Allegiance (21 page)

“He went directly to his quarters, sir,” Casimir replied, for he would have been with the King.

“That puts him eight hours ahead of us, easily, if he's left the city,” Halias calculated.

“He's beyond the city,” Cannan confirmed.

Halias and Casimir exchanged a glance, their eyebrows rising as they wondered how their captain could have determined this.

“Sir?” they asked in unison.

“A horse was missing from the stable at my city estate this morning. I supposed a thief, but Steldor would have been smart enough not to take his own mount. Anyone would have recognized it. And he wouldn't have taken a horse unless he intended to leave the city.”

Cannan sidestepped his guards and marched out the door and down the corridor. Casimir followed, Halias unable to do likewise, for he was assigned to protect me. I wasted no
time in pursuing the men, however, and my bodyguard did not object to my nosiness. I hurried down the hall, fighting guilt and worry. How angry had I made him? Was I the reason he had taken off, or had something else transpired last night?

Cannan had already disappeared around the corner, heading for the Grand Staircase. I quickened my pace, but by the time I reached the landing, he was on the first floor, calling for Galen. The Sergeant at Arms emerged from his office just in time to see Cannan's retreating back, and he and Casimir hastened after their superior officer. Cursing my inability to eavesdrop, I decided to wait for them to reappear from the captain's office, in the hope that I would be able to catch snippets of conversation. I sat down on the top step in an undignified fashion to do just that, Halias taking up position behind me with his back against the wall.

What I eventually gathered was this: Steldor, a hooded cloak pulled low, had left the city unrecognized, riding one of the captain's horses and presenting a pass with the King's seal, something he naturally had no difficulty obtaining. This gave him a considerable advantage. Cannan had decided that Galen and Casimir would head a discreet search party into the mountains, with Galen leading the way to all the places he and Steldor had frequented in their youth. The sergeant had been insistent that his best friend would not have gone to any such locations, since he did not want to be found, but Cannan was resolute that this was the most logical way to begin.

After the search party had gone on its way, I went to my drawing room, where I would be able to hear the return of the men from down the hall. Cannan came after me just long enough to make certain that I would follow my usual daily schedule; he did not trust that our city was free of Co
kyrian spies, and he feared that if the information broke that the King was unaccounted for, the search would turn into a race. He also reminded Halias that he was to stay with me, able to see as easily as could I that the Elite Guard craved involvement in the effort.

Hours passed without word, and I began to feel desperate for news of any sort. I opted to walk past the Throne Room under the guise of needing to retrieve a shawl from my bedroom, hoping I would encounter my father-in-law. I meandered through the entrance hall, finding it strangely quiet, then climbed the stairs at an impossibly slow pace. I even pretended at the top that my shoe had slipped off my heel, and I spent a good minute readjusting it, hoping something of importance would take place while I lingered.

Halias, who hadn't yet said a word, finally broke his silence, his tone dry. “I don't think your shawl will be found here, Your Highness.”

I sighed and turned away from him with a frown, for he had surmised what my true intentions were. Giving up the pretense, I leaned upon the railing. The hour was growing late, and I wondered if the search party would return at all this day. But surely someone would come to update Cannan, even if some of the troops stayed in the mountains.

At that moment, a soldier stumbled through the double front doors of the palace and limped into the Grand Entry, face smeared with dirt and sweat, calling for the captain. The Palace Guards at the entrance maintained their posts, while I went rigid. Halias came to my side, all of us waiting for Cannan.

“Report,” the captain ordered as he strode through the antechamber, taking in the battered soldier, who, despite his obvious exhaustion, came to attention.

“Sir, the Cokyrians are at the river. We need reinforcements.”

The Palace Guards broke into hushed mutterings at these words, and my stomach gave a sickening lurch. The war had begun anew. I felt as though a death march had commenced, with the only questions being who would die and when.

“They will be sent,” Cannan curtly responded, but then he placed a steadying hand on the man's shoulder. “Stand at ease and tell me how things were when you left.”

“We did not expect their attack, sir,” the soldier admitted without shame. “We were disorganized—” the slight scowl on the captain's face made it clear that he had not left things that way “—and the Cokyrians could probably have overcome us, had they employed their full might. But at the time I rode for reinforcements, our troops were beating them back. In truth, I think they were testing us, sir. Their second attack will be far worse.”

“Doubtless. Was there any sign of the boy?”

“No, sir.”

There was some relief for the captain in this statement, as I knew he and his men had yet to explain the fiery barrier that had impeded them in their attempt to capture Narian.

“Then you are dismissed. Report to the infirmary and have your leg examined.”

“But sir, I should return—”

“You have your orders,” Cannan said sharply, the strain of the day at last beginning to show. “You'll be of no use fatigued and injured.” A beat passed, and he regained his unflappable demeanor. “I will send additional men. Go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Noticeably cowed, the soldier hobbled through the front doors once more, on his way to the military base.

 

The men Cannan sent to offer aid at the river proved to be unnecessary, for the soldier who had brought news of Cokyri's assault had been correct about the enemy's intent—they were testing us, toying with us, their attack halfhearted. The servants and guards even jested that our troops alternated between fighting and napping on the battlefield. Through it all, I had to wonder if it were Narian who was trying to belittle and badger us with this technique.

There was still no news of Steldor, and it was becoming harder to keep up the appearance that nothing was wrong. When Galen returned early the next afternoon without the King and without any idea of where he might be, it began to penetrate my brain that Steldor was truly
missing.
Everyone had assumed he would be back by now, and despite the discreet search parties Cannan had dispatched in every direction, no evidence of his whereabouts had been discovered. It was possible, Galen pointed out, that Steldor, a trained military man, had covered his tracks and would not be found until he chose to be. Cannan, however, instructed his men to search again and again, arguing that every person, no matter how well trained, leaves a trail. I could tell the captain hadn't so much as closed his eyes since his son's disappearance.

Late that afternoon, I paced, alone in my parlor, feeling a surprising desire to have my husband join me. Despite our disagreements, I desperately wanted him to walk through the door and be safe. When I could pace no more, I visited the Royal Chapel, the first time I had done so since Miranna's abduction. Although it was painful for me to cross the threshold, I sought the peace I had always found within its walls. The altar had been repaired, and no sign of the tragedy remained, other than the fact that a new priest now
served our family. I sat in one of the pews, letting my fears wash over me as I thought of Steldor alone somewhere for a second dark night, possibly injured, certainly in danger.
Come home,
I breathed, closing my eyes.
Be all right. Please be all right and come home.

When I left the chapel to return to my quarters, Destari waited for me in the corridor, having returned to duty as my bodyguard.

“Your Highness,” he greeted me, not referring to me by name, which suited me perfectly. “The captain feels I am sufficiently healed to return to your service. I will seek reassignment, however, if this is not to your liking.”

“I have never questioned your ability as a bodyguard,” I coolly responded, relieved that his wound had not been more serious. “It is your suitability as a friend that I question.”

He grimaced, and I stalked past him, my resentment over his deceit on the night I had met with Narian warring with my guilt over how he'd been injured. Could I truly fault him for what he'd done? I knew that the men were right to consider Narian our adversary. Would I begrudge Destari his deed had that adversary been the High Priestess or the Overlord? No. But yet I could not pardon him, simply because to do so would require me to abandon hope that Narian was still the young man who had promised he would never hurt me. And that I was not ready to do.

 

I rose early the next morning and went to the first floor, my jittery mind and nerves having kept me from a restful slumber. Needing to know if there had been word, I knocked on the captain's office door.

“Enter,” he called.

The office had been restored since it had been subjected
to Steldor's wrath, the glass weapons cases replaced, the bookshelves put back in order. Another chair had even been brought in to take the place of the one Steldor had smashed. The captain, anchored behind his desk, gestured for me to sit.

“Nothing,” he said, rubbing his unusually shadowed jaw, and I took my place on the wooden chair he was indicating.

“Will we find him?” I asked tentatively, for I did not want to hear the answer unless it was the one I craved.

“Yes.”

“You're certain?”

“I have to be.”

I didn't know what to make of this statement, so I waited in discomfited silence. Just as I began to wonder if that had been my cue to depart, Cannan elaborated, leaning back in his chair.

“Growing up, Steldor was, at times, difficult, and he took off like this on more than one occasion. He knows the land and is a well-trained soldier, so from that standpoint, I don't worry about him. What he fails to see is the difference between being a boy who needs to get away and being the King of Hytanica. There is greater risk to him, and to us, because of his status. If no enemy discovers him, we'll either find him or he'll return of his own accord. If he is or has already been discovered…” Cannan shrugged in what would have seemed a callous gesture had I not been aware of the sleep he had been losing. “Well, then I cannot say.” He paused before finishing. “It is easier to keep going if I believe the former.”

A commotion from the entryway thwarted my reply, and Cannan came to his feet. Our eyes met, then he walked through the guardroom to investigate while I took the liberty of following him. Galen and several others were gath
ered, all struggling for breath, as though they had been riding hard.

“What is it?” Cannan demanded, striding toward the Sergeant at Arms.

“It's a diversion, sir,” Galen panted, wiping sweat from his brow, desolate and worn-out.

“What is?”

The captain waited for the sergeant to recover, running a hand through his hair in an uncharacteristic gesture.

“At the bridge, where the Cokyrians are attacking. They're just diverting our attention. We followed the river high up into the mountains searching for Steldor and stumbled upon Cokyrian troops crossing into our lands. They're gathering forces, preparing to descend the mountain and assault us under cover of the forest.”

“Send for my battalion commanders. We need to put up defenses to the north.” Glancing around at the exhausted soldiers, Cannan added, “And get your men some rest.”

“Attention,” Galen called, drawing the weary soldiers upright. “Return to your quarters. You've got six hours.”

Galen then stepped into the guardroom to instruct others under his authority to summon the battalion commanders. I stared at Cannan, knowing it was no longer such a remote possibility that our King might fall prey to the Cokyrians.

The soldiers departed, some heading toward the barracks at the military base, some going to their rooms in the East Wing, a few following Galen's specific instructions. When the hall had emptied, Cannan turned once more to his sergeant.

“To hell with discretion,” he said, and the simple fact that he had sworn spoke volumes about the level of danger he now believed to exist. “Steldor has to be found,
now.
It's time for a major troop deployment.”

“Your Highness!”

I heard the call and looked around but could not determine who desired my attention. But when the palace doors swung wide, I realized the shout had come from outside, and had not been directed at me.

Steldor strode in and proceeded to walk past us to the Grand Staircase, offering a mere nod of his head in response to our incredulous stares. His arrival was so unreal I half expected that I was the only one who could see him, and that Cannan and Galen would resume their discussion about how to find him as soon as he had disappeared up the steps.

I stood frozen, expecting Cannan to stop his son, but to my astonishment, it was not the captain who marched forward and addressed Steldor. It was Galen. “Where the
hell
are you going?”

Galen waited a few feet from the base of the staircase, glaring up at his best friend. Steldor turned and slowly made his way back down, and I thought Cannan would intervene to prevent the sergeant from lambasting the King. He did not seem inclined to do so.

“Wherever the hell I please,” Steldor replied, noticeably testy and worn-out.

“Don't talk to me like that.” Galen clenched his fists and jaw in barely subdued fury. “I don't give a damn how you talk to anybody else, but not like that to me, not after what you've put us through.”