I’ve watched nine sunsets from this room, and when the sun begins to disappear beyond the forests surrounding Ironrose Castle, I know it’ll soon be time for me to watch my tenth.
I shouldn’t be watching any. I shouldn’t be locked in the castle. I should be at court in Syhl Shallow, watching the ladies of the court attend to a grieving queen.
An assassin was supposed to have killed the king in the middle of the archery fields.
An assassin who never showed.
Callyn. I have no way of knowing if she delivered my note to Lady Karyl.
I have no idea who attacked the queen. That was never part of the plan.
Betrayal could have come from both sides. It burns at my thoughts during my long hours in this room. The Truthbringers have always had one goal: protect the queen.
As the sun turns red along the horizon, a guard knocks at the door with my dinner. It’s a bit theatrical, as the door is locked from the outside.
“Enter,” I call, as if I have any say in the matter.
Today’s guard is a man named Vale, a man well into his thirties with graying hair and armor that’s straining, just a bit, to adequately cover his midsection. He’s a seasoned guard who’s served in the castle for three years.
He’s also steadfastly loyal to the Truthbringers.
I know this because we placed him here.
Prince Rhen might be a cunning bastard, but even he has his limits.
“A runner arrived this afternoon,” Vale says quietly. “The prince is returning with a small contingent of guards and soldiers. The rest are remaining in Syhl Shallow to determine how deep the insurrection runs.”
I swear. “What of the royal family?”
“They survived.” He pauses. “From what I hear, it was close. The King’s Courier is returning with the prince.”
That makes me smile. His relationship with the king is still fractured, then. “Any casualties?”
“Unknown. I’ll do my best to find out.”
A guard calls from the hallway. “Vale! What’s taking so long?”
“Punch me,” I say in a whispered rush. “Say I attacked you.”
He swings a fist, and I have to force myself to take it. My head snaps to the side, and I taste blood. I allow myself to fall back, stumbling to a knee just as another guard appears in the doorway.
“He went for my dagger,” Vale snaps.
I touch my fingers to my lip. “I was just trying to take the tray, you fool.”
He stares at me as if he’s waiting for me to provide his next line, and I all but roll my eyes.
“I’ll have words with your prince when he returns,” I declare. “You should all prepare to be dismissed.”
“You’re lucky you’re getting a meal at all,” says the other guard. “Come on,” he says to Vale. “Just leave him.”
They leave the room, and the click of the lock echoes.
The sky is fully red now.
My lip is still bleeding, and I sigh. I lift the cover from the tray of food.
Shellfish. I make a face and cover it back up.
If the prince is returning and the royal family is returning, they will have to let me go. There’s nothing to signify my involvement with the Truthbringers. No proof. No matter what happened to the queen, I was here in Emberfall. No matter what happened to the king, it was done elsewhere.
Casualties? Unknown.
I think of Callyn: her cynical glances, her wicked smile, her challenging eyes. I remember stroking a finger across her cheek. Asking, Have I shared enough to earn your trust?
And then, like a fool, I gave her one small shred of truth.
If Lady Karyl deceived me, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ve never trusted her, and I was likely a fool to have allowed her as much unchecked freedom as she enjoyed.
But Callyn …
I sit in the chair beside the window and watch my tenth sunset, the red gleaming in the trees in a way that reminds me of the light on her hair.
I make a very dangerous enemy, Callyn.
If she betrayed me, she’ll learn how very true that is.
