Page 116 of Thorns and Echoes

“My Queen,” Pelios greeted as they both bowed. The man appeared normal.

She gestured to the nearest door. A strategy room. Pacing to the other end of a large table with a map laid out at its center, she waited for the door to close. “Where is Zara?”

Jerome planted himself in front of the door. To either side of him were the guards. Octavius stood beside her.

Assessing the mood correctly, Jerrl raised his brow. “Zara? What did the girl do?”

She watched Pelios closely. “We're not certain yet. Possibly nothing. Where is she?”

The rebel appeared calm. “In a nearby village. A family took them in. She was very grateful and seemed happy.”

His tone was strange. Just slightly stilted and unnatural, like the words had been rehearsed.

“Where, precisely, Captain? She could be in danger. I'd like to check on her.”

Pelios frowned. “I visit every few days. She is fine. Settling in nicely, according to the family. They are tutoring Henry.”

Despite a moon traveling together, she didn't know the man well. Leisurely conversation hadn't exactly been the focus of their travels. He'd spent a lot of time with Zara, particularly while they marched with the army. To keep her safe, he'd said. The army was used to fighting Nadrakens, not welcoming them.

She glanced at Jerrl. He had turned to his friend. “Pelios, tell the Queen where she is.”

“Safe. She is safe. We don’t need to worry about her.” The rebel smiled.

The Queen loosened her whip. Blades were drawn to kill. She would rather not kill him. “I need the name of the village, Captain. The names of the family. I will not ask again.”

Pelios nodded slowly. Casual and calm was how he appeared as his arm bent and his hand gripped the dagger at his belt. Normally, she wouldn't have thought much of the motion. Nobles often touched their weapons absent-mindedly.

He wasn't a noble comforting himself with the feel of jewels decorating the pommel.

Anais leaped and flung out her arm, the air cracking as her whip slapped around his wrist. She yanked the rebel forward, spinning him to kick his knees and push him to the floor. Grabbing his other arm, she used the whip to bind both his wrists behind his back.

Steel sang as swords cleared their sheaths. Three blades – Jerome's and the guards – pointed at Pelios’ neck. He remained still.

She gestured for them to back away. “Captain Pelios, you are relieved of your command.” Keeping her eyes on her prisoner, she addressed Octavius. “He needs to be isolated. An illness. Question anyone who's been in contact with the girl.”

As the healer and one of the guards led Pelios away, she shifted her attention to Jerrl. “Do you know where Zara is? Where Pelios has been going?”

Jerrl stared at the door a moment longer. He folded his arms across his chest. “No. And before you ask, I only saw her briefly. She was with him when he reported in, then they left.”

“Does anyone accompany him to visit the girl?”

“Not that I'm aware of.”

Dismissing the rebel leader, she shared a look with Jerome. Could she trust that Jerrl had spoken the truth?

Thousands of soldiers had marched with Zara. They could all be compromised.

Castien

A few weeks ago…

“Pelios, ‘ware above! Castien, Zara, stay there!”

The Queen sprinted into the trees, quickly disappearing. It was best to think of her that way – as the Queen. Cut his heart out of the equation, and perhaps he could think clearly. Consort was a foolish dream. A year ago, he would have laughed at the mere suggestion. Consort to the Queen? More like a pet. A tool. An amusement to be used and discarded. Any skilled courtesan would have long ago maneuvered his way out of such danger as quickly as possible.

Perhaps he wasn’t as good as he thought.

Pelios clambered up the hill after her. Moments later, Jerome moved swiftly in the same direction.