Page 85

“All clear,” he announces as he approaches the fire.

“My prince, I’ve just informed Queen Elinor I’m going in pursuit of Greythorne and his collaborators immediately. I presume I have your blessing?” Aaran asks.

The prince looks slightly surprised and confused. “Of course,” he replies, “especially since I and Barra are going with you.”

Aaran places his hand on the prince’s chest. “No, my Lord,” he says and there can be no doubt from the tone of his voice that he won’t hear any argument. “I’m going alone. You and Barra need to stay here and protect the queen. There is more going on here than any of us know and I have a sense the danger to her is greater than any of us realise.”

He pauses as if waiting for the meaning of his words to sink in. “This is not a kill mission. I promise all three of us will be there when Greythorne, and those who fattened his purse, meet their deaths.” A flash of pain moves across the prince’s face at the reference to his brother. “But we need to know more,” he continues, “and as we put our quest for justice in motion, it’s imperative we don’t leave the queen in peril.”

The prince remains silent and simply looks into Aaran’s eyes as if looking for assurance that he speaks the truth. The news of his brother’s betrayal has obviously wounded himdeeply. Finally, he places his hand over Aaran’s and nods. “Very well, brother,” he says in a low voice, “you have my blessing. Leave this night and track those soulless bastards. Do not let them out of your sight. Find out everything you can and then come back to us.”

He then draws Aaran to him in a hug. “And by all the gods, stay safe.”

Aaran claps him on the back. “I will, my Lord.”

Barra steps forward and takes Aaran into a bear hug. “We will protect the queen, but you must come back to us, brother,” he declares, a distinct tremble of emotion in his voice.

“I will, brother,” Aaran assures him.

At this moment there’s a sound in my office chamber. I know it’s the creak of the secret door by which Kes is making her entrance, but the three Ellerban men before me are immediately on guard and run towards the sound. I let the prince and Barra proceed but take advantage of the distraction to grab Aaran by the hand.

He turns and looks at me in surprise. “Elinor?”

I don’t have long to say what I need to, so I simply blurt it out. “You must promise to come back to me,” I whisper and even though my voice is low there’s no denying the heartfelt expression of fear I feel at his imminent departure.

He swoops me into his arms. “I promise,” he declares, his voice husky with emotion and then he seals his promise with a kiss of such passion my lips are burning as he pulls away. He says no more and I instinctively know he wants those to be his parting words to me as I watch him cross the room.

The prince, Barra and Kes meet him in the doorway. “I’ve delayed too long already,” he announces as he moves past them.

“May the Goddess watch over you,” the prince says as he gives Aaran another clap on the back. Aaran gives me one last glance over his shoulder and then he is gone.

A few seconds later the Captain of The Guard arrives and I quickly switch into my role as High Commander of the Ardvallan army. With the prince and Barra by my side I fill Kes and the captain in on what has happened and, for what little is left of the night, we discuss what needs to be done and various strategies to ensure the safety of the castle, the city and the realm.

In the distance the sun is starting to peek out from behind the Maumeen mountains as I step onto my terrace for some much needed air. Kes and the captain have just left and soon the castle will be in lockdown. The crispness of the morning air is just what I need to revive me after the past few hours.

Smoke from the early morning fires curls its way into the shadows as night still lingers in the streets of the city below. I draw a large breath of air into my lungs and look at the faraway mountains. The events of the night weigh heavy on me and the guilt I feel at Greystone’s escape is like a boulder sitting on my chest.

The sky starts to change colour, gently transforming before my eyes from grey to blue, pink, violet and gold. A sound from far below grabs my attention and I look down to see a lone rider make his way through the city streets. He’s moving at speed, uncaring of the clatter his horse’s hooves make on the cobbles. He’s a man on a mission and as I watch him approach the main gate I wish him the speed of the gods. The guards open the smaller side gate for him and he doesn’t slow for even a second as he guides his horse through.

I watch as he urges his horse forward, pushing him to go faster. The beast surges ahead and the wind catches in the rider’s white-blond hair as he and the horse fly like the wind along the Queen’s Road.

Seconds later two dark shapes on horseback also fly through the city gate and I smile to myself at the familiar formsof two of the Khaleeni. As formidable as Aaran might be, I’d figured there was no harm in making sure he had some back-up.

The silken embrace of a cloak comes around my shoulders and I look to see the prince standing beside me. “He’ll be fine, Elinor,” he assures me in a low voice.

“Yes, don’t fret, my Queen,” Barra says, and I look to find him standing on my other side. “Aaran will return.”

They both move closer as if to silently reassure me of the truth of their words. I find no small measure of comfort in their presence and, as two pieces of my heart stand by my side, I watch as the third disappears into the deepening colours of the dawn.

******