Page 126 of Thorns and Echoes

Back at the palace, Octavius and she had surmised that Zara was likely gathering soldiers to destabilize Drantar's army. However she had tranced Pelios, she could do the same with every soldier he brought to her. At Zara's command, Drantar's army would tear itself apart. Perhaps they could get close enough to kill the Queen. Whatever the plan, Nadraken would be waiting to pounce on the aftermath.

Castien was assumed to be the best person to activate the trance. Anyone could, but he had called himself a key. He was the most likely to be able to control anyone Zara tranced.

Zara’s soldiers looked at each other.

Anais lifted her sword. “They’re not tranced.”

So why were they fighting?

Jerome growled.

The hostile soldiers charged. The first one to reach her was a snarling woman who was too slow to stop Anais' sword from puncturing her throat.

Up close, Anais could see the crest adorning each of the soldiers’ shoulders. She hadn't had a chance to identify it until now. A small vine-and-rose-woven letterK.

The female soldier choked on blood as she crumpled to the floor.

These were Satryani’s mercenaries.

Assumptions will get you killed.

She blocked a swing at her head, then countered with a flick of her wrist that disarmed the enemy soldier.

Yes, thank you, Mother.

Pivoting to a woman stabbing wildly, Anais sliced through muscles and tendons. The woman screamed, and her sword fell out of her limp hand.

Finish the kill.

How about you lecture me when I see you again? Shouldn't be long.

How aboutyou keep your head, stubborn girl?

She couldn't argue with that.

Cutting her way through the soldiers, she kept one eye on Castien. He had found a sword. Good. Thakris was a whirlwind of knives and daggers, darts and kicking, spinning limbs. She wasn't as skilled with a sword as Vern wished, but she more than made up for it with the perfect aim of her arsenal of hidden weapons. Arteries sliced open, a soldier collapsed. Hit the right nerve, and a sword arm became useless.

Satisfied that Castien was protected, Anais focused on her fight just in time to glimpse soldiers dragging Zara out of the room. The Queen shouted, “Bring her down! Alive!”

Satryani was working with Nadraken. Impossible. There was nothing more the duchess wanted in the world than to burn a path straight to Coriante Castle. Anais needed to question Zara.

Twenty soldiers against a hundred or more. Four defended the doorway. She batted aside a thrown dagger, redirecting it at an enemy soldier's foot. One more down. Eighty-eight to go.

Weaving through the fight, she ended up beside Castien. He was holding his own.

The Queen asked, “Anyone you recognize?”

“No.”

Her hopes fell. He had trained with several Nadraken soldiers, seen many of the castle’s servants, guards, and nobles. Even if none of these people were tranced, they could be Nadraken. The likelihood was slimmer if Castien didn't know them.

He frowned at her, alarm flaring in his eyes. “You're bleeding.”

Which caused her other Escorts to pause and examine her before re-engaging their foes. A flash of irritation crossed her brow. “It's just a scratch. Concentrate on your own battles, Escort.”

The lobby was cleared in another few minutes. Jerome fought better with a sword and shield. She was thankful her father wasn't here to point it out. Bodies littered the ground, most dead. Bending down, she plucked a crest from a dead soldier.

Castien caught his breath a few feet away. From the dining room, two of the Queen's soldiers led Zara between them. Anais gestured for them to stop. They set her onto a chair and tied her down.