Page 86 of The Throne Seeker

Tristan’s back straightened as his eyes flitted back and forth between Rose and Zareb, narrowing. “And just where are you going? They’re going to announce the third challenge soon. You need to be here.”

“I’ll explain everything later,” she said, not wanting to miss her chance. “Please, I’ll find you after. I promise.”

Before Tristan could respond, she followed Zareb out with her mother close behind, leaving Tristan’s fuming alone at the table.

Zareb led them through the winding maze of corridors, far away from the festivities in the grand hall. Their footsteps echoed through the empty halls as they briskly walked across the smooth, golden sun emblem set in the stone beneath them.The halls were dimly lit by flickering torches, darkened as storm clouds continued to loom through the cathedral windows, spreading dark shadows onto her pink dress. She gripped the skirt in fistfuls, lifting it off the floor to keep up with Zareb’s pace.

The three reached the door in record time as Zareb spoke to the guard on duty. “We wish an audience with the seer.”

“I was told to let no one enter,” the guard replied.

Before Zareb could retort, Rose stepped in. Using her most convincing voice, she said, “Please, we’ll only be but a moment.”

The guard’s gaze locked with hers, and she could have sworn a thin haze crept across his eyes. The soldier sighed. “Be quick about it.” Without another word, he sidestepped to let them enter.

Zareb knocked on the door. After a long moment of silence, he knocked again. No reply.

He looked at Rose, asking what she wanted to do.

“Hello?” she said calmly, stepping towards the door. “Is anyone there?”

Still nothing.

Zareb took the initiative to try the handle. The door was unlocked, its hinges creaking as it opened wide.

“Hello?” she called out again. “It’s Rose. Please, I just want to talk.”

Her heart stopped beating.

The room was in utter chaos. Chairs lay overturned, and the table was toppled on its side. Once neatly stacked, books and papers were now strewn across the floor. The bedsheets and pillows were left in disarray, having been tossed about. Even the mirror on the wall was broken, sprinkling shattered glass in its wake.

“Gods in the lost city above,” her mother whispered, covering her mouth in horror.

As quick as a whip, Zareb drew his sword, crossing to the opposite side of the room to see if it was clear.

“But she was just here,” the soldier said, coming in behind them, his face blanched white. “No one has been in or out of this door.”

“What do you think happened?” Rose asked Zareb.

Zareb checked the window. “There are no signs of blood.” His eyes scoured the room again. “I don’t think she’s hurt, but there was definitely a struggle.”

“I’ll sound the alert,” the soldier said, dismissing himself to tell his captain down the hall.

Rose’s chest tightened, her hopes of gaining answers gone. “Who would do this?”

“I can only make assumptions,” Zareb said, his eyes still darting around.

“We should leave,” her mother said. “I don’t like this. Any of it.”

Rose couldn’t help the feeling that the seer was missing because she had chosen to protect her, because someone hadn’t liked that. And she would wager all the riches in Vallor that Lord Martin was involved. Punishment for withholding what the seer knew. What she might have seen. For evading their trap.

Maybe, just maybe, the seer had heard her internal plea, and because the seer had listened… she could be dead.

Rose didn’t dare to think of it.

Zareb crouched to examine the candlesticks scattered across the floor. He pinched the wick, and a wisp of smoke spiraled upward. “It’s still warm.” He sprang back up. “She couldn’t have gotten far.”

Hope sparked within her. “Then there’s a chance we can still find her?”