Page 84 of Keeper of the Word

Ah, that is how Hux got us through the main gates of the castle the day of the festival.

Joss couldn’t muster a single berating word. She simply gazed to the heavens.

“Oh, Joss, lighten up.” Hux clapped her on the shoulder. “Come. Let us ‘bump’ into the chancellor.” He winked and strode off.

They followed, and presently, Hux halted. “Ah, aye. We cannot all of us go. One may slink and sleuth. Mayhap even two. But four? Nay. I shall take Elanna. You two meet us back in her rooms.”

“I shall not leave Lady Elanna,” Joss protested, stepping up to Hux. “Especially after you’ve disappeared for days!”

“I’ve only just explained how I’ve used my time for everyone’s benefit.”

“We haven’t time to argue, Dame Joss,” Elanna said. “Hux is right.”

“As you wish, m’lady.” Joss appeared exhausted.

“Instead,” Hux said, stopping them down the corridor. “Why do not you two stand guard outside the Delara. Might be useful to Lady Elanna for others to think her dutifully at prayer?”

If Joss opposed the idea, she did not voice it.

They left Joss and Barrett and eventually rounded a corner to find themselves in a corridor with which Elanna was unfamiliar. Not that such a thing would surprise her, but this corridor felt different. Untrafficked. Unused. The other corridors in Castle Sidra that had no window boasted lantern light every few feet, whereas this corridor bore only a single lantern. Its weak light gave the sensation of night.

“Where are we?” she whispered, surveying the walls, which were covered in burgundy velvet. They appeared to have a faded pattern, but through age and lack of light, she couldn’t decipher what. The effect of the velvet muted their footsteps and made it difficult to hear anyone else approach.

Hux held his finger to his lips, brows knitted together as he scanned down the corridor.

After standing there a few moments, feelingwrong,Hux drew her into the shadows of a doorway. A dusty curtain hung from the door frame, covering half the door. Hux held his hands at her forearms, silently instructing her to be still. While she might feel odd about standing snugly against Hux, the disturbed dust in the air threatened to make her sneeze and distracted her.

Was that a footstep against the muffled carpet?

“Tell me you found evidence this time. This is becoming irksome.” King Rian’s voice. Hux sucked in a breath. Was hearing the sovereign’s voice a surprise to him?

“I apologize, Your Majesty. And my men were ready this morn. He dodged them again.” The chancellor’s voice this time. Hux had been right about “bumping” into Chancellor Griffith, though she ne’er would have imagined this is what he meant.

“He has errand somewhere. My son never took early morning strolls until the betrothal.”

“Aye. ’Tis troubling. I hope he does not plan something ill.”

“What do you mean by that? Speak plain, Griffith. But speak carefully.”

“Aye, Your Majesty. Simply that this is only one manner in which His Highness has been behaving most peculiar. His studies have been lacking, and I hear from the sword master that Dashiell is still unready to advance his swordplay.”

Both Elanna and Hux stiffened.

“The prince has also inquired again as to the whereabouts of Sir Karro.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“Same as before. That he’s journeyed home to visit an ailing relative.”

“Mayhap the decision regarding Karro was too hasty. They’d been together since boyhood.”

“The council shared your worries, Your Majesty. You were right to have them. ’Tis best that Prince Dashiell’s man be replaced. If itpleases you, we can still explore the possibility of stationing one of the new Warins as his man-at-arms.”

Silence followed.

“I shall consider it. ’Tis of the utmost importance the prince does not disgrace me at the betrothal ceremony. Especially after the latest reports.”

“Agreed, Your Majesty. We will tighten his security in preparation for Lady Wenonah’s arrival. Especially after the prince’s words about his betrothal.”