“Come,” the woman said. “I’ll point you in the right direction.” They exited the servants’ passageways.
Reid hoped Harlan had overheard the conversation and knew to get busy creating a distraction.
“Are you going to the festival?” the woman asked.
“I am,” Reid replied. “Just as soon as I deliver these towels and my friend is done.”
“Down that hallway there.” The woman pointed to the right. “Third door on the left.”
“This looks familiar,” Reid lied. “Thank you for your help. Maybe I’ll see you at the festival.”
“It was nice meeting you.” She waved as she went in the opposite direction.
Once the woman was no longer in sight, Reid rushed to the prince’s door, relieved to find it unguarded. Leaning against the wall, she tried to calm her heavy breathing and pounding heart. Worst-case scenario, Henrick was in there. If he was, she could tell him she opened the wrong door and apologize for her error. If guards were stationed inside, she could ask where the prince wanted the towels. As long as she didn’t look guilty, her hands didn’t shake, and her voice didn’t tremble, she should be okay.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed off the wall and faced the door. She reached out, slid her fingers around the handle, and opened it.
No one yelled or pointed a sword at her chest. After taking a tentative step into the empty room, she gently closed the door behind her. She was standing in the prince’s private quarters.
A low fire burned in the hearth in the corner of the room, giving off enough light for Reid to see. In the middle, two sofas faced each other. Straight ahead, the entire wall was floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the lake and city. Not seeing any bookshelves or knickknacks, Reid crept to the open doorway on her right and peered into the adjacent room. Against the far wall, there was a large bed with drapes hanging from its posts. The dark red sheets were pulled back, but they were still flat, the bed unoccupied. An area rug covered the stone floor. There was another hearth in here, the fire casting the room in a soft glow. The cozy feeling of the room made Reid want to crawl into bed and fall asleep. She blinked. It was getting late, and she needed to hurry.
Opposite the windows, floor-to-ceiling shelves covered the wall. Some had glass pieces while others held wood carvings. Along the bottom, most held books. Setting the towels on the edge of the bed, Reid rushed over and examined the books, searching for one that didn’t quite fit in with the others. On the bottom shelf on the far right, one book sat on its side, facing upward. Reid dropped to her knees and reached out, running her fingers over the cover. It was cold, smooth, and hard like metal instead of soft leather. She twisted the book to examine the pages. They were too flat and even. When she tried to lift the cover, it wouldn’t budge. On the side of the book, there was a spot for a key.
She’d found it—the box designed to look like a book. It contained the evidence King Eldon wanted to destroy. This would buy Duke Ellington’s pardon, and it would ensure his land remained in the family.
With shaking hands, Reid picked it up.
Chapter Sixteen
In the adjacent room, the door clicked open followed by the sound of footsteps. Reid froze, trying to decide what to do.
“I understand, Your Highness,” a deep male voice said.
Not wanting anyone to catch her stealing, Reid returned the box to the shelf and crept over to the bed, grabbing the towels. At least she knew where the box was located. If they found her trying to take it, not only would she be arrested, but the box would also be placed in a more secure location. She frantically searched the room for another exit, but she didn’t see one.
“You must understand that both yours and your husband’s welfare are vital to Axian.”
“Did my son put you up to this?” a woman, presumably Henrick’s wife, asked.
“Prince Dexter is worried given the events in the north,” the man said. There was a shuffling noise. “Will you consider having a bodyguard inside the palace?”
“You know I am perfectly capable of defending myself.”
“I’m simply doing my job. Prince Dexter asked me to address the matter with you. Now I can tell him I have.”
The woman chuckled. “And you can tell my son that while I appreciate his concern, I find it insulting he thinks I need someone trailing me around like a dog inside my own home.” It sounded like she was facing away from the bedroom door. “Actually, you tell Dexter that if he agrees to have a bodyguard of his own, I’ll agree to one as well.”
The man laughed. “That’ll never happen.”
“Exactly. Now go and enjoy yourself at the festival. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The door clicked shut. Reid considered hiding under the bed until the woman went to sleep and she could sneak out.
“I can hear you breathing.”
Reid cursed. How had the woman heard her? She’d been standing there as quietly as possible. Remaining still, she prayed the woman was addressing someone else.
“Come into my sitting room so we can talk,” the woman said. Her voice was firm but not cruel. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.”
Reid hesitated, considering her options. Standing there holding the towels, she realized she didn’t have many. She took a breath, trying to get in character, and stepped into the sitting room. “I’m sorry. I was delivering these when you came in. I didn’t know what to do, so I froze.”
The woman tilted her head. Her brown hair was pulled into a braid, and a simple crown rested atop her head. She wore a mahogany-brown fitted shirt with some sort of leather vest over it. Her form-fitting pants appeared to be leather as well. “Do you know who I am?”
“You are Prince Henrick’s wife,” Reid replied, hoping she’d guessed correctly. The woman appeared to be more warrior than princess.
“Yes. I’m Princess Nara.” Her brown eyes narrowed as she studied Reid. “You can drop the act about delivering the towels. My son saw you sitting under the tree earlier today.”
Shock rolled through Reid. Someone had noticed her? And not just anyone, but one of the princes?
“When he saw you watching the palace, he told us to be on the lookout for you. Seems his intuition was correct.”
Reid darted a glance at the door twenty feet away. She didn’t think she’d reach it before the princess either stopped her or screamed, alerting the palace guards of her presence.
“I assume the young man making a spectacle of himself downstairs is a friend of yours?”
Was Nara referring to Harlan? “Um, yes?” Reid said, scrunching her nose. Had the guards already thrown him out of the palace? Was he still being interrogated? Had he been arrested?
Nara folded her arms across her chest, her feet shoulder-width apart. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here? I’d prefer to settle this between the two of us and not involve my husband or sons.”
Reid set the towels on the low table between the sofas, trying to decide what to say.
“You seem like a bright young woman,” Nara said. “How about you just tell me the truth?”
Reid eyed the two daggers strapped to Nara’s waist. Instead of being scared, she was in awe. “Are you…a soldier?”
“I am.”
“And a princess?”
“I’m that, too.”
“And you’re a woman?”
Nara chuckled. “Last time I checked.”
Without meaning to, Reid sat on the sofa, rubbing her face. Her world had just been turned upside down.
“Are you all right?” Nara asked.
Reid shook her head. “Are all women here allowed to join the army, regardless of station?”
“Where are you from?” Nara’s voice had a sharp edge to it.
Dread filled Reid as she peered up at the woman. “This is my first time in the city. I was raised on a farm. My isolated upbringing must be showing right now. I’m sorry.” She forced herself to maintain eye contact, hoping Nara bought the lie.
&nb
sp; “Why are you here?”
Reid needed a plausible reason. “I want to be a soldier.”
“And you are in my room because?”
“I thought if I managed to speak with Prince Henrick, he would let me join the army.”
“How old are you?” Nara asked, firing off questions so quickly Reid barely had time to think.
“I just turned eighteen.”
“Then you are able to join the army on your own. You do not need permission.” Nara was testing Reid. She could feel the challenge in the princess’s words.
Reid decided to play dumb. “I didn’t know that.”
“Clearly. If you knew anything about our army, you would know my husband is not the man to see—my son is. Although, I’m glad you didn’t show up in his room. I’m not sure how he would have taken the intrusion.”
“I’m sorry. I see how ill thought out this was now that I’m here.” Reid stood, hoping the princess wouldn’t arrest her.
“I’ll be honest with you,” Nara said. “I don’t believe your story. However, because the Sun Festival is going on, I’m feeling generous and will let you go without any punishment.”
Relief washed through Reid.
“However,” Nara continued, “I want to make one thing very clear.” She took three slow, menacing steps toward Reid. “I don’t want to find you snooping around my home again. Whatever it is you think you’re looking for, you won’t find it here.” She reached out and grabbed Reid’s hands, examining them. Her finger trailed over Reid’s calluses, then she raised Reid’s hands, smelling them.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you didn’t poison something in here.” Nara felt Reid’s pockets before checking her boots.
“I would never hurt anyone, I swear.” Thankfully, the king had only asked Reid to steal the box.
“And you want to join the army?”
Reid didn’t know what to say.
The princess released her. “Wherever it is you’re from, I suggest you return there.” Nara opened the door. Two soldiers stood in the hallway. “Please escort this young woman out of the palace and back to the inn where she and her friend are staying.”
One of the soldiers nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.” He led Reid along the hallway, down several flights of stairs, and into the servants’ passageways. They exited the same door Reid and Harlan had entered.
“Are you a soldier in the army?” Reid asked, eyeing his muscled arms. “Or are you a palace guard?” She couldn’t tell based purely on his clothing. He wore dark gray pants, and his wide shoulders pulled his tunic taut.
He raised an eyebrow. “Why are you asking?”
She shrugged. “I’m curious.”
“I’m a palace sentry.”
“Why doesn’t the palace staff wear uniforms?” It made it hard to tell what position each person held with everyone dressed differently.
“You ask too many questions.” He led her past the lawn where the festival was taking place. When they reached the first city block, he didn’t ask her where she was staying. Instead, he moved with purpose as if he knew where to go.
Curious, Reid followed him as he turned onto another street and took her straight to the inn she was staying at. “How did you know?” she asked, pointing at the door to the inn.
“I’m a palace sentry,” he answered, as if that explained everything. Without another word, he left her standing there.
Frustrated, she shoved the door open and entered the inn. After waving to Kira, she ran up the staircase to Harlan’s room where she found him pacing. “That was a disaster,” Reid said by way of greeting. “Somehow, they’d known I’d been watching the palace all day.”
“It wasn’t a disaster,” Harlan replied, sitting on the edge of the bed and rubbing his face. “A disaster would be the two of us having this conversation in a dungeon. I think we’re both incredibly lucky these people are reasonable.”
“I expected them to be monsters.” Reid plopped on the bed next to him.
“So did I.” He laid back, staring at the ceiling. “What are we going to do now?”
“I found what I was looking for.”
His eyes widened. “So we can go home?”
“Not yet. It’s in Prince Henrick’s bedchamber. Someone caught me, and I couldn’t get out of the room with it. But at least I know where it is.”
Harlan burst out laughing, shaking the entire bed as he did so. “You think you’re going to go back into the palace to get it? You’re mad! Absolutely mad. They knew we were going to be there today. They’re not as aloof as you think. I’m done. I want no part of this.” He reached over, grabbed the edge of his blanket, and pulled it over his body.
Reid stood. “We’ll talk about this in the morning.”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Tomorrow, we’re heading home.”
Ignoring Harlan’s comment, she went into her room and climbed into bed, exhausted. She knew exactly how she was going to get the box. At the party that concluded the Sun Festival, when the palace opened its doors and allowed commoners in, she’d join the visitors. With the royal family occupied with greeting everyone, Reid would sneak upstairs. Since she knew right where the box was located, she should have it in her possession in under ten minutes. She just had to be sure that as soon as she had it, she hightailed it out of there.
With thoughts of returning home to her family, Reid drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
Reid opened her eyes, immediately flinching. “Why are you hovering above me like that?”
“I’ve been calling your name for the past ten minutes, trying to wake you up. I thought you might have died.” Harlan straightened.
Reid yawned and stretched. “Well, now I’m awake.” Her stomach growled.
“Get out of bed and pack. We’re leaving.”
Not wanting to argue with him, Reid threw her blankets off and swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Do you plan on standing there while I get ready?”
Leaning against the door, he pointed at the bag by his feet. “I’m already packed. Let’s go.”
Reid rolled her eyes. He was in a fine mood this morning. She grabbed the few items she had, then shoved them in her bag. “We’ll need supplies. Like food.” Her stomach growled again.
“That’s why we must be on our way. We have a lot to do before we leave the city.”
“You don’t want to take a day or two to enjoy our time here? Maybe do some sightseeing?” They’d probably never have a chance to return here again. And the city was beautiful. It seemed a shame not to do any exploring before they left.
“We’re not here on vacation,” he hissed.
She held up her hands. “Sorry I asked.” Out of habit, she pulled her hair back, tying it at the base of her neck. “I’m ready.” Shouldering her bag, she joined Harlan.
The two friends exited the inn. Gray clouds rolled in, turning the morning air brisk. They started walking down the street.
“Last night at the palace, what did you do for a diversion?” Reid asked.
“I pretended to tumble down the main staircase leading to the great hall.”
She laughed. “You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?” After seeing him fall a few times when they’d descended the stairs into Axian, she could envision him easily rolling down the stairs and accidentally injuring himself.
“Not really. When I landed at the bottom, a couple of soldiers rushed over and helped me to my feet. They took me to the library where Prince Colbert was working. Since I reeked of alcohol, everyone believed me when I said I’d mistakenly entered the palace, too drunk to know any better. Colbert asked the soldiers to escort me back to the inn.” He shrugged.
“Did you tell them where you were staying?” Was that how the sentry from last night knew where to take Reid?
“No, I did not. They marched me to the correct inn, up the stairs, and right to my door.”
“They even knew which room you were in?”
He nodded.
“Yup. I think it’s safe to say they know more about us than we know about them.”
Reid had mistakenly assumed since no sentries were visible, security was lax. Obviously, that was not the case. The more she thought over last night, the more she suspected the royal family had let her and Harlan enter the palace to see what they wanted.
Did Princess Nara know about the locked box? Or had Henrick kept it a secret? King Eldon had said Henrick was threatening to reveal its contents. That being the case, Nara probably knew about it. However, Reid couldn’t imagine her being okay with what was inside. Even though Reid had only met Nara once, she knew the princess would never sit back and be subservient like Queen Harlow. The two women were opposite in every way. Reid still couldn’t get over the fact Nara was not only beautiful, smart, and intelligent, but she was also a warrior. A woman warrior. Based upon the way the soldier had spoken to her last night, Nara was respected. And Nara had been kind to Reid. Intimidating but fair, considering the situation. Reid didn’t think it possible to be all those things at once.
“Reid,” Harlan said.
“What?”
“You stopped walking,” he pointed out. “In the middle of the street.”
She shook her head, trying to focus. “Let’s get something to eat. I’m starving.”
“There’s a bakery right over there.”
Not caring what they ate, so long as she got food, Reid followed Harlan across the street to the bakery. While eating some bread and blueberries, they made a list of the supplies they needed to purchase before setting out. Since Harlan insisted they leave the city by midday to get a few miles in before dark, they decided it would be more efficient to split up in order to buy everything faster.
“I’ll take care of the food,” Harlan said. “You find a map that’ll get us home without having to go back through the mountain pass. I’ll meet you back here in an hour.” He left.
Standing, Reid stretched, wondering if someone from the palace was keeping tabs on them. As she exited the bakery, she hoped the guards watched her. If the royal family thought she was leaving, they’d never suspect it when she snuck back in to steal the box. Trying not to smile at how everything was coming together, she headed down the street, searching for a store that sold maps.
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