Lief ran his hands over the wall, and Harrison opened the chest.
“Someone is definitely on the other side of this,” Lief murmured.
But they were underground!
“Here!” Harrison said, peering down into the chest. He seemed to be pulling up a panel of some sort and then there was a poof sound and chaos broke out. The men all brandished their daggers and bows, pointing their weapons into the chest. What in Eurona was happening?
“Oh, seas!” Wyneth said, grasping Vixie’s hands.
And then Lief spoke out. “Volgan? Is that you?”
“Yes, lord,” came a deep, bad-tempered voice, “and I’m tired of eating dirt, so if you could remove the arrows from my face and give me a hand, that’d be appreciated.”
Lief slung his bow over his back, letting out a hearty laugh as he reached down into the giant chest and helped an even more giant man out. Vixie gaped in disbelief. She recognized the man from the hunt!
“Ascomannians?” she asked.
Lief shot her a smile over the heads of the others. “At your service, it seems.”
Vixie jumped down and pushed her way through the crowd. One by one, filthy coldlands men rose from the depths of the chest, brushing off their furs and beards before embracing Lief.
“How many are there?” Vixie asked in wonder.
“Why, all of us, of course,” said the hairiest, Volgan. He winked at her. “Here to save your arses again.”
Vixie couldn’t even bring herself to be offended. She simply bounded into the great big brute’s arms and hugged him with all her might.
Chapter
44
When their stolen moment had ended, and harsh reality bombarded Aerity’s senses once again, she sat in the chair watching Paxton as he stood and stretched his arms. He gazed down at her, making her feel too warm all over again.
His face was serious, and she knew he was worried about what they’d do next. She watched as he leaned down into the chest to retrieve his tunic. But to Aerity’s confusion, he stayed leaning down for longer than was necessary.
“I think there’s something here,” she heard him whisper. What was he talking about? The chest was empty. And then she heard a scraping as Paxton pulled.
Seas almighty! He was lifting the bottom of the trunk! Aerity ran to peer in.
“A tunnel?” she asked. Aerity leaned back as Paxton grabbed the torch and held it over the chest. Old wooden rungs embedded into the dirt wall went down a man-sized hole. They looked at each other, eyes rounded. “I think we’re above the cellars,” she whispered.
“I want you to stay here while I check it out.” He stood and gave her his bow and quiver. “No part of the castle is safe now. But if there’s nobody in the cellar I will call you and we can try to find the tunnel where the others are.”
“And then what?” Aerity asked, putting the bow over her shoulder. “Be stuck there forever? It’s not actually a tunnel, Pax. I don’t even know why they call it that. They say it’s simply one long room. A dead end.”
Paxton sighed.
“We’ll figure out something. At least if I can find the others, we can tell them what we know.” He handed her the torch. “I need it to be dark, so if there’s anyone below they don’t see me.”
When he turned toward the chest, fear gripped Aerity’s heart and she grabbed his arm, pulling him back for one more kiss. Their mouths sealed, his perfectly tender against hers, until Paxton pulled away enough to whisper, “Don’t be afraid. Listen for me. If anything happens, run.”
Aerity nodded, reluctantly releasing his arm. She watched as he climbed down into the hole and lowered himself one rung at a time. Her heart sprinted furiously. It felt like forever before he climbed back up and gave her a silent nod to follow. He pointed to the torch holder on the wall. Aerity snuffed the torch in the holder and felt her way in the dark back to the chest. She climbed down, pulling the chest lid closed and letting the bottom fall back into place over her head.
She was breathing too hard until she felt Paxton’s hand around her ankle and heard his firm voice say, “It’s all right. Take your time.” When they got to the bottom they were sandwiched together. Paxton fiddled with something in the dark, and Aerity felt movement of air. He’d opened a compartment of some kind. Her hands felt him kneel.
“Crawl out behind me,” he whispered.
She did as he said and found herself exiting an old cupboard in the pantry behind the wine cellar. Faint light filtered in from the staircase beyond the cellar. Around them were sacks of potatoes and grains. Paxton jumped to his feet and searched until he found another old trunk in the corner like the one they’d seen in the room above. They rushed to it and lifted the lid.
Low laughter rang out from somewhere above, making Aerity jump. Paxton wrenched up the base of the chest and motioned for Aerity to go first. She glanced behind them to be sure they were still alone before lowering herself. It was musty and dank as she made her way down into the dark. When she hit the bottom, she heard Paxton above her and all went pitch-dark again as he closed the lid.
She crouched and felt a wooden panel with her hands. Paxton deftly landed on his feet next to her.
“Harrison told me of a secret knock,” he whispered. “So they don’t attack us.”
One-two, one-two, one-two-three-four, one.
Paxton then pushed on the panel as someone from the other side pulled. Aerity squinted into the bright room and heard Vixie whisper, “It’s Aer!”
She was yanked through the doorway by her wrist and wrapped in a tight hug. Then another set of arms was around her: Wyneth’s. They moved aside so Paxton could come in and shut the panel.
“Blessed seas!” Wyneth sized her up.
“I can’t believe you’re here!” Vixie exclaimed.
“Neither can I.” Aerity kissed her sister’s cheek and embraced her again.
“What’s happening up there?” Harrison asked. “How did you get away?”
“Were you possibly followed?” asked one of the soldiers.
“Nay . . .” Paxton explained their escape.
Furball gave a low rawr of welcome to Aerity and came up on his hind legs beside them. Aerity jumped back and then laughed, reaching out to scratch his wiry stomach. She then looked around the room in confusion. There were only seven people down there besides her and Paxton. Four soldiers, Harrison, Wyneth, and Vixie. But bedrolls and things were strewn everywhere.
“Where have the others gone?” Aerity asked.
Paxton stopped and looked around, his eyes quizzical as well.
“Funny story, that,” Harrison said.
Aerity spotted the chest at the end of the room and pointed. “Wait. Is that . . . ?”
“It is,” Harrison told her. “This tunnel leads north outside the royal walls. The Ascomannians are here. They’ve taken our staff to safety. Their navy has met with ours and awaits further battle in the bay. And what’s more, they told us there is rumor of help coming from both Toresta and Zorfina.”
“Seas above!” Aerity clasped her hands under her chin and beamed, closing her eyes in thanks. If what he’d said was true, and they overthrew Prince Vito, Aerity would spend her entire rule trying to repay the other three kingdoms.
“Does this mean we can leave?” Paxton asked, placing a hand on Aerity’s back.
Harrison grinned. “We’ve just been waiting on word from you.”
A low rumble began in the walls around them. They all looked up, staring at the shaking from feet stomping overhead, and then gaping at the sounds of Kalorian war cries from above.
“They’ve found out you’re gone,” Paxton said. “Go, go, go!”
But Aerity didn’t need to be told. She was already running.
Prince Vito and Rozaria stood in Princess Aerity’s empty chamber, with Nicola silent behind them. In the hall Martone shouted orders to half-drunk Kalorian soldiers, who ran about, confused. A tight knot had formed in Rozaria’s stomach as she considered what mig
ht have happened.
“She could have tricked him—”
“Silence,” Vito said in a sinister whisper. “He has made a fool of us. Perhaps now you will finally learn not to trust.” He turned to her with a sneer, and Rozaria locked her jaw in defiance. She was the only Kalorian alive who didn’t fear him, but at that very moment he seemed unstable and capable of lashing out. She kept her distance.
Vito walked the perimeter of the room, skirting the edge of the bed as he ran his fingertips along the downy covers. Menace glistened in his eyes. Rozaria did not want to believe that Paxton had helped the Lochlan queen to escape. He was different, wasn’t he? He’d made her feel things she never allowed herself to feel for men. But how could an unarmed girl overtake a strong Lashed? It only made sense that he had helped her. They were missing, together.
Rozaria sensed Nicola behind her, and felt a surge of dread: Had she been wrong about the hunter all along? Her two closest comrades, Nicola and Vito, had not trusted him, and she ignored their doubts.
A flare of disappointment singed her from the inside. Nicola must have sensed her mood because she silently moved next to her, their arms touching, as if to let her know she was still there. Still at her side. Rozaria raised her chin and felt the shame of her jaw trembling. She hadn’t cried since . . . she couldn’t recall. Never, perhaps. Tears were a sign of softness, weakness, which was not in her. This burning in her eyes, it was brought on by sheer rage at Paxton’s duplicity.
She would look him straight into his eyes as she killed him. Better yet, she would make him watch as she killed his precious queen. The thought eased the stinging behind her eyes.
Prince Vito’s hand trailed the walls until he came to a bookcase. Rozaria moved forward to see what he was staring at. Her mind went back to the king’s study and the bookcase there that opened to the hidden room. Vito’s head spun to her; he must have realized it at the same time.
“Martone!” Rozaria called. The man ran into the room, at her command. “Ready your weapon.”
He unsheathed his wicked knife and went to Vito’s side. Beside her, Nicola pulled out her dagger. The prince felt along the books until he came to three joined ones, and then he pulled downward. Martone moved to the opening to protect them, ready to attack. Rozaria held her breath, staring hard as the dark room took shape, but her anticipation fizzled to disappointment at the sight of empty space. Martone stuck his head in and whipped it back to Prince Vito, wide-eyed.
“It’s a passage!”
“What are you waiting for, idiot?” Vito asked. “Go! Find them!”
Martone rushed in, with Prince Vito, Rozaria, and Nicola following. With each lever they came to, the brute yanked it down and gave an unnecessary war cry into the empty chambers they revealed. “Shut up, you fool,” Prince Vito said after the second time. “You’ll alert them.”
Their journey ended in a small room with a chair and a trunk. Martone silently pushed the lever and charged into yet another empty room. Vito cursed and fisted his hands. If they had gone into any of those rooms, it would have put them back into the castle. Every Kalorian was on alert. They would be found.
They were quiet, thinking of what to do next, when Rozaria realized she could hear a murmur of voices below . . . coming from the chest. She pointed. Nicola fell to her knees and wrenched it open. The girl leaned into it, feeling around, and then yanked up a panel to reveal an opening with ladder rungs.
“Well done, Nic.” A thrill of victory shot through Rozaria. “We’ve got them now.”
Chapter
45
The tunnel was long. Too long. Aerity would so much rather climb to fearful heights out in the open than be confined in a low, dank space with bugs of all manner crunching underfoot. Judging by the labored breathing and frequent stifled sounds from Wyneth and Vixie, they weren’t loving this either. Especially since Furball practically had to be pulled along to stop him from digging at protruding roots or swiping up crawling things as snacks.
Aerity had no idea how long they’d been moving, but it was long enough to have to stop and rest several times, and continually drink water. Though it was winter outside, they were sweating from the quick pace in the confined space. The passage seemed to go on forever. Finally, finally, Harrison called, “The exit is ahead!”
One by one they crouched through a smaller hole and entered a shaft that went straight up. Aerity grasped the wooden rungs and kept her mouth closed against the falling dirt from Harrison’s boots above her. At the top, Harrison grasped her hands and helped her up. They came out of yet another giant trunk inside a small room with old barrels, sacks, and dusty shelving. An Ascomannian and a Lochlan soldier were there.
“Where are we?” Aerity asked, brushing herself off.
Paxton came up behind her, followed by the other girls and the officers.
“From the outside it appears to be an old lean-to shack for storage,” Harrison explained. “It’s a small military compound that was closed off years ago.”
“And where are we within Lochlanach?” Paxton asked.
“Just north of royal lands. We’ll head northeast along Parryhorn Bay, where the Ascomannians and our fleet of ships wait.”
“Come along, Your Majesty,” said the Lochlan soldier. “We’ve readied a horse for you. We must move quickly.”
The sight of Lochlan and Ascomannian ships together in Parryhorn Bay filled Aerity with immense joy. She let herself be ushered onto the grandest Ascomannian vessel with Harrison and two other high-ranking Lochlan officers. Lief stood at the end of the gangway, awaiting her. He took her hand to help her aboard.
“Thank you, Lord Alvi,” she said. He held her hand for a moment longer, appearing relieved to see her.
“My pleasure. Follow me.”
They took steep steps belowdecks. King Dagur stood with his arms crossed in the low-ceilinged cabin, watching intently as one of his men ran his finger along a map. His eyes came up to her as she entered, and he grunted.
“You are safe, then.”
“Aye, thanks to you.” She went to him, and though he was unsmiling, he reached out and took her hands. Aerity swallowed hard, unable to speak. She tried to convey her gratitude with her eyes, and he nodded.
“Very well. Enough of that.” He released her hands and motioned to the map. “Here is our plan. We must get them to leave royal lands and come north to this strip.” He pointed to a stretch of land between Loch River and Crescent Stream. “If we can get them here, it won’t matter if they outnumber us, because we’ll have them in a pinch. Only limited numbers of their men can get through at a time to battle us.”
“How do you propose we get them to leave the safety of royal lands?” Harrison asked.
“Well, what are their weaknesses?” Aerity asked. “Lashed Ones, aye? What if they caught wind of Lashed Ones being rounded up and killed in Craw Coorie? And that the townspeople there are revolting? Knowing his pride, the prince will wish to show his power by putting a stop to it immediately and using them as an example.”
The king nodded. “We’d thought about the town-revolt idea, but I like the addition of the Lashed abuse.”
Loud footsteps outside made them turn their heads toward the stairs. An Ascomannian warrior hurried down and bowed to his king.
“What news?” King Dagur asked.
“Your Majesty, a Lochlan soldier riding from the town of Dovedell says they have amassed people to fight. And more, Torestan and Zorfinan troops have joined them.”
Blessed seas!
The king chuckled heartily and winked at Aerity, rubbing his thick hands together. “Good news, that. Anything else?”
“Yes, my king, the details of their plans. Half their Lochlans and the entire Torestan army are marching north as we speak to join our forces. The other half of the Lochlans and the Zorfinans will remain in Dovedell to attack the southern entrance of royal lands. They will arrive by tomorrow midday. Their plan is to attack tomorrow at sundown. They said if this plan does
not work, for you to send notice at once.”
The king grunted. “Waiting nearly two days is not ideal, but I suppose we have no other choice. Send a messenger on a fresh horse to respond with our plans—”
He was cut off by yet another sound of stomping boots and another Ascomannian rushing down into the cabin and coming to stand before the king with a bow. He panted.
“Speak,” the king commanded.
“Your Majesty, our land spies have spotted mass movement through Kalor and over the border of Lochlanach. More of their troops are coming.”
The king cursed. He looked at the first messenger. “Send a rider at once. Let those in Dovedell know of the additional Kalorian troops coming from the south so they’re not taken by surprise or trapped. Go.”
The warrior bowed and rushed out. King Dagur looked at Aerity.
“Seems we’ve got ourselves a verifiable war on our hands, Queen Aerity. May as well start your reign off with a bit of a boom.”
Aerity stared at him, horrified. Lief chuckled behind her.
“Ah, Uncle, if there is one thing I can tell you from my time in Lochlanach, it’s that their people prefer to avoid the booms at all cost.”
Aerity sputtered a laugh in spite of herself. “Aye. I would prefer if this was the one and only boom of my reign, to be quite honest.”
King Dagur patted her shoulder hard. “Then let’s make it one to remember.”
Chapter
46
Vixie, Aerity, Wyneth, and the no-longer-such-a-cub beast all opted to sleep in a cabin together on a Lochlan vessel that had anchored safely in the middle of the bay. Furball had actually seemed offended that he wasn’t allowed on the bed. He tried to climb on and opened his mouth in a mournful roar when Wyneth told him no and pointed to a pallet on the floor beside them. Once they finally settled, the four of them slept like the dead.
Vixie was groggy when she felt slimy wetness drag along her cheek and nose. She opened her eyes and found a giant mouth with pointed fangs yawning in her face and she screamed. Aerity and Wyneth bolted upright, covers flying. Vixie caught her breath and fell back.