Kate and her friends arrived at the lawn tennis courts to find Dalgren already settled on the ground, waiting for them. They watched the patrol boat sail harmlessly overhead, never noticing anything amiss.
Once it was out of sight, Sophia began explaining to Phillip how to pull himself up onto the dragon’s back by climbing onto Dalgren’s forepaw and then grabbing hold of one of the spikes of his mane. She sounded as experienced as a member of the Dragon Brigade.
Kate smiled and came to tell Thomas the rest of the plan. “Dalgren is going to take us to Barwich Manor, my family’s ancestral home. The house has been abandoned for years. I’ve done what I could to make it comfortable.”
Thomas took hold of her hand. “I am truly grateful to you, Kate.… But I’m not coming with you.”
Kate pulled away from him.
“You saved Pip and you have given me hope. But I must stay here,” Thomas continued. “I am king and you were the one who taught me about my duty to my people.”
Kate glared at him. “You can’t stay here with that horrible Smythe. Pip, come talk sense into your friend!”
“Kate is right, Tom,” said Phillip. “You can’t stay here. You’re not safe. Smythe murdered the queen and he would not hesitate to kill you.”
Thomas shook his head. “If I leave Freya, Smythe will denounce me, declare that I am in league with Rosia. My absence would give him a perfect excuse to name himself Lord Protector.”
“But you would be king,” Kate argued.
“A king in exile,” said Thomas.
“Have Smythe arrested and hanged,” said Phillip. “He can’t use threats against me anymore.”
“The Freyan people are already nervous about me. They distrust my youth, my foreign accent, my ties to Rosia. I must work to gain their regard, and I can’t do that by hanging a man who is a native son, and seen as an honorable soldier serving his country.”
“We all know he’s a murderer,” said Kate.
“But I can’t prove that,” said Thomas. He raised a hand, forestalling any further attempts to persuade him. “My mind is made up. We do not have much time before the patrol comes back and I must pass on what I have discovered, for it is of vital importance.
“King Ullr is plotting to invade Freya. He is positioning his fleets for the attack from the air, while his mercenaries in our army attack from within. I heard the two guards talking about it this very night.”
The others stared at him in shock.
“I knew Ullr was power-hungry, but I never thought he would be either so bold or so reckless as to do this,” said Phillip.
“Do you know when?” Kate asked.
“He mentioned the national holiday, Hallen Day. All of Freya will be celebrating—including the Royal Navy. Ullr and the baron referred to our ships as ‘sitting ducks.’”
“Good God!” Phillip murmured.
“My news gets worse,” said Thomas grimly. “Ullr suggested to Smythe that he order the Terrapin to the Aligoes to defend against a Rosian invasion of Wellinsport—”
“That is a lie!” Sophia cried indignantly. “My brother has no intention of attacking.”
“I know, and so does King Ullr,” said Thomas. “He has arranged for the Terrapin to be ambushed. Ullr fears the Terrapin and he wants the ship far from Haever when he invades. I signed the orders myself,” he added bitterly. “I had no idea. And Smythe is sending a black ship called the Naofa armed with a green-beam weapon to attack the Dragon Brigade headquarters at Maribeau.”
Dalgren overheard. He snarled and bared his fangs. Flames flickered between his teeth. “I will roast him.”
“You vowed to never take a human life, remember?” Kate told him.
“I’ll make an exception,” Dalgren growled.
“That is bad, but not the worst,” Thomas continued. “Ullr boasted that he had acquired five more green-beam guns that do not require blood magic sacrifices. He plans to mount them on his ships. I saw the terrible destruction caused by those guns during the war. They can sink ships, knock down buildings.”
Kate looked stricken. “I think I know where he got those weapons. It’s my fault.”
“What?” Thomas asked, startled.
“Never mind that now,” said Sophia, squeezing Kate’s hand. “We have to stop King Ullr.”
“I am friends with Admiral Baker,” said Phillip. “I can alert him—”
“Baker,” said Thomas suddenly. “Admiral Randolph Baker? He requested an audience with me. I did not know him, and I was preoccupied, so I refused. You say he is a friend?”
“He is one of Henry’s best friends,” Phillip answered. “He likely came to you at Henry’s behest. You can trust him, Thomas. Randolph is a bit rough around the edges, but you won’t find anyone more courageous or loyal.”
“I will alert the admiral. We must keep this information secret, tell only those who absolutely must know,” Thomas warned. “If Ullr realizes his plans have leaked out, he could launch his invasion tomorrow. We are not prepared to defend ourselves.”
Dalgren had been watching the sky. “The patrol boat has turned. It’s heading back this direction.”
“You must leave before they see you,” said Thomas. “And I must return to the palace before I am missed.”
He reached into the inner pocket of his jacket and drew out a letter. “I’m giving this to you for Sir Henry. I’ve written down everything I learned from King Ullr. The letter states that the bearer is acting in my name and it has my signature and royal seal. Sir Henry might not trust me otherwise. That reminds me. Ullr did say something else I thought strange in regard to Wellinsport. He said, ‘The Freyans will pay for their own destruction.’ Do you know what that might mean?”
“No idea,” said Phillip, taking the letter and tucking it into an inner pocket. “Henry might know—if I can find him. I’ll leave at dawn.”
“What are you planning to do?” Thomas asked.
“Travel to the Aligoes by griffin to warn Alan about the ambush of the Terrapin. I think it likely Henry might be with him.”
“I’ll talk to Admiral Baker,” said Thomas. “Perhaps he can get word to the Dragon Brigade.”
The four stood looking at one another, knowing the moment of parting was at hand.
Thomas spoke what they all felt. “I am reluctant to let you go, for I do not know when I will see you again.”
Sophia gave him a loving kiss on the cheek. “God be with you, Thomas.”
He kissed her hand. “Tell the countess she must make up her mind to the fact that you will marry Phillip and no other.”
“I believe she knows that already,” said Sophia.
Phillip gripped his hand. “Thank you, Tom. I will not let you down.”
“I know you won’t,” said Thomas. “Go be with Sophia. I need a moment alone with Kate.”
Phillip nodded in understanding. He walked off with Sophia and the two held fast to each other, knowing their time together this night would be brief.
Kate had been standing off to one side, observing Thomas with a grave expression. He held out his hand.
“Thank you, Kate. And thank Dalgren for me.”
Kate ignored his outstretched hand and twined her arms around him. Drawing close, she looked up into his face.
“When you and I were together in the Aligoes, you told me that so long as you were alive, I would always have a friend,” Kate said. “I am telling you the same thing. So long as I am alive, you are not alone, Thomas. Never alone.”
Dalgren growled and impatiently thumped his tail on the ground.
“I’m coming!” Kate said over her shoulder.
She kissed Thomas, sweetly and softly, and before he could recover from his shock, catch his breath, or keep hold of her, she pushed away and ran to help Phillip and Sophia climb onto Dalgren’s back.
When they were settled, Kate waved good-bye. Dalgren dipped his head in salute, then lifted his wings and sprang into the air with all the force of his powerful back legs. He rose into the starlit sky and flew off.
Thomas watched until the dragon and his friends were safely out of sight, then began the long, solitary walk back to the palace.
Thomas slipped back into his chambers through the private door, more than half expecting to find that his absence had been discovered, the palace in an uproar.
All was quiet, however. He took off his clothes that were covered with soot and smelled of smoke, made a bundle of them along with his muddy shoes and stockings, and thrust them under the mattress.
Changing into his nightclothes, he removed the bolsters, put them back on the couch, and climbed into bed. He closed the bed curtains and lay propped among the pillows, gazing into the darkness, reliving those last few precious moments with Kate. Her kiss was still warm on his lips.
He tried to temper his joy by counseling himself that Phillip’s escape had not lessened his danger. Smythe would be furious, and he would know to blame Thomas. But he could not stop smiling. Phillip was safe and Kate loved him.…
The palace clocks chimed six times, jolting Thomas out of sleep.
The guards would be changing shifts, the night guards leaving and the new guards coming on duty now. Thomas pictured them arriving at the guardhouse to discover their comrades lying bound and gagged inside. Someone would run to report to the senior officer, while others dashed to the top of the tower. They would find the wounded guards, the empty cell, the broken window and the charred walls, the burnt furniture. The senior officer would run to the palace.
He would have to awaken Smythe and report that the prisoner had escaped. Smythe would hear the news in astonishment and rage. He would dress, summon the guard, and storm through the halls to the royal chambers.…
Thomas heard the commotion in the corridor outside his chambers roll toward him in a tidal wave of outrage. He burrowed down beneath the covers and pulled the blankets over his head.
Smythe shouted to the servants to open the doors, barged inside, and yanked open the bed curtains without ceremony. Thomas groaned as the sunlight struck him and he swore and flung up his arm to cover his eyes.
“What the hell! You half-blinded me. Shut those curtains and get out!”
The sergeant was Freyan and extremely uncomfortable in the angry king’s presence. He would have left immediately, but Smythe ordered him to stay and search the room.
The sergeant glanced uneasily and apologetically at Thomas. “Begging your pardon, sir, but what are we searching for?”
“Evidence,” said Smythe.
The guard opened his mouth again, but catching Smythe’s baleful eye, he shut it and began to halfheartedly open drawers and look beneath chairs.
Thomas flung off the bedcovers and climbed out of bed. He covered himself with his dressing gown.
“What the devil is going on?”
“You know perfectly well what is going on, sir! Your friend, the duke, has escaped.”
Thomas glanced at the sergeant, who was peering inside a wardrobe. “I doubt you will find him there. Perhaps you should look under the bed.”
“Do not play the fool, sir!” Smythe said angrily. “He could not have escaped without your help!”
“And, yet, I have been in my bed all night,” said Thomas. “As I am certain those you send to spy on me will testify.”
Smythe regarded him with seething fury, and Thomas guessed he had probably asked his spies, only to hear that they had looked in on Thomas at various times during the night and found him asleep.
Smythe vented his ill temper on the officer. “Well, Sergeant? Have you found anything?”
“No, sir,” said the sergeant.
“You are useless! Get out!”
The sergeant was only too happy to depart.
Thomas turned his back on Smythe and went over to his dressing table. He poured water into a bowl and splashed it over his face. He deliberately ignored Smythe, hoping he would leave. Smythe remained, however, glaring about the room. As Thomas dried his face with a towel, he heard a newspaper rustle and was filled with foreboding.
He looked into the mirror to see Smythe holding a copy of the Haever Gazette that Thomas had left lying on his nightstand. Smythe held up the newspaper and smiled, a cold, humorless smile of vindication.
“It took me some time to figure out this cipher, after King Ullr drew my attention to it. I managed to crack the code just last night, following the dinner you so kindly arranged to keep me occupied. I was too late to prevent Masterson’s escape. But I will not be late in arresting the author and co-conspirator, Amelia Nettleship. Once I have her and she implicates you, I will have all the proof I need to denounce you as a traitor.”
Thomas rose to confront him. “You can no longer use Phillip or my parents as hostages to my good behavior, Smythe. I could have you arrested, proclaim you a murderer and a traitor.”
“You won’t,” said Smythe with a disdainful smile. “Try arresting me. My guards are loyal to me and they would merely laugh at you. Face the truth, Your Majesty. I hold the executioner’s axe poised above your neck. I have only to make this information public to see it fall.”
“You are bluffing. The people will never accept you as Lord Protector. You are not strong enough. The late queen’s half brother, Hugh Fitzroy, would oppose you. Sir Richard warned me that Hugh would attempt to challenge my claim and I am the heir of King James. What do you think Hugh would do if you tried to seize the throne? You don’t dare kill him. He has powerful friends among the nobility. He would assert his claim and the Accession Council would choose him long before they would think of choosing you.”
Smythe swallowed; his jaw worked. A vein throbbed in his neck. He regarded Thomas with such enmity that Thomas was glad Smythe wasn’t armed or else he might have shot him dead.
Smythe regained control with a visible effort. “You may have the nobility siding with you, sir, but I have the people, as the reverend gentlemen assured me last night. They are eager for war with the heathen Rosians, and when we achieve our first momentous victory, I will be the one to claim credit. I will be the people’s champion, not their young and feckless king.”
Meaning your black ship attacking the Dragon Brigade, which, God willing, we will thwart, Thomas thought. And what will you do when you find out your friend, King Ullr, has been using you and means to betray you?
Thomas had to clamp shut his lips to keep from speaking the words aloud.
He was afraid to say anything, for fear he would say too much, and he could only regard Smythe in grim silence, which Smythe took as weakness.
“Be warned, sir,” Smythe said, pointing at him. “I will turn the city upside-down and inside out to find Masterson. When I do, he will hang, along with Amelia Nettleship and anyone else involved in this conspiracy. Do not think of leaving the palace again. And there will be no more reading this trash!”
He flung the newspaper on the floor at Thomas’s feet, then opened the door and summoned the guards.
“I have uncovered an assassination plot against His Majesty. Remain with the king wherever he goes. He will not be leaving the palace until we have captured the escaped prisoner and those working with him.”
The guards took up positions by the door. Smythe walked out and slammed the door shut behind him.
Thomas sat down on the bed and tried desperately to think of some way to warn Amelia and Kate and Sophia of their danger. But he could not leave the palace and his only friend here, Jennings, was gone.
Whoever thinks kings are omnipotent should see me now, Thomas reflected bitterly.
He had never felt so helpless in his life.