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AN UNDERGROUND TUNNELconnected Winstead Palace with Ellory Hall where Parliament met. Essie had never thought much of it, until a guard opened the large double doors to the stairs leading down into the tunnel and Farrendel came to such an abrupt halt Edmund bumped into him.

On Farrendel’s other side from Essie, Jalissa’s face went a shade of gray-green. Even Jalissa’s guard had a flicker of emotion.

Essie should’ve realized taking this route was going to be a bad idea. Farrendel was already uneasy surrounded by the stones of Winstead Palace. Stepping into that underground tunnel would feel like someone was smothering him.

His hand, gripped in hers, squeezed tighter. She leaned closer. “Are you going to be all right?”

He stared at the tunnel and slowly shook his head.

At the top of the stairs, Averett turned. “Is something wrong?”

“Is there any way we can take the carriage to Parliament?” Essie forced herself to smile, as if nothing was wrong.

Averett shook his head. “One of the groups most vehemently anti-elf has camped out with a group of protestors on the steps of Ellory Hall. The captain of the guard recommended we take the back way in rather than risk our guests.”

“I hadn’t heard the protestors were that violent?” Essie glanced between Averett, Julien, and Edmund. What hadn’t they been telling her? “I heard there was some protest about the closer alliance with the elves, but I didn’t think it was widespread.”

“It isn’t. Wasn’t. Not at first.” Julien crossed his arms and glanced at Edmund, as if asking him to elaborate further since Edmund was probably the one with the most information, outside of Averett.

Edmund glanced around, then must have decided the guards in the vicinity were trustworthy, even if he lowered his voice. “Only a few people are truly angry about the alliance, but lately someone has been stirring them up and turning them violent. We don’t know who the leader is yet but...”

“It’s probably the same traitor who gave guns to the trolls and wants to start the war between Tarenhiel and Escarland again,” Essie finished for him, squeezing Farrendel’s hand.

“War is profitable for some people, especially those who don’t have to fight in the war themselves.” Averett grimaced and rubbed at the spot where his crown rested on his forehead. “We suspect the traitor is a member of Parliament or has high connections in Parliament.”

Making it difficult even for Edmund’s spies to ferret them out. It would take a cartload of irrefutable evidence before anyone could do anything to stop the traitor.

“Then we had better head to Parliament before they start the meeting without us.” Which they might. Parliament and the monarchy had a rather tense back-and-forth. For generations, Parliament had been working to undermine the throne’s power in Escarland, while the kings and queens had fought back to retain as much power as possible. It was frustrating, at times, but it worked as a checks and balance system on both Parliament’s power and the king’s power.

Beside her, Farrendel had steadied, but his breathing was almost too deliberate and measured.

Essie lowered her voice, speaking in elvish, “Are you all right or do I have to insist we take a carriage?”

Farrendel squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before straightening his shoulders. “It will not help our cause if I am forced to defend us from an attack by your people. I will be fine.”

He wouldn’t be, and by the look on Jalissa’s face, she wouldn’t be either.