Skye
An unexpected calm had settled into my chest by the time I climbed from our escape passage in the bowels of the castle and into the cool night air. A message was sent. Violette’s words should terrify me, but they had the opposite effect. They were a relief. I’d waited for my opponent to move a piece in this chess game for too long.
Xander came up behind me and tweaked my side. “Remain right here.” His lips brushed my temple as he and Cillian surveyed the area.
We’d emerged at a stone alcove beside the lower watergate I’d only been told about. Our escape route took us beneath the castle and cliffs, all the way down to the sea—the water gate to my right and the steep lonely stairway back to the upper gate and then the castle beyond were to my left. Leaving the protection of the alcove, I rested my hands on the icy stone wall that surrounded the outer ward and peered out at the black horizon. The Sea of Doran glistened in the moonlight and I drew a deep breath, my tongue tasting the salt in the air. Casting a glance over my shoulder, I noted the dark outlines of craggy cliffs and trees further up the hill. The castle wasn’t visible from this vantage point. I’d never realized how sheer the drop behind Montibello was.
My gaze returned to the sea. How far did it go? If I were to jump into a boat and sail, where would I reach? More land? The other side of Tyalbrook?
“We should go back.” Heat radiated off his body as Xander appeared at my side.
My arms hugged my waist as I leaned into his side and soaked up his warmth. “What’s down here? Where would we have gone if there were something wrong at the castle?”
The weight of his arm settled around my shoulder and drew me closer. “There is a small boat docked on the other side of the watergate. We would have taken it to the Village Marlin.”
My calm receded. “We would have run?” I turned and searched his face.
“You are no good to the kingdom lost in a battle of fools, my Queen.” The words came from Violette who appeared on Xander’s other side.
My jaw slackened. I didn’t want to run anymore. I came here to fight, to take back what was mine.
“My sisters have verified the wards remain intact. The drawbridge is up. Your friends are worried about you, so let us return,” Violette said before she turned in a swirl of velvets and lace. Her ethereal glow once again lit the path before us as she began the long trek up the steps.
Xander’s palm cupped my jaw, drawing my attention back to him. “I know what you’re thinking. Running is not the final plan here. It was tonight because we are not ready to fight, but we will be.” His thumb stroked the sensitive skin below my bottom lip, and his forehead dropped to mine. “I promise, we will end this.”
The climb up and around the back of the castle to the upper gate was as terrifying as I’d assumed. The eerie quiet of the night sent uneasy chills along my spine and I clung to Xander’s hand, my eyes searching the dark shadows.
“Are there no animals here?” I asked Xander after jumping for the third time. “Bears, mountain lions, skunks even?”
He chuckled lightly. “I would assume the wall keeps any unwanted predators off the lands. As for skunks, I don’t know. I suppose we’re both in need of lessons on Tyalbrook, aren’t we?”
“I think I have enough predators to worry about without adding more.”
Xander pumped my hand at my muttered words.
As the top of the castle came into view, the wind picked up, and with it came the snow. Flurries rode the breeze, the frozen crystals stinging as they hit my exposed skin while clumps of snow fell from the Prenn Mountains which loomed over us and bordered the eastern barrier of Montibello’s land. The snowfall made the already ice-slicked steps more treacherous. By the time we reached the castle’s main wall walk I’d broken out in a cold sweat. Bending at the waist, I dropped my hands to my hips and gulped large breaths of air as I crept closer to the fire bowl the guards on duty used to stay warm through the winter nights.
Boots clicked against the stones and with effort my head rose to see Thomas and Barda hurrying our way. Relief and firelight flickered over their faces when they stopped before Xander.
Thomas spoke first. “The escape plan worked then?”
Xander nodded and I joined them, still trying to control my ragged breathing.
“There was an attack outside Ridgecrest. Small, calculated—”
“Why did the watch blow the horn?” Xander cut Thomas off and touched my elbow.
Dark splotches marring Barda’s tunic caught my attention. “Are you hurt?” I reached for Barda even as Xander said my name, his tone clearly exasperated.
Barda shuffled back, his hands stopping me from soiling mine. “No, milady. There was a villager, and Nickoli—”
My stomach dropped. “Nickoli?” Without waiting, I pushed by the men and hurried toward the steps that would lead me to the castle. “Where is he?” I shouted, my voice laced with a fear I could not hide.
He had to be all right. I could not lose another friend. Mother and Xander called after me, but I refused to slow. The stitch in my side dug deeper as I took the steps to the middle ward, nearly falling on my face when I hit the ground and turned toward a side entrance in the castle wall.
“Where is he?” I asked louder this time.
Thomas reached my side and kept stride with my hurried pace. “He is not injured, milady. He should be at the main gates.”
I veered my course, remaining outside and walking around the castle toward the front gates. Blood pounded in my ears and the sweat on my brow turned to ice. We rounded the southwest tower and spotted a band of soldiers, along with Vonnedenia and Marivale congregated near the gatehouse. I slowed as Thomas’s words registered.
“He isn’t hurt?” I looked over my shoulder. Xander and the others were well behind us, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
The soldiers parted when we neared. There was Vonnedenia, back in all her white, glowing glory, standing in the middle of the crowd beside Nickoli. The bystanders’ murmurs grew as Thomas and I walked by and Nickoli’s head lifted, his green gaze finding me. He hastily wiped his hands on his backside.
“Are you all right?” he asked when I reached his side.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” I searched for injuries, regardless of what Thomas had said. “Where were you? Why did they blow the horn?”
“Your Majesty,” Xander’s deep voice spoke as his chest came perilously close to my back. His body towered over me before he moved sideways into the small gap between Nickoli and me. Once again touching my elbow. For support? To remind me that he's here?
“What happened?” he asked tersely.
Nickoli shuffled out of Xander’s shadow and looked at me when he spoke. A clear insult to Xander. “I went to the inn for supper.” I suppressed my scowl at his need to leave Montibello to eat. “On my way back, I caught sight of this man.”
He tilted his head toward the man I’d failed to notice on the ground since my worry was solely for Nickoli. Agony slashed through my chest. Mr. Godwin. I fell to my knees to a chorus of gasps.
Mercy, these men needed to stop seeing me as some delicate piece of china.
“He’s the steward at the orphanage.” I cradled the man’s limp hand in my lap.
“We both dined at the inn. He left not long before I did.” Nickoli’s voice broke slightly. “He must have been ambushed on his walk back. I’m not sure. I found him midway between the village and here.”
The man was dead, yet I bent down anyway and searched for movement in his chest, the intake of air, the beat of his heart. His lower torso was covered in a dark blood and I forced my eyes not to linger on the gaping wound visible through the slashed fabric of his clothing. The blood smeared across Barda made sense now. I blinked away the torrent threatening to rain down my face and leaned back on my heels. Soldiers moved forward, hands outstretched, but Xander bent over me first—a strong arm at my waist, a hand under my elbow.
Nickoli continued his explanation. “I was struggling with him, half carrying, half dragging as he became weaker. Whoever was on watch in the gate tower must have seen my struggle—”
“And made a mistake,” Xander surmised.
Nickoli frowned, but I agreed with Xander. “The men on watch can’t just blow two blasts like that. It incites too much fear.”
“They are trained to be on the lookout for anything unusual, Skye.” Numerous growls filled our circle and Nickoli lifted his hands in surrender. “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”
I didn’t care what he called me at a time like this, but apparently Xander wasn’t the only person hellbent on making sure I was afforded the respect of my title. Barda and Thomas scowled at Nickoli as he continued.
“What would have happened if the guard had not sounded an alert and someone had attacked me? Or tried breaching the gates?” Nickoli asked.
The picture he painted pained me, but there must be balance. A way to curb the fears of the castle while maintaining security. If we blew the horn at every concern soon no one would take warnings seriously. Two men hobbling down the path toward the castle could not be cause for a full out panic.
“We’ll double up on the guards at the outer gates. Someone could have assisted you without setting off the alarms,” Xander suggested.
Nickoli dipped his head. “I agree. We do need more men outside the castle at night.”
“A small attack of a few men isn’t enough to warrant a warning call,” I said thoughtfully. Yes, we need guards and trained soldiers, but we needed a better warning system. The eyes of men twice my age were pinned on me as I spoke. You are the Queen.
“What if it had been a distraction. Something meant to pull guards to the gates, to lower the bridge. What if there was a band of Semvon, or possessed fae, or an army of men lingering, just waiting for their chance?” I looked between Nickoli and Xander.
Xander’s fingers pressed into my side as his other hand swiped through his hair.
Smith, whom I had not noticed, spoke up. “I do not think—” he said at the same time as Nickoli protested. “It was not a diversion.”
“No, not this time,” Xander said. “But, she’s right.”
Smith’s shoulders squared off, his brow wrinkled with disagreement, but Nickoli gave him a wave of dismissal. Cillian did the same to the others standing nearby. “Back to your posts. We will see to this matter from here. The gates remain closed for the night. The bridge stays up.”
I turned into Xander’s side. His arm still around my back caused me to land too close and I flattened my palm against his stomach before I pulled out of his loose embrace. I refused to look at Nickoli or the others before I gathered my thoughts. “Do you think this attack was a diversion?”
Resuming the stance of a soldier, Xander crossed his arms over his chest. “No, this was a message, but you were right. It could have been. Even with men scattered through the countryside, Tabor’s creatures could strike them down and attack us without warning. We don’t know the power he has.”
“He fights with dark magic,” Vonnedenia reminded us needlessly.
“He controlled my father, it is possible he could assume control of anyone,” Nickoli agreed.
This wasn’t new information, yet when I dwelled on it, I was overwhelmed. I rubbed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose.
“Your Queen is cold and weary. Let us retire and you three can discuss defensive measures.” I turned to Mother who spoke with all the authority of her former title. My teeth chattered and I shifted from soggy foot to soggy foot before hugging my waist. I wasn’t dressed for nighttime gallivanting through secret passages, puddles, and long treks along the waterfront in the winter.
Yes, I was weary. I was also clueless on how to proceed, but I needed to be strong. I must show them I could handle this. “No, I’m fine.”
“Your lips are blue,” Nickoli challenged with narrowed eyes. As if he can even see in this darkness. I clamped my chattering jaw shut.
Xander’s hand returned to the small of my back, his blue eyes meeting mine. “Why don’t you go in and change into warm, dry clothing. We’ll make sure everything is settled out here, then we can meet in the hall and discuss security afterward.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Cillian stepped forward. “Please, milady. Allow your soldiers to do their jobs.”
“If I could escort you, Your Majesty.” Barda stepped forward and bowed with the same light smile he always wore.
I couldn’t fight them all. With a glance at Xander, then Nickoli, I followed Barda toward the castle with Mother on my heels. A few steps away, I stopped. Xander’s words from a moment ago sank in and reminded me of Violette’s words in the underground passage. A message was sent.
“Violette?” I turned back to the remaining members of our group. “You said a message was sent. By Tabor?”
She tipped her head.
I steeled myself. “What was it?”
The fae’s light shone unsteadily as she turned toward Nickoli.
Nickoli’s green eyes widened. He brushed the back of his hand across his forehead, leaving a dark streak, as his face hardened. “Before he died, the man—Godwin—said he had a message for you.”
Tension stretched between each person present. Nickoli’s eyes glowed in the dull moonlight as he watched me closely, and bile burned my throat at the fear reflected in those green orbs. I sucked my bottom lip between my teeth and closed my eyes, waiting.
“Tabor wanted you to know that he could get to anyone, for any reason. He said he could take all their lives”—Nickoli cleared his throat—“He said he could kill them all, but all he wants is you.”