Alliance (15 page)

“While you were away, I arranged for the kitchen to send food to Danek once a day.” He paused, a look of shame coloring his features. “I assumed there would be no problem with this and neglected to check in with those guarding the cell. If I had, then this would never have happened, and I can only apologize, Sire.”

Ryneq impatiently gestured for Nysad to continue. They could deal with blame later.

“When we questioned the kitchen maid who was supposedly taking Danek his food, she broke down and confessed that someone else had been taking it to him. The person in question had assured her it would be all right, and because of their position in the palace, the maid had believed her.”

Her
. Ryneq had a sick feeling and prayed he was wrong.

“It was Kalis, Sire. The guards confirmed she was the last one to see Danek before he tried to escape. They also admit they might not have watched her as closely after the first few times.”

Even though he’d been half expecting it from what Nysad had implied, to hear him confirm it was like a punch to the stomach. “But why? Why would Kalis go and see someone who had been labeled a traitor to the kingdom? She’s been loyal to my family for years. Why do this now?” He looked at Nysad, willing him to have the answers, because this made absolutely no sense.

“The maid we spoke to thought Kalis might have been with child. She saw her stroke her belly when she thought no one was looking, and she took certain things from the kitchen, things to help with sickness.”

“Merciful Gods.” Ryneq was at a loss for what to say. He’d trusted Kalis. She’d been a part of his life for as long as he could remember, and the thought of her betraying him cut deeper than when he’d found out about Danek. To think he’d left her alone with Nykin when he’d been recovering from his injured leg…. “Where is she now?”

Nysad didn’t even flinch at the cold, hard edge to Ryneq’s tone. “I don’t know, Sire. I ordered Peros to go and detain her and then report back. But he hasn’t returned.”

Ryneq threw his now-empty goblet across the room. He stood, his chair screeching as he pushed it roughly backward. “We need to find her.” Now that he thought about it, Kalis had been in and around his quarters a lot lately, lingering just a touch longer than necessary. Ryneq hadn’t thought anything of it at the time, but she’d obviously been eavesdropping. “I’ve no idea just how much she knows, or if she has any plans to try and get to Seran, but we can’t afford to take that chance.”

“Of course, Sire.” Nysad was already out of his seat and heading toward the door. “I’ll send word as soon as she’s found.” He hesitated, looking a little uncertain. “When we have her, should we….”

“Lock her up in the cells, Nysad. As you would with any suspected traitor.”

Nysad nodded and left, closing the door behind him.

“T
HANK
YOU
for this.” Selene nudged Nykin’s shoulder as they stood at the cave mouth watching Fimor fly back up the mountain. “I can’t ever remember the riders being grounded, Nykin. It feels so wrong.”

Nykin followed Fimor’s path until he disappeared out of sight, then turned to Selene and wrapped his arm around her. “I know. But it’s for our own safety. Ryneq’s only—”

“You don’t have to defend him. I’m not questioning the king’s decision. We’d be easy targets in the sky, I’m well aware of that. All I’m saying is that it’s putting me on edge.”

Nykin didn’t particularly enjoy being banned from the skies, and the rest of the riders had all looked just as miserable when he’d first entered the Eyrie, but he wondered if Selene had something else, or
someone
, on her mind as well.

They’d not really had a chance to talk properly since they’d arrived back from Alel. Any free time he’d had he’d spent with Ryneq, and he assumed Selene had been with Lerran. “So,” he said, turning them toward the back of the cave and the tunnels. “How are things with Lerran?”

She sighed, and her whole body relaxed a little into Nykin’s side. Her relief at someone asking was almost palpable, and Nykin instantly felt guilty at not inquiring before now. They might be teetering on the brink of war, but Selene was one of his best friends, and he’d let her down.

She sighed again, and when Nykin glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, she was biting her lip, as if trying to decide how to answer.

“Just tell me. I promise it won’t go any further than us. I won’t even tell Jaken.”

She snorted at that. “I don’t mind you telling him, just not….”

“Not Ryneq,” he finished for her, and she nodded, still not looking up at him. Nykin couldn’t help the way he bristled slightly, but he pushed the feeling back down. He had to accept that there were some things that neither Selene nor Jaken would want their king to know about. It wasn’t as though Selene’s love life was a direct threat to the kingdom. “You have my word, Selene.”

“I don’t know what to do,” she began, the words tumbling out after she’d made the conscious decision to tell him. “We were getting on well in Alel, as you probably realized.”

Nykin scoffed, because that was a bit of an understatement, but he quickly apologized under the weight of Selene’s glare.

“And I knew nothing could come of it. I mean he’s an elf, and my home is here, and we were both fine with that. It was harmless fun.”

“And now?”

“When we rode together on Kalesh, it was… well let’s just say things changed.” She ducked out from under Nykin’s arm as the tunnels narrowed.

Nykin thought of Ryneq tucked behind him as they flew back to Torsere. It’d brought them closer together, sharing something that up until then had been solely his, and he could easily imagine that it had been the same for Selene and Lerran.

“I don’t want to let him go, Nykin.” Her voice broke a little, and she sucked in a breath before wiping her eyes and laughing softly. “Gods, look at the state of me. If you tell anyone, I swear I’ll have Kalesh burn you to a crisp.”

Nykin grinned at her, shoving her a little in mock offense. “Have you seen each other much since we got back? I know things have been hectic, but—”

She turned to him with an incredulous expression. “I’ve been staying in his room at the palace. Did Ryneq not tell you?”

“No, he didn’t,” Nykin replied, brow furrowed. He didn’t know whether to feel affronted or not that Ryneq knew and hadn’t told him. “It’s serious, then?” Selene nodded. “Does he feel the same?”

“Yes, I think so. You know how open elves are with their feelings.” She sighed again, and Nykin had never heard her do it so much in such a short span of time. “But we’ve avoided talking about what happens
after
, because… well, you know.”

Because there was the very real possibility that one or both of them wouldn’t make it out alive. But neither Nykin nor Selene was willing to say that out loud.

“Yeah,” he said instead. “I know.”

“So.” They were almost back at the entrance, and Selene patted at her slightly puffy eyes and smoothed down her hair. “I think I’ll just avoid thinking about all that and concentrate on the now. What do you say?”

Nykin reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I think that’s all you can do.”

She gave him a grateful smile, before they were accosted by an overexcited Jaken bounding toward them.

“Hey, where’ve you two been? Eldin’s called a meeting.”

Nykin noted how full the entrance was now, and a cursory headcount told him that nearly all the riders were already there. “Do you know what about?” he asked, turning back to face Jaken.

“No, but I’m hoping it’s to tell us we aren’t grounded anymore.”

Selene hummed in agreement, but Nykin doubted that was the reason. He’d only spoken to Ryneq about it that morning, and unless something had happened in the meeting, he couldn’t see him rescinding the order yet.

A smooth stone slab jutted out of the far wall, and they usually used it as a table to look at maps or other things, but now Eldin pulled himself onto it and stood so he could be seen by everyone. He clapped his hands together to get everyone’s attention. “I believe we can start now.” A hush settled over the riders, all eyes focused on Eldin. “As I’m sure you’re aware, the reason we’re all grounded at the moment is because the witch’s magic is just too dangerous and unpredictable. A few of us have experienced it firsthand”—he glanced over at Nykin—“and it’s not something I care to repeat or inflict on any of you. However….” He paused to let the excited murmurs die down. “There may soon be the opportunity to attack both the witch and Seran’s army, when the witch’s power is exhausted.”

Everyone started talking at once.

“See, I told you,” Jaken whispered, practically vibrating in place. “We’re going to get to fly soon.”

Selene frowned. “That’s not exactly what he said. There’s still—”

“Quiet.” Eldin’s voice echoed off the stone walls, cutting off all conversation. “There will be no riding until I give the order, and we are still grounded for now.” He ignored the resulting groans and tapped on the wall behind him. “You’ll see that there’s now a new schedule. There will be a rotating shift pattern while we wait for the witch to attack the barrier
—
twelve hours on, twelve off. There will be at least half the riders in the Eyrie, ready to fly at all times. Those who are not required to be in the Eyrie can consider themselves on call and will be expected to return to the Eyrie at a moment’s notice. Am I clear so far?”

A series of yeses rang out, and a small smile tugged at Eldin’s lips. “Good. Here’s the plan.”

Nykin listened, alert and standing to attention like all the others as Eldin detailed what they were expected to do.

“The elves believe that when the witch attacks the barrier protecting Torsere, she will use up enough magical energy that she’ll be unable to cast for a limited amount of time. That is when we attack. The witch will still likely be protected by wards, so our main focus will be the catapults to start with. Once they’re destroyed, then you can pick your targets at will.”

A mixture of nervousness and excitement coursed through Nykin’s veins. They had been waiting for a chance to get out there and fight for their people. The thought was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

“Those on first shift, I suggest you get your harnesses ready in the landing caves. We have no way of knowing when the attack will come, and there will be no time to waste when it does. The rest of you go get some sleep.” Eldin jumped down and immediately headed toward the storeroom. Obviously he and Vashek were on the first shift.

Most of the other riders were already scanning the list Eldin had put up and either following him down to the storeroom, or walking over to the stone steps back to the palace.

Selene gripped his arm, her nails digging through his uniform. “This is it, then.”

He glanced over, meeting her gaze first and then Jaken’s. They both looked exactly how he felt. “I guess we’d better find out what shift we’re on.”

They waited in silence for the last riders in front of them to move and then crowded around the list. Nykin searched for his name, finally finding it on the bottom half—he had second shift—and didn’t really know if that was better or worse. He doubted he’d be able to get much sleep, as he was far too keyed up for that, but it meant he’d get to see Ryneq before he had to return.

“I’m on second, oh… and I’m lead,” he said, mouth hanging open. To be chosen as lead for the second group of riders meant Eldin thought of him as his second-in-command. Nykin grinned as both Selene and Jaken congratulated him. “What about you two?” He stepped back and waited for his friends to look.

“I’ve got first.”

“Me too.”

Nykin deflated a little at that. He desperately wanted to be with his friends, but this was war. He didn’t get to choose, only follow orders. He pulled them both into a three-way hug. “Stay safe.” They muttered the same back, holding tight to each other for longer than normal.

“Nykin?” Selene pulled a folded piece of parchment out of her jacket. “I was supposed to meet with Lerran later. Will you give him this and explain what’s happened?”

He took it from her and tucked it safely away. “Of course.”

She smiled her thanks, and Nykin watched her tug Jaken along until he just grabbed her hand as they turned the corner. And then they were gone.

The entrance to the Eyrie was empty after the bustle of earlier, and a shiver ran down Nykin’s spine. He shook it off and hurried to the steps. Eldin may have told them to get some rest, but he needed to eat first. Hopefully he wasn’t too late for dinner.

N
YKIN
FOLLOWED
his nose when he entered the palace. The delicious smells wafting down the passageway led him straight to the dining room, where Ryneq was seated with Nysad, Glaevahl, Lerran, and some of the elven guard whom he vaguely recognized.

“Nykin.” Ryneq stood from the table and marched toward him. He grasped Nykin firmly by the shoulder. “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make dinner.” The place next to Ryneq’s chair was still empty, and he gestured for Nykin to sit down.