Hidden Knights

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “Once we have the information, what do you want us to do?” one of the Knights asked.

  “Two will report back to me while four stay to monitor the situation.”

  “We’ll take that task,” the Knight said, pointing at half the circle.

  “The second group will be with Reid and me,” Ackley said.

  Reid didn’t want to know what he had planned—she was certain she wouldn’t like it.

  “Let’s get the horses. We don’t have a lot of time.”

  The group headed twenty or so feet away, deeper into the cover of the trees, where the horses were. Reid untied hers and mounted, the six Knights accompanying them doing the same. Once everyone was ready, Ackley led them east.

  “Where are we going?” Reid asked, steering her horse alongside Ackley’s.

  “To the duke and duchess’s manor.”

  Why did Ackley want to go to Harlow’s house? What did he hope to discover? “Is this regarding the stones or something else?”

  He looked sidelong at her. “What do you think?”

  “That it’s about Harlow.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  He didn’t seem shocked or surprised by her answer. “I don’t know. But something isn’t right with her.”

  “How so?”

  “Harlow knows secret passageways in the palace not even Nara knows about. One night, she spoke to me about people’s motives…it was some kind of warning.” They exited the forest, then headed up a small hill. “What about you? What do you think is going on with her?”

  “I have no idea—which is the problem. She never speaks, never shows emotion, and doesn’t seem to care about anyone or anything. The only thing I can deduce is she’s hiding something.”

  “And you hope that by going to her house, we’re going to discover what it is?”

  “We probably won’t learn anything.” He adjusted the horse’s reins. “Since I’ve combed through her bedchamber in the castle and found nothing personal to indicate she’s living in the room, I’d like to see where she grew up. Is her childhood bedchamber just as impersonal? If so, that will tell me something about her. If not, it will indicate she’s hiding something.”

  At the top of the hill, Reid observed the valley before them. A well-kept manor was situated between towering pine trees. “Is anyone home?” she asked.

  “There are probably some servants around.”

  “Why are the Knights with us?”

  “To distract the servants so we can get in and snoop.” He winked.

  “The place looks pretty quiet.” No one was out and about, the stables were still, no smoke rose from the chimneys, nor did any lights shine from within.

  Ackley ordered two of his men to investigate. Reid watched them ride down the hill, approaching the square manor. The building was three stories tall, with a turret at each corner and two more at the front entry. Green grass and thick pine trees surrounded the home.

  The Knights went around back, out of sight. Ackley handed Reid a chunk of bread. She ate it, waiting for the Knights to return. About twenty minutes later, the two men rode up the hill.

  “The place is closed up,” the Knight on the right said. “All the servants are gone.”

  “That makes sense,” Reid said. “The duke is south with a contingent of his men, and the duchess is at the City of Buckley with the rest of Bridger’s soldiers.”

  “I suppose.” Ackley nudged his horse, then began to descend the hill.

  Reid followed.

  At the front of the manor, they tied their horses to the trees. Ackley broke them into groups of two, putting Reid with him. So they could finish quickly, each group was assigned to investigate a different section of the manor. The sun was about to set, and it would be dark soon.

  As Reid and Ackley headed to the front door, she worried about being gone for so long. She hoped Dexter didn’t think something bad had happened to her—like being kidnapped again.

  “Focus on what you’re doing,” Ackley snapped. “I’d prefer you not to get anyone killed because you’re busy daydreaming.”

  She froze three feet from the front doors. “What am I missing?” Nothing appeared dangerous.

  “I don’t know. But they could have the place filled with traps.” He withdrew something from his pocket, then reached forward, picking the lock. The front door squeaked open. Ackley peered inside. “Let’s go,” he whispered, stepping into the manor.

  Reid followed, being careful not to make a sound. The large entryway revealed a grand staircase and a sitting room. Two Knights entered behind Reid. Ackley pointed up before signaling with two fingers. They nodded, heading to the second floor to investigate. The other Knights were entering from the back, and they would cover the entire first floor.

  Ackley waved Reid forward. After carefully closing the front door, she followed him up the staircase to the third floor. She was about to head to the left when Ackley grabbed her arm, pulling her to the right. Even though they could cover more ground if they separated, she understood the reasoning for staying together.

  They peered in bedchamber after bedchamber. Most were simple, containing only a bed and dresser. Reid assumed they were guest rooms. The duke and duchess had adjoining rooms. Both were elaborate with thick, heavy drapery on the beds, curtains on the windows, perfumes and smelling salts on the vanities, and closets bursting with clothes. In the duke’s room, Ackley went through his desk, complaining there weren’t any worthwhile letters or ledgers. Exiting the room, they went into the last bedchamber down this wing. This one boasted hunting knives and skins from various animals. Reid assumed it belonged to one of the lords. Moving to the other wing, they checked bedchamber after bedchamber. They encountered another young man’s room, but none of the bedchambers felt like they belonged to Harlow.

  “Do you think they got rid of her room once she married?” Reid whispered.

  Ackley shook his head.

  It didn’t make any sense for them to do away with Harlow’s room since, clearly, they weren’t lacking in space.

  They reached the last room in this wing. The bed had a knitted blanket folded neatly on it, dresses packed the dresser, and the hearth had some black markings on it, which indicated use over the years. Could this be Harlow’s bedchamber? There weren’t any books, letters, or drawings. Was Harlow truly that bland and lacking in personality? No, she couldn’t be. The last time Reid thought so, she’d been mistaken. Appearances could be deceiving.

  If Harlow could look like a docile woman when she was actually something else inside, maybe her room could be a cover, too. Reid examined the space with renewed interest. There was nothing under the bed or between the mattresses. Opening every single drawer, she checked under the clothes. She moved curtains, lifted rugs, and peeked behind the armoire. Nothing.

  The entire time, Ackley stood in one spot, examining the room with only his eyes. “Move next to the window,” he whispered. “Do you feel any air coming from outside?”

  Reid did as he asked. When she didn’t feel anything, she shook her head.

  “Move to the empty wall next to the dresser. Do you feel any air coming from there?”

  Instead of questioning him, Reid stood where he indicated. A slight brushing of air flitted a strand of her hair. She turned to examine the plain wall. None of the stones looked different or out of place.

  Ackley came over, then started pushing on the stones. Nothing happened. Then he stood and closed his eyes. After a minute, he stuck his hand out, moving it toward the wall. Reid assumed he was trying to feel where the air was coming from. When his hand hit the wall, he opened his eyes, examining the joint where the two stones met. He knelt, feeling the edge of the wall.

  Reid tried to remember how Harlow had opened the door in Reid’s room back in the palace. Harlow had pushed on it. “Watch out.”

  After Ackley moved, Reid stood in front of the wall and pushed. Nothing happened. If it were a door, maybe it swung the other way. Feeling to the left,
she tried to see if there was another hint of wind. Not finding any, she went the other direction until she came across a trickle of air. She pushed. The stone door sprung open.

  “I’m impressed,” Ackley mumbled as he poked his head inside. “Not a passageway, just a closet.” Reaching down, he pulled out a trunk. “Look through that. I’ll investigate the rest.”

  Kneeling, Reid opened the lid and found a treasure trove of personal belongings. There were a few dolls, a couple of scarves, a handful of books, some drawings. Nothing out of the ordinary. Reid was glad to have finally found something that revealed Harlow was a normal person. After she closed the lid, she stood.

  Ackley exited the closet with his hands on his hips. “Nothing.” He sounded disappointed.

  “Same here.”

  He shoved the trunk back inside while Reid held the door open for him.

  “The inside of the door is covered with wood paneling,” Reid mumbled, more to herself than Ackley.

  “Maybe it has something to do with how the door is made? Or it helps conceal the draft?”

  “Where’s the draft coming from if this is just a closet?”

  “Good question.” Ackley stood back, observing the door.

  “There are knife marks on the wood,” Reid pointed out. Almost as if someone had thrown knives at it. A chill spread over her skin.

  Ackley moved closer to inspect it. “The wood isn’t thick enough for a knife to lodge into it.”

  “You’re right.” Reid wasn’t thinking clearly. She was so determined to find something nefarious about Harlow that she was letting her imagination get the better of her.

  “Let’s go see what the others have to say.”

  They exited the manor, heading back to where they’d left the horses. The six Knights were already waiting for them.

  “Report,” Ackley said.

  “I found a letter from the duke to the king offering his support. He agreed to send another shipment of the blue stones. The king said not to bother since there was no one to sell them to.”

  “Interesting,” Ackley mumbled.

  Reid recalled the sailor Dexter had questioned. He’d been in Melenia selling jewelry. “Do you think the king knows Bridger is selling the stones in Melenia? Maybe Eldon is taking a cut of the profit for allowing it?”

  “Could be.” Ackley’s head suddenly whipped to the side as he withdrew a dagger.

  “Put your weapon away,” Gytha said as she stepped out from behind a tree. The sun had set and the sky was almost dark, making it hard to see the warrior woman’s face.

  “What are you doing here?” Ackley demanded.

  “I followed Lady Reid.”

  “Why?” He sheathed his dagger.

  “To make sure she is okay. She will be crowned as our queen. As such, she should have a guard.”

  Ackley huffed. “What do you think I am?”

  “A hot-headed man who is only thinking about what he hopes to accomplish and not what is best for Lady Reid.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  They both glared at Reid. “I’m not getting in the middle of this,” she said as she untied her horse. “It has been a long day, and I am tired.”

  The other Knights wordlessly mounted their horses. Having no other option, Gytha and Ackley followed suit.

  As they rode, Ackley and Gytha continued to argue.

  “I would never let anything happen to her,” he said.

  “I know. But you have to consider what it looks like to other people. You two should not be alone.”

  “We weren’t. My Knights have been with us.”

  “I know that. You know that. But no one else does. Prince Dexter wants a strong, unified kingdom. He needs people to believe in the monarch. You will do nothing to jeopardize that.”

  “I don’t plan on it.”

  “The next time you think about using Lady Reid for an assignment, a mission, or whatever it is you’re doing, take me instead.”

  There was a long pause. “Thank you for the offer,” Ackley replied. “I will take you up on it.”

  One of the Knights said, “I think it’s too dark to travel any farther.”

  “I concur,” another said.

  Reid didn’t want to stop. Stopping meant sleeping alone out here instead of at the castle with her husband. He would be worried when she didn’t return. “Does Dexter know you are with me?” she asked Gytha.

  “I asked his permission to be your personal guard. He knows I went after you.”

  Gytha had asked to protect Reid?

  “Don’t look at me like that,” the warrior woman said. “I just don’t have anything else to do in this county. Once I get back to my army in Axian, you won’t be seeing much of me.”

  “I hope that’s not true. I’d like for you to work alongside me in some capacity.”

  Gytha eyed Reid. “We shall see.”

  Reid laughed. That was all she could ask for.

  The group found a spot to sleep for the night. The situation wasn’t ideal since they didn’t have any supplies for bedding. However, Reid didn’t care. As soon as it was light out, she could resume her trek to the castle where her husband was waiting for her.

  “Reid, wake up.” Gytha shook Reid’s shoulder.

  Reid groaned. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet. It was too early. Reid rolled over, her face hitting a rock. She was up. Rubbing her eyes, she stood.

  The Knights were gone.

  “Let’s go,” Ackley said. “If we ride fast, we can reach the castle in a couple of hours.”

  Eager to see Dexter, eat some food, and bathe, Reid mounted and followed Ackley and Gytha without complaint.

  When they reached the outskirts of the City of Buckley, they returned the horses to the pen they’d taken them from. Since they were delivering horses, no one questioned them.

  “Let’s enter through the side,” Ackley suggested. He led them around the wall surrounding the city. When they reached the door, they found it closed and locked. No one was manning it. “That’s strange,” Ackley mumbled as he withdrew his lock picks, then popped the door open. He quickly ushered them inside before locking the door. They were on the grounds surrounding the castle, having bypassed the city entirely.

  “Do you think there’s a problem?” Gytha asked, reaching for her sword.

  “I don’t know.”

  When they neared the barracks, a flurry of activity was going on. Soldiers ran about, some saddling horses. Gordon was off to the side, his face red as he barked out orders to a group of men. Ackley jogged over to him, Reid and Gytha right on his heels.

  When Gordon saw them, he bent over, his hands on his knees.

  “What’s going on?” Ackley demanded.

  “There was an attack on the castle.” Gordon straightened, then cleared his throat. “Idina has been kidnapped.”

  Reid’s heartbeat sped up. “What?” Maybe she’d heard him wrong.

  “Two men took Idina. She put up quite a fight, but she wasn’t strong enough. Then, we couldn’t find you.” Gordon waved his hand in Reid’s direction.

  “Where’s Dexter?” she demanded.

  “In the castle speaking with the duchesses.”

  Reid took off running. Inside, she headed straight for the great hall where she found the duchesses sitting on the sofas alongside Dexter. When he saw her, he jumped to his feet.

  She ran straight to him, throwing her arms around his neck and holding him close. “I’m here. I’m okay.”

  His large hands slid around her back, clutching her tightly against his body.

  “She was with me the entire time,” Ackley said as he came into the room. “We were riding horses, and we couldn’t make it back once the sun set. I apologize for the delay.”

  Dexter released Reid before whirling on Ackley. His eyes darkened as he fought to control his emotions in front of the duchesses.

  “Captain Gytha was also with me,” Reid said. “At first light, she woke us, and we returned as soon as po
ssible. Now tell me what happened and what I can do to help.”

  Dexter took a deep breath, focusing on Reid. “A group of men infiltrated the palace a few hours ago. They kidnapped Idina.”

  “Any idea who took her or why?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m asking the duchesses if they heard or saw anything suspicious. Perhaps a group of men from one of the armies outside the city wall who is unhappy with the duchesses uniting?”

  “But why Idina?” Ackley asked, folding his arms. “If Reid had been kidnapped, that would make sense. But not my sister.”

  “Maybe they took her because they couldn’t find Reid?” Dexter suggested.

  Ackley flinched. He sat on one of the chairs, not looking at anyone. “What is being done to retrieve her?” He rubbed his face.

  “Prince Gordon is putting together search parties. He intends to comb through the camps. First, I want to make sure the duchesses are okay with this.”

  “Do we have a choice?” Duchess Cartr asked, her eyes trained on Dexter, watching him carefully.

  “Yes. They are your soldiers. I will not have my soldiers search yours without your permission.”

  Duchess Tucker stood. “Give us until sunset to question our soldiers. Let us see what we can glean from the situation before Prince Gordon intervenes.”

  “Very well,” Dexter said. “If you discover anything, please let us know at once.”

  After the duchesses left, Ackley started pacing. “I’m going to kill whoever took Idina.”

  Reid sat on the sofa the duchesses had just vacated. “Gordon and Ackley should not be in charge of searching for their sister.”

  A string of curse words flew out of Ackley’s mouth.

  “You are too emotional,” she said, cutting him off. “You’re not thinking clearly. We can’t have that right now.”

  “My sister is in danger,” he snarled. “Who knows what they’re doing to her right now.”

  “If they wanted her dead, they would have killed her. But they didn’t—they took her. Whoever did this knows how you’d react.” She stood, pointing at his chest. “You need to calm down—don’t play into their hands.”