with us. And there are many in the community who regularly come to me for ailments.” She gestured toward Evalyn. “But Evalyn is quite capable. I can give her a few bottles of my best remedies.”

Evalyn nodded. “Seen many die in my day and saved as many. I might not know magic like Adley but I can help in a pinch.”

Thane still wished she’d go home or even stay here where it was safe. The road ahead wasn’t meant for an older human woman with likely ailing health, but he already knew she wouldn’t leave until she saw Layala herself. “Can you fight, Evalyn?”

She picked up a teacup from the countertop and brought it to her lips. “That’s what I have you around for.”

* * *

With swords in each hand,hanging at his sides, Thane, Tif, Evalyn, and his twelve Ravens gathered on the grassy hill near the long bridge that led to Castle Dredwich. The sun dipped behind the castle bringing a chill to the air but sweat beaded on his brow. The thought of killing his own soldiers made him queasy. Taking a deep breath in through his nose, he spied the two guards on the tower on the far side, with a large bell for signaling attacks. Two more on this side of the river and seven staggered on the bridge itself. He was surprised his father didn’t assign more to watch the front with Thane on the loose. Tilting his head side to side, he cracked his neck. His Raven helmet fit snuggly, and his charcoal, shiny armor glinted in the dying sunlight. Ready for war.

“The bridge guards will be easy to take. It’s the inner guards that are a problem. We know there are at least a hundred on the grounds at all times. If we can silence the first ones before they ring the bell, we can follow the edges of the property and go relatively unseen.” Thane pointed to the left side of his soldiers, “You six will go west to the prison dungeons and free our Ravens.” He gestured to the right, “You six will be with me. We’ll enter through the servants’ door in the rear. Evalyn, you’re with me as well. Stay close.”

Siegfried, a slight, tall elf who moved like the night wind, and aptly called the Wraith, tapped his sword against his outer thigh. “And what if the alarm is sounded before we kill the bridge guards?”

“Then we’ll fight our way in,” Thane took a deep breath, “and today is not a day to be merciful. My father never is. But they know our armor. They will choose whose side they are on before we even approach.”

He looked to the tower where she’d been kept and the darkness within the single window.I’m coming, Laya.

Each step down the hill made Thane’s heart thud harder. His palms dampened, making him adjust his grip on his swords. The waterfall thundered louder than usual, churning white splashes against the blue and gray rock face behind it. The caw of a raven flying overhead drew his gaze. It cast a shadow over them, gliding on the wind. The Maker was with them this day; ravens had always brought him luck. He swallowed, wetting his dry throat; he’d never killed his own people before. Many of these guards served under him when he ruled for a short time and most he’d known his entire life.

The two bridge guards on this side of the river stood taller when they caught sight of Thane and his Ravens. The one on the left turned and broke into a sprint on the bridge.

Gunner pulled back an arrow. “You will not take another step if you want to take another breath!”

He wisely froze. A hum, like a warm wave washing over Thane’s chest and down his arms, calmed his pounding heart. His mind quieted, thoughts and worries flowing away on the breeze and his attention settled on the bell tower guards. With intense focus his power pushed out, an invisible force coiling around them, until they looked like statues, frozen in horror. “You will not touch that bell.”