Harrison’s face was tight. “Don’t worry about Alvi. But as for Aerity . . .” He shook his head. “She had to have been taken. There’s been a traitor in the castle for some time now. It has to be one of the guards or soldiers. My men and I are all eyes and ears. I pray to the seas she’s safe.”
“It makes no sense. Prince Vito wanted Aerity to be here. Why would he have her stolen away?”
The ground rattled and the men met eyes.
“They’re getting closer,” Harrison said. “I’ve got to go.”
They grasped hands.
“Seas be with you, Paxton.”
“And you, as well.”
Paxton moved quickly toward the back entrance overlooking the gardens. To his astonishment and dread, the end of the hall was filled with smoke. When he got closer he could make out six Lochlan guards strewn across the stone floor, and the heavy scent of gunpowder. He covered his mouth and squinted to find the doors wide open and Duke Gulfton sitting in the same exact spot as he’d left him. He had to have seen the whole thing.
“What happened?” Paxton shouted.
“Smoke bomb,” the man said. “He’ll be safe now. I’ll have him back.”
Paxton stared at the gnarled metal device on the ground by the old man’s feet, still smoking, and the unmoving bodies of the guards.
“Who is safe?” Paxton asked.
The man smiled wistfully. “My grandson.”
What the seas?Hewasmad. “Who set this bomb?” Paxton squatted and looked for wounds on the men, but there were none. Had the smoke made them faint? But it hadn’t hurt the duke. He felt for a pulse on a guard, but there was none. Seas . . . he had to get the doors closed. His scalp tingled as he slowly looked toward the doors and saw the back of a castle maid standing in the opening, her hair long and dark brown. She slowly turned and met Paxton’s eye. The scar on her pale face gleamed in the moonlight.
Paxton’s stomach sank. His heart went erratic. Soldiers in bright colors rushed up the steps, led by Martone, who motioned that Paxton was an ally. He moved to the doors, still wondering if he could close and lock them, but it was no use. Kalorians were rushing to the steps. Nicola stared past the gardens, where the prince’s carriage barreled down the path surrounded by Kalorians shooting arrows and holding up shields.
They had made it. As the horses and carriage went straight through a set of low bushes, the army surrounding them fanned out to protect the prince. Someone opened the carriage door and soldiers ushered him and Rozaria out, forming a wall of protection around them as they rushed up the garden path to the steps and up to the door.
Paxton stood at the top, schooling his face to hide his shock. Rozaria handed Nicola a cloak and chuckled. “The clothing of Lochlan maids does not suit you, dear.”
The girl took the cloak and put it on, pulling the hood up over her head. The three of them hurried inside with about twenty more guards, and they shut the doors behind them. Prince Vito was all smiles as he surveyed the bodies and stepped over them. The Kalorian guards stared down the empty hall, holding spears. Paxton noticed, appalled, that Vito wore the king of Lochlanach’s crown.
“They’re all gone,” Paxton told them. “Everyone fled or joined the fight outside the castle.”
“Everyone?” Rozaria asked.
Paxton nodded. “I’m fairly certain. I’m sorry I don’t have more information. Things turned to chaos.”
“Don’t worry,” Rozaria told him. “Everything is under control.”
Paxton’s hopes sank as his anxiety rose. He wanted to ask questions, to find out if they had Aerity, but he knew those kinds of questions would raise suspicion.
Prince Vito waved a hand and half the guards ran down the wide hallway, most likely to survey and open the other castle entrances for more of their people to come in. The prince held out his arms at the expansive hallway.
“Home! And where is my welcoming committee? The place could use some redecorating. All in due time, I suppose.” The prince began walking, studying the paintings on the walls, and the remaining guards circled him.
Paxton felt a hand on his arm and jumped. Rozaria laughed up at him.
“No need to fear. You have done well.”
“You were earlier than I expected. I nearly didn’t make it to the doors.” He was having a hard time reining in his anger, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Rozaria shrugged. “The prince was eager. And we had another man on the inside, just in case.”
“Just in case?” Paxton asked. They hadn’t trusted him.
