Driscoll raised a finger. “I hate to point out the obvious. But we’re already arrested.”
“Then we’ll figure out a way to escape,” I said.
“Really?” Driscoll threw out his arms. “Because I’m not seeing a whole lot of options.”
Just then the door burst open at the end of the long glass walkway, Erasmus appearing, a mousy blond woman behind him, nodding at Poppy as the door closed on her. He marched toward us, the chain attached to his belt rattling and clinking as it moved with him along the path.
He stopped in front of the cage, gripping it tight. “Saestra came to me, told me everything. She believes you didn’t kill the queen. Why did you run, Princess? Why did you run if you were innocent?”
“Because I was scared,” Poppy said. “I don’t have any allies here. Noone except my mother... and maybe you. But I didn’t know if you’d be able to protect me from everyone else, from their suspicions.”
“Now you’re as good as dead,” he said.
My stomach hardened. “No,” I said. “I won’t accept that.”
“Ah, the prince.” Erasmus’s upper lip curled. “We caught this miscreant attempting to break into your room last night, then he claimed to be the prince of the water court.”
“Uh, who wants to tell him?” Driscoll asked.
“He is the prince of the water court,” Leoni burst out.
Erasmus rolled his eyes, but Poppy stepped forward. “It’s true. This is Lochlan Aster, prince of the water court. He was going to my room because... I told him to.”
Driscoll shot me a look that was far too interested, and I shot him a look in return that said cut it out.
Erasmus stared at me in shock. “The playboy prince... you’re telling me we arrested...” His bronze skin went ashen.
I waved away his words. “I don’t care about that. I care about her safety.” I jabbed a finger in Poppy’s direction. “If we go to the king with this information, will we be able to protect her?”
Erasmus shoved a hand through his hair. “You can’t see the king. He is not well. I’ve never seen him in this state before. He’s beside himself with grief, and the rumors are already spreading that the princess had something to do with his wife’s death. No one on this continent could get through to him right now, not even his niece. He’s ordered for Arabella to be captured and put up here until he’s ready to deal with her.”
I swore under my breath.
Driscoll whimpered. “Did no one hear me when I said prison is not a good look on me?”
“Set us free,” Leoni said to Erasmus. “I’m a former captain of the guard from the water court. Driscoll is an ambassador of the earth court. Set us free now, and we’ll come back and find a way to get Poppy out of here.”
Poppy winced as if she’d been punched. Leoni was so loyal to her position that she’d leave her friend here.
“No.” My voice was hard, and I sent a look that could kill toward the former captain of the guard. “We all leave together.”
Erasmus backed away. “I’m afraid right now, I cannot be of any help.”
No.
“Wait.” Poppy reached for him. “My mother trusted you. She wouldn’t want this. Not any of it. You know I didn’t kill her. You know I’d never do such a thing. What would I have to gain from it? Besides, I just found her. I barely got to know her...” Her voice caught in her throat, and I moved to put an arm around her.
“Don’t look down,” Erasmus said. “That’s my advice for surviving the cages. Don’t ever look down.”
With that, he walked away, his chain rattling against the walkway.
“Damnit,” Driscoll said. “Why would he say that? It’s like a mind game. If you tell me not to look down, of course I’m going to look down—Wait a minute.” His tone turned curious. “What is that?”
I sighed, looking to where he pointed to the walkway, right outside our cage. My heart thumped.
Erasmus had helped us after all.
“Is that a . . .” Leoni started.
