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I paused and looked back.

His sentence seemed laden with meaning and sub text. Was he asking for loyalty to him? I wasn’t sure that I could do that.

After our meeting, I tried to see the king but I was informed he was not available. I asked if I could wait but the guard merely shook his head. I asked if Prince Dano was still around and he told me that he was not at the Castle and had not been for some time. Too many secrets, too many lies.

I wanted to check in with my team and was headed to my offices when my senses were alerted and I checked over my shoulder. I stepped back just in time. I heard the dart coming past me, only a hair’s width from my chest. It hit the wall beside me instead of finding my chest and my heart, as had been the intention.

I swung around and scanned the corridor trying to find the culprit but there was no sign of movement, no single sound to be heard. It was as if the poisoned dart had come out of nowhere. I grabbed it from the wall and put it in my pocket, then streaked to my office where I could lock the door.

“What’s wrong?” Tick asked as soon as I flew into the room, locking doors and closing windows. I put the dart on her desk and she put on gloves as I explained what had happened. Gagarin, another member of my team stared at me aghast.

“But, an assassination attempt…in the Castle? Who would be so blatant?”

Only someone at the very top.

“I am getting out of here,” I told them. “Talk to me on secure lines only.” I gave them some codes to use. “We have to be careful here. If anyone asks, you are working on attack plans, nothing else.”

As soon as he stepped away, I told Tick, “This is priority. I need to know who sent it.”

She held it up. “It is pure silver and poisoned too. Someone really wants you dead.”

I was about to leave when I got a message from Vlas to meet him in his quarters. It was risky, but I didn’t delay. I couldn’t believe the dart had come from him and decided to take the shortest route, through the dark night up to his window.

He was waiting for me in the dark.

“Ah, Luc, you came,” he said. His tone was weary.

“Of course, I always come when you need me.”

“Do you?” he sounded far away... “I suppose you do.”

“You sound uncertain,” I said. “What can I do to put your mind at ease?” I was using the old language, where courtesy and politeness was important.

The king sat down with a deep sigh.

“We are losing the war,” he said.

“We can turn it around, I’m sure,” I started. “All we need to do is to neutralize their…”

“No,” he said. “Not us, me. I should have been more… clear. I am losing my power.”

I fell silent.

“I don’t know when it started, but… I am weakened, my thoughts….my mind..” He sounded dazed. I couldn’t help wonder if he had been given something. I wanted to suggest that he leave the tower but I didn’t want to risk being accused of being against him.

“I don’t have long, I think,” he said, his tone wavering, “but I think you, you, you should…”

He didn’t finish his sentence. His eyelids fluttered and he fell back. Horrified, I rushed to his side but I couldn’t rouse him. There was no sign of an injury or a weapon. Perhaps he had simply fainted? I didn’t want to be found alone on the balcony with him in this state. I jumped into the night to blend into the shadows.

As I dropped into the darkness, I heard another word follow his last….as if he was able to say it now…..flee. He said he thought I should flee.

The king was warning me that I was in danger and that he was unable to protect me. Who could be more powerful than him? His son? His wife? Harris? Too many possibilities.

I blended into the night, my senses keenly attuned to my surroundings. I wanted to plan my next move when an agonizing pain made me wince.

Ruby.

Something had happened to her. She was in pain.