Hidden Knights

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “You and you,” Owen said, pointing at two Melenia soldiers. “Commander Beck has been relieved of his position. Take him to the officer’s tent next to here. I want you to watch over him.”

  The two soldiers agreed. Then they each grabbed an arm, dragging the commander from the tent.

  “Is everything okay?” Reid asked.

  Owen sheathed his sword as he approached the table. “When I told the commander my father had been killed and I would be ascending the throne, he didn’t take the news well. Then I proceeded to explain we would be aiding Dexter to remove Eldon. That’s when he lost it and tried to punch me.” Owen shook his head.

  “I subdued him,” Dexter added, also coming to stand at the table alongside Reid.

  “You sent for us?” a soldier asked as he ducked into the tent.

  “Yes,” Owen replied. “Are all twelve of my officers here?”

  “We are.”

  Owen waved them over to the table. They crammed around it, examining a crude map of the palace.

  Owen shifted a candle closer to the map, illuminating it a bit more. “Word is that Eldon got rid of all the servants, fearful they weren’t loyal to him.”

  Before Eldon had arrived at the palace, they’d replaced the servants with soldiers. Since Eldon had relieved them of duty, Reid wondered if the soldiers were around here somewhere or if they’d gone to Camp Lival, where the army was supposed to go to regroup and organize.

  “Eldon is staying on the fourth floor in this room.” Owen pointed to the fifth door from the staircase.

  Reid didn’t think that room belonged to anyone in the royal family.

  “The queen is staying in the adjacent room,” Owen continued. “Guards are posted here and here.” He pointed outside the door and at the top of the staircase.

  “We’ll enter the palace from the side door,” Dexter said. “Then we’ll take the most direct route to the fourth floor.” His finger trailed along the map, tracing the route he intended to take. “Owen will choose six of his most proficient men to accompany us. I have a dozen people I want to come as well.”

  Reid assumed he referred to his revolutionaries. Since he didn’t know if any of his Axian soldiers were still in the palace somewhere, it made sense he’d take Seb and some of the citizens he’d been working with and training for years.

  “When we reach Eldon’s room, the soldiers and my men will storm inside first, taking the king into custody. Once completed, the duchesses and I will enter. Together, we will officially strip him of his title, and I will take up the crown.” He clenched and unclenched his hand.

  “I know my brother,” Ackley said. “I doubt he will go easily. Surprised or not.”

  That was what Reid had been thinking. While she knew Dexter had said they’d take him into custody, they all knew they’d most likely have to kill Eldon. He would rather die than lose his position.

  “I suggest a few utilize the hidden passageways,” Ackley said. “Just in case something goes wrong.”

  Reid thought that wise, especially since the king didn’t know about them. Well, unless Harlow had told him.

  “Captain Gytha,” Dexter said. “How well do you know the passageways?”

  “Not very.”

  “I know them,” Reid said. “Nara made me memorize them before the king came.”

  Dexter studied Reid for a long minute. “Lady Reid will lead a group of soldiers in through the passageways. Captain Gytha will accompany her.” He rubbed his face. “Anyone have any other suggestions before we begin?”

  “What about our husbands?” Duchess Bridger asked.

  “As soon as the king is removed from power, we’ll find your husbands. I promise.”

  “Then let’s go take the kingdom,” Duchess Tucker said.

  After Dexter briefed everyone on their positions, what they were in charge of accomplishing, and what each person was responsible for, he asked for a moment alone with his wife. Everyone filed out of the cramped tent, leaving the couple alone. Reid’s heartbeat sped up as she faced her husband, knowing the enormous and risky task before them.

  “I don’t want to say goodbye,” Dexter said.

  “Then don’t.”

  He grinned, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. “But I do need to tell you to be careful. We don’t know what Eldon has planned.”

  “I know.” She slid her hands behind his neck, shoving the fear for what lie ahead out of her mind. All she wanted to do right now was focus on her husband.

  “Eldon might not know we’re coming for him tonight, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have certain precautions in place.”

  “I’ll be careful,” she promised, “on one condition. You need to be careful as well. Let your men handle the situation. Don’t try to do it all on your own.”

  He chuckled, his eyes softening as he regarded her.

  “Promise me,” she insisted.

  “I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “Once you’ve gotten Gytha and the soldiers into position at the king’s suite, I want you out of the way.” He kissed her right cheek. “If fighting breaks out, I don’t want you injured or killed in the chaos.” He kissed her left cheek.

  She couldn’t insist on helping since she’d made him promise the same thing. “Okay.” She tilted her head up, and his lips devoured hers. Going onto her tiptoes, she deepened the kiss. His fingers dug into her sides.

  Ackley cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but your men are here and everyone is ready.”

  Dexter placed his hands on either side of Reid’s face. “Be safe,” he whispered. “I love you.” He kissed the tip of her nose before letting go and striding out of the tent, already barking orders.

  Gytha entered. “Are you ready?” She scanned Reid from head to toe.

  Reid nodded. She’d been going over the layout of the passageways in her head, trying to make sure she remembered the path she needed to take. They couldn’t afford to get lost or make a wrong turn.

  After exiting the tent, Reid led Gytha, along with six Melenia soldiers, toward the palace. When they reached the side entrance—the same one she’d gone in through with Harlan the first time she’d visited the place—she found the door locked. Gytha withdrew her dagger, breaking the lock off and popping the door open. In the hallway, Reid counted her steps until she hit one hundred. Then she pressed on the bottom stone with her foot. The lock clicked, and a hidden door swung open. She waved everyone in, closing the door behind her.

  A wave of dizziness overcame her. Everything was happening so quickly she hadn’t had time to think.

  “Lady Reid?” Gytha whispered.

  In complete darkness, mild panic set in. What if she led these people the wrong way? What if she led them to their deaths?

  “Dexter is counting on you,” Gytha reminded her.

  Stifling her fear, Reid put her hand to the wall just as Nara had shown her all those weeks ago. She could do this. “Everyone, press against the wall to the left,” she whispered. From here on out, they couldn’t talk since they’d be walking alongside interior hallways and guests’ bedchambers. Going to the front of the line, she whispered, “Place your hand on the shoulder in front of you.” Standing in front of Gytha, she waited for the woman to put her hand on Reid. “What’s wrong?”

  “I have a dagger in one hand and a sword in the other. I don’t have a third hand to put on your shoulder.”

  “Put the sword away,” Reid hissed. The secret passageways were narrow and the space too confined to have a sword in hand.

  Gytha huffed but complied. Once she sheathed the weapon, she put her free hand on Reid’s shoulder.

  Taking a deep breath, Reid led the way, keeping her left hand on the wall. It was a trick Nara had shown her in order to not get turned around in the darkness, as well as to help with her balance.

  She made turn after turn until she came to the stairwell. It was so narrow some of the soldiers had to turn sideways in order to fit. Reid led them up to the fourth f
loor. Once there, she took a second to pause and listen for any signs of fighting that could be going on in the palace.

  The only sound she heard was an eerie silence that somehow matched the dark passageways.

  With her heart pounding, she led the way toward the king’s suite. There should be an offshoot of the passageway that would lead directly to his room. She just had to make sure she chose the right one. As she went along, she carefully counted the offshoots until she reached the fifth one. Then she turned, leading everyone down the narrow corridor that came to an abrupt dead end.

  Reid stopped, then twisted to her right, knowing the door was somewhere in front of her. Not wanting to accidentally push it open, she leaned away from it. Gytha remained next to her, their shoulders brushing.

  The king should be asleep in his bed. The soldiers, along with Dexter, Gordon, Ackley, and Owen, were supposed to enter the castle five minutes after Reid and her group had. She’d expected them to be outside the king’s suite by now, about to storm in. The soldiers and Dexter’s revolutionaries would go first. Once the king was subdued, Gordon and Ackley would enter, confirming it was safe before Dexter and Owen went in. Then, one of the soldiers would fetch the duchesses.

  Reid and her group were there in case something went wrong. They could prevent the king from escaping in the event he’d discovered the passageways, or they could guide soldiers out of the king’s room if the king managed to get reinforcements, blocking Dexter’s men inside.

  But, if everything went according to plan, Ackley would knock on the wall giving the all-clear signal, allowing them to exit the passageways. They would join Dexter in the bedchamber, allowing Reid to use her ring to strip Eldon of his title and pass it to Dexter.

  So what was taking so long? No noises came from within the king’s suite. She was sure they’d be able to hear voices or the clashing of steel. Something. Anything.

  Gytha shifted beside her, letting out an irritated sigh.

  Grabbing Gytha’s hand, Reid squeezed it as panic wormed its way in. Something was wrong. She was sure of it. Too much time had passed.

  Unversed in battle strategy, what to do if the plan went awry eluded her. Her gut told her to abort the mission. However, she wanted a second opinion. Leaning closer to Gytha, she whispered in the warrior woman’s ear, asking her opinion on the matter.

  A moment later, Gytha replied, “Retreat.”

  Reid wove her way to the end of their human chain, then led the way to the first floor. Fear took hold, and her hands began shaking. Had any harm come to Dexter? What about Ackley and Gordon? Needing to find out the state of things, she stopped at what should be a sitting room near the front of the palace. Pressing her ear against the door, she listened. Not hearing anything, she pried the door open. Moonlight spilled into the room, providing enough light to see. She exited the passageways and paused, listening. Not hearing any commotion coming from within, she rushed over to the window, peering outside.

  Several of the soldiers had gathered near the front door, facing it. Reid angled her head, trying to see what they were looking at.

  Her knees almost gave out when she saw Eldon on the front steps, Commander Beck at his side. How had Beck managed to escape? He’d been tied up with two soldiers watching over him.

  Gytha peered outside, then cursed.

  “What do you want us to do?” one of the soldiers accompanying Reid asked.

  About to turn to address the soldier, something caught her eye. The front door opened, and soldiers donning Melenia battle gear shoved Dexter, Gordon, Owen, and Duke Ellington out of the palace, forcing them to their knees. Reid started shaking.

  “Come,” Gytha said. “We must act quickly before it’s too late.”

  Reid had no idea what her father was doing here. Unable to even consider that at the moment, she scanned the area, searching for the duchesses, Harlan, or Ackley. Not seeing them anywhere, she prayed they were safely hiding somewhere.

  “Eldon is going to kill them,” Gytha snapped. “We must stop him.”

  “If you can get out there,” Reid said as she sprinted alongside Gytha, exiting the sitting room “can you kill Eldon?”

  “Yes.”

  Fear took hold of Reid as she ran toward the front of the palace. What if someone stopped them? What if Eldon killed everyone before Gytha could get there? What if they failed?

  Movement came from the right, and Reid glanced that way. Skidding to a halt, her mouth dropped open as Colbert, Markis, and Ackley exited the library.

  Reid didn’t even know what question to ask first.

  “The six of you,” Ackley barked, indicating the soldiers, “go to the back room of the library and guard the duchesses.”

  The soldiers did as instructed.

  “Let’s go,” Colbert said, leading the way to the staircase. “We don’t have much time.”

  “The Axian army is approaching,” Ackley said. “We just need to hold Eldon off until they arrive.”

  “We may not have that long,” Colbert replied.

  “What’s the plan?” Reid asked, trying to keep up as they took the stairs two at a time.

  Markis patted his bow. “We’re going to take the king out.”

  At the third floor, the group sprinted down the hallway. Colbert burst into one of the rooms, running straight to the window. “One more room to the east.”

  They ran to the adjacent room. Ackley kicked a chair out of the way as Markis readied his bow, nocking an arrow. Colbert slowly opened the window, trying not to make a sound.

  “Reid Ellington,” Eldon’s voice boomed over the front lawn. “Reveal yourself!”

  Four soldiers stepped forward, withdrawing their swords.

  “Why does he want me?” she wondered.

  “Stop this at once,” Owen demanded. “Commander Beck, I hereby declare you a traitor to the crown.”

  “The prince is mistaken,” Commander Beck stated. “It is he who is a traitor. He tried declaring himself the king of Melenia, overthrowing his own father!”

  “Lady Ellington,” Eldon bellowed. “I will start with your father. Reveal yourself or he dies.”

  “Should I go down there?” Reid asked. “It’ll buy us some time.”

  “I don’t need time,” Markis said. “I just need permission.”

  “Reid?” Ackley said. “Do you give permission to take out the false king?”

  She wanted to vomit. How could she give the order to kill someone? “He’s your brother.” Would he hate her for giving the order? Or did he need her to do it so he didn’t blame himself?

  “You will be our queen.”

  She couldn’t make these sorts of decisions. “Markis, can you injure his leg instead of killing him?”

  “I can. However, if I do that, he can still order your father’s death.”

  Four soldiers, one king, one commander. No time. Her entire body shook. “Injure them all.”

  “As you wish.” Markis released the bowstring, his first arrow sailing straight toward the king, embedding in his thigh. The king went down. Then the four soldiers started screaming, an arrow protruding from each’s sword arm. Commander Beck was last, the arrow striking his thigh.

  Reid ran, Gytha right behind her. She went as fast as she could, knowing complete chaos ensued on the front steps. Reid had to get out there as soon as possible. Down the stairs she went, through corridor after corridor until she reached the front doors, throwing them open.

  Blood pooled over the steps. Dexter, Gordon, Owen, and Duke Ellington all stood with swords in hand. Owen ordered the Melenia soldiers to stand down while Gordon bound Eldon’s wrists. In the distance, Reid saw the Axian army approaching.

  Her eyes locked with Dexter’s.

  “Are you all right?” he demanded.

  “I am.”

  He nodded once, his face relieved.

  Colbert, Ackley, and Markis joined them on the front steps. Owen was still trying to gain control of his army as many of the soldiers turned to face
the oncoming Axian army.

  Dexter took off running with Gytha and Markis at his side. He screamed orders as he ran, trying to prevent the Axian army from slaughtering the Melenians.

  Commander Beck stretched out his arm. Reid caught sight of a small dagger in his palm. He fingered the weapon, positioning it to strike Owen.

  Without thinking, Reid yelled, “No!” while stepping on Beck’s wrist, forcing him to release the weapon. As Owen turned toward Reid to see what the commotion was, Beck reached up, grabbing Reid and slamming her to the ground. Reid rolled onto her side, trying to catch her breath. Ackley turned, then hurled a dagger at Beck. She squeezed her eyes shut, hearing the sickening sound of the dagger embedding in flesh. When she opened her eyes, she glanced to the side, spotting a knife sticking out of Beck’s chest. He was sprawled on the steps, lifeless.

  Owen crouched beside her. “Are you okay?”

  Reid nodded.

  “You saved my life.”

  “Of course,” she wheezed.

  He helped her to her feet.

  Duke Ellington ran over to Reid, wrapping her in a hug.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I don’t know. I went to bed one night. When I woke up, I found myself here in the palace. I think someone drugged me, then brought me here.”

  But who would do such a thing? And why?

  Gordon turned when his wife exited the palace, a small bump rounding her stomach. He ran to her, throwing his arms around her.

  The Axian army stopped advancing. It appeared Dexter was at the frontline with Gytha and Markis, ordering everyone to stand down.

  “I’m going to make sure my men comply,” Owen said, sprinting down the steps toward Dexter.

  “Why don’t the rest of us go inside?” Duke Ellington suggested.

  Ackley pulled Eldon to his feet, dragging him into the palace. Reid followed them to the sitting room. After lighting a few candles, Ackley knelt beside Eldon, snapping the arrow shaft off before wrapping a strip of fabric around the wound.

  After helping his wife sit, Gordon asked if anyone knew where the duchesses were.

  “They’re in the library,” Reid replied, standing alongside her father, across from Eldon.