“Miller too,” Will added.
“Yeah, but they already know the truth. They’re bound to be a bit suspicious,” Colin pointed out. “They’re not stupid.”
“Pity they aren’t stupid, it’d make keeping things quiet like the Ranger told us to a bit easier,” Rowan grumbled.
“Speaking of quiet, I noticed you didn’t talk much,” Will said, smirking. “What was up with that?”
“I decided that I should probably not say anything at all in the council.” Rowan shrugged, starting for the door. “Some reason when I speak the truth, people see it as me being sarcastic or rude. Probably because they’re all a bunch of spinach brained morons.”
“That, that right there,” Colin said, giving Rowan a disapproving look, “that’s why people don’t ask for your input. Now let’s get to training before Ross gets moody about that too.”
They entered the squire chamber, Will falling a step behind, lost in thoughts. So, the Ranger really was away, not working near the castle at all. How had The Cutthroat Prince known that? He hadn’t and he and the Ranger had spoken only two days ago. And why had he gone? What had Serena said that made him leave like that? On what orders was he sent?
“Will? You okay?”
Will looked up. His friends were waiting at the far door, Rowan holding it open, and both watching him with concern in their eyes.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just was thinking,” Will said, breaking into a jog to catch up.
“About the Cutthroats?” Rowan asked.
Will shook his head. “The Ranger.”
Colin nodded. “I was wondering that as well.”
“What about the Ranger? He’s always gone,” Rowan pointed out. “It’s not a big deal.”
“But it sounds like he left because of information Serena brought to Alamore,” Will muttered, lowering his voice as they entered the dinner hall. Servants were clearing the tables of breakfast and he didn’t care for the idea of being overheard, especially since all the discussion of spies.
“So, so what?” Rowan looked between Will and Colin. “Why does that matter?”
“It matters,” Colin hissed, glancing around them covertly. “It matters because Kelkor’s King is Revlan’s brother, it matters because they’re our strongest alliance and their messenger clearly struggled to get here. Which means, if the Ranger’s been sent, there’s something wrong.”
Will saw the understanding wash over Rowan’s face. “So that means…”
“It means Kelkor’s in trouble and, if they’re in trouble, we might very well be too.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Patrols rode out over the next two days. They searched the forests for any signs of The Cutthroat Prince and his riders, reporting that they hadn’t seen grey cloaks or young riders. None of the squires were allowed to join, even Airagon, Novin, and Delvin, the three oldest, were ordered to train inside the walls.
“It’s not forever,” Haru assured Will when he returned from one of the patrols. “We’re just trying to make sure Tollien’s not up to something that could get one of you captured. I don’t imagine that his squires are coming back. Bane is even starting to think it was done on a dare more than on any kind of orders. Ross and Miller are being a bit paranoid in my opinion, though. They think we need to go out again tonight, not staying on our normal routes to see if we can figure how they’re getting in.”
Will had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from saying anything. He only nodded and hurried back to practicing staff fighting with Colin and Loper. Miller and Ross’s paranoia made sense. They knew the truth and with each hour, Will wondered if he was doing the wrong thing by listening to the Ranger. Wasn’t he putting Haru in more danger by not telling him the truth? As far as Haru was concerned, Will would be the least interesting target to Tollien. He thought Will’s father was just one of Tollien’s past spies. He didn’t have the faintest inkling that he was an heir to their enemy’s kingdom.
Still, he kept his secret and threw himself into training and practicing harder than before. If his silence was noticed by Haru, it was written off. All the squires were annoyed at being pent up in the castle while the sun shone tantalizingly above them.
The upside to being in the castle was that Will and the others could bask in the glory of what had happened. Rowan kept telling the tale of their ambush and escape, reenacting it with so much enthusiasm that he injured himself twice; once when leaping from the floor to his bed, over balancing, and toppling off the other side, and once when the chair he stood on at the squire table flipped. Laster had instituted a ‘no idiots standing on the bloody chairs’ rule after that one.
Another upside was that, with the knights busy on increased patrols, they were being set more studying assignments to fill their time. Will generally didn’t care to read through old books about history, weapon care, horse training, and battle strategy, but he’d taken to leaving the castle with his stacked volumes and sitting in Visra’s stall.
The horse was already showing vast improvement, standing without support though his shoulder was thick with white gauze and his head hung lower than usual. He ate at his hay while Will worked, occasionally coming to sniff his young charge’s foot or check if Will had smuggled out anything more interesting to snack on. Will rarely disappointed on that front bringing anything he could sneak from the castle–toast, apples, carrots, and the occasional pastry.
Rowan and Colin had joined him once, but Rowan had been too distracted by the horses to pay attention to what he was reading, and Colin had found Rowan himself to be too distracting. After that, Colin had taken to studying in the Hall of Records again and made Rowan stay with him there so that Rowan would actually get his work done. Will didn’t mind. He enjoyed the presence of his horse, the comfort of seeing Visra move–even stiffly–around the stall.
That’s where he was the afternoon of the second day, lounging on a clean pile of straw, trying to find something to keep his interest in the dead boring book he was trying to learn from, when a soft tap made him look up. A smiling round face peered through the bars of Visra’s stall back at him, curling black hair falling over dark eyes.
Will set aside the book, grinning, glad of the distraction.
“Mind if I come in?” Miller asked.
“Not at all,” Will said, waving a hand to his surroundings. “Pull up some straw and stay a while. Anything to keep me from reading this.”
Miller stepped through the door, patting Visra’s neck gently as the horse turned to inspect him. After a moment, Visra seemed to decide Miller wasn’t interesting or threatening and returned to his feed while the knight crossed to where Will was sitting. He turned his head to read the title of the book next to Will.
“’A History of Military Theory and Hierarchy.’ Alamore, I remember that book. I’m surprised no one’s burned it yet.”
“I’m tempted to do it for the future of other squires who are ordered to read it,” Will grumbled. “Dead boring.”
“It is,” Miller agreed, lowering himself to sit cross legged next to Will. “This is an interesting place to study. I thought you’d be in the Hall of Records with your friends.”
Will shrugged. “I prefer it out here. Let’s me see how Vis is doing and get my work done.”
Miller nodded. “Yeah, I imagine it’s less distracting. When I went in there, Rowan was in the process of seeing how many books he could stack on a table before they fell over.”
“I’m sure Colin loved that.”
“He seemed a bit preoccupied,” Miller chuckled. “It was worse because the two oldest pages were supposed to be starting their studies to become squires and Rowan had recruited them.”
Will snorted. “Doesn’t surprise me. Aren’t you supposed to be training one of those pages?”
“Yeah,” Miller said, grimacing. “Wish me luck on that. Jerram’s been corrupted by Rowan for years and it’s clearly going to just get worse here on out.”
“Good luck, you’ll age a thousand years in t
he six years you train him.”
“Thanks,” Miller grumbled. Will watched him. The knight seemed to be considering something, running a hand over the two-day beard that had started on his chin. After a moment, he turned to Will, frowning. “From how you told that story the other day, I take it that there was more that you weren’t quite willing to reveal in council, wasn’t there?”
Even though it was framed as a question, Will knew Miller already felt certain. He nodded regardless, turning away from Miller and grabbing a piece of straw, twirling it in his fingers. “That obvious?”
“Only because I already know about Marl,” Miller assured him. There was another pause then Miller continued. “And, from how it seems, I take it that you haven’t told Haru any of that, have you?”
Will didn’t answer, staring at the straw in his fingers, reflecting the sunlight pouring through the ceiling above. After a moment he shook his head. “No, I haven’t told him. He’s got no idea.”
Miller sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “I thought as much. And I’m guessing that attack then, it wasn’t some fluke. They weren’t after Rowan and Colin at all, were they?”
“They knew who I was, but I don’t know how. I know I didn’t know them. I know I’ve never seen them, and yet they knew who I was and that I was leaving the castle. It was too well planned.”
“And have you told the other knights about this? I’m not talking about the council,” Miller added quickly. “I’m talking about the knights who already know who Marl is, like Laster, Rockwood, or Ross.”
“No.” Will let the straw flutter from his fingers back to the stall floor. “But I think they know even without me saying it.”
“Well, Ross and Laster suspect it.” Miller shook his head, leaning against the wall next to Will. “But that leaves us with larger concerns now, doesn’t it?”
Will turned to him, raising his brows. “Like what?”
“Like how they knew who you were, that you’d be out there, that you’d just be with Rowan and Colin, those things for a start. They were too well placed, like you said.”
“You think it was the spy who told them?” Will asked, turning to look at Miller again. The knight was frowning at the ceiling, eyes unreadable. “Or do you think that somehow it really was crazy luck?”
“Luck is good timing,” Miller said flatly. “That they found you wasn’t anything to do with luck. Will, I know you couldn’t just outright say this in front of the council, that you aren’t wanting everyone to know, but I’m not going to lie to you. I’m worried. That they knew you were out there…you know what that means?”
“Yeah, Ross said so. He said there’s spies in Alamore, and that the Ranger was worried.”
“That’s part of it,” Miller said, turning his head to fix Will with a searching look. “How many people knew you were going to ride out of the castle?”
“What?” asked Will, taken aback.
“When you left to work Visra, who all knew you’d be going out on that ride or leaving the castle?” Miller pressed.
Frowning, Will racked his memory, trying to recall all that had happened up to his departure from the castle. “Haru and I’d been practicing daggers and hand-to-hand fighting. He told me to take Visra out, since I hadn’t worked him the day before when the Kelkor knight showed up. So, Haru knew, then I invited Rowan and Colin.”
“You didn’t talk to anyone else?”
Will shivered, sudden comprehension washing over him. “It wasn’t Haru, he’s not the spy.”
“I didn’t say that,” Miller replied coolly.
“Yeah but you’re thinking that he is,” Will snapped, annoyed. “And I’m telling you he’s not. Look, I was in the courtyard, I wasn’t thinking about it. Literally anyone might have overheard me. It’s not like it was a secret that we were riding out and anyone might have guessed that we’d head west. We’re not allowed to go east.”
“Calm down, Will.” Miller reached over and gently cuffed him in the back of his head, grinning. “I’m not condemning your knight or anything. I’m trying to figure out who the spy, if we do have one, is.”
“So, you don’t think it’s the Kelkor knight?” Will asked.
Shaking his head, Miller let out a long breath. “No, I’m with Ross and Bane on that. I’ve never met Serena, but her reputation precedes her. I can’t imagine it would be her.”
“But you’d suspect Haru?” Will demanded, unable to keep the accusation out of his voice. “How could you think Haru would do that before her? It was Kelkor toxin on that blade.”
“And Serena is in the healing chambers on bedrest,” Miller retorted, a flash of irritation crossing his boyish face. “I’ve already told you; I’m not blaming Haru for anything. I just want answers, the same as you.” He pushed himself to his feet, brushing the dust and straw from his tunic. Looking down at Will, Miller’s dark eyes softened slightly. “I’m sorry, Will, I didn’t mean to lose my temper. I don’t care to be in the dark, any more than I’m sure you do.”
“It’s fine,” Will grumbled.
“It’s not though,” Miller said. He let out a hollow laugh, pressing a palm against his forehead. “There’s something going on and I don’t believe in this level of coincidence. That Cutthroat Prince didn’t materialize out of nowhere and happen to show up the day that the Ranger leaves. He knew you weren’t protected which means he might know other things, things happening in this castle. I would be willing to bet he’s got ears in this castle–he or Tollien–and that makes me uneasy.”
“Me too,” Will admitted.
“Well, all we can do is try to watch our backs and keep our guard up,” Miller said, shrugging. “Especially you.”
“Why now, though?” The question slipped from Will before he’d even had time to consider it. “Why are they after me now do you think?”
A shadow crossed Miller’s face and he turned away from Will, seeming suddenly interested in Visra’s bandaged shoulder. Will waited, noting the red hue creeping up Miller’s neck.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Miller snorted and kicked the straw, burying his hands in his pockets. “A lot, seeing as you’re a squire.”
“Is it something to do with Marl?” Will asked.
Miller shot a sharp look down toward him, eyes flashing. “And what would make you wonder that.”
“Something the Ranger said,” Will said slowly. “When you were all in the council with the Kelkor knight, he came and made me promise not to tell anyone that Marl was related to me. So, I want to know, everything that’s going on, The Cutthroat Prince, is that anything to do with Marl?”
“I’m not sure about the Cutthroat,” Miller admitted, visibly relaxing. “Look, I appreciate you telling me the truth, but I’ve got to go, Will. I drew the short straw of having a midnight patrol and I really need to get some rest first or I’m going to sleep in the saddle.”
“Right,” Will muttered, disappointed. There was something the knight wasn’t telling him, and he was certain he was right. Marl was causing some of this chaos. Miller had to be lying about Marl not being involved in the Cutthroats.
“And Will.”
He looked up. Miller had the stall open, and one foot raised to step out. He was watching Will, unusually serious.
“What?”
“Keep that promise to the Ranger, won’t you?” Miller managed a half smile. “I don’t think you need to be telling anyone the truth about Marl or you, not right now, anyway.”
Before Will could respond, Miller gave him a curt nod, raised a hand in farewell, and stepped out of the stall, striding out of the barn without a backwards glance.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Miller reckons Haru’s a spy?” Rowan asked, wide-eyed. “I hadn’t considered that. Think the Ranger did? Think that’s why he told you not to tell him?”
“Haru’s not a spy,” Will snapped. “I trust Haru.”
Colin, arms crossed over his chest, sighed. “That’s just it,
though, isn’t it? A good spy could make you trust them as well.”
“You two are being just as ridiculous as Miller,” Will grumbled, turning away from his friends to scowl out the window of the Hall of Records, down into the courtyard where the afternoon patrol was returning. Even from here he could make out Haru’s thatch of red hair bobbing through the group. A jolt of annoyance, guilt, and doubt ran through his stomach.
Half an hour had passed since speaking to Miller. Will had been too distracted to focus on studying again and rushed to find his friends in the Hall of Records. He’d needed to talk to someone, to have them agree and tell him that Miller was being an idiot. Instead, he was dealing with this. After a moment he shook his head, turning back to where his friends
“Look, he’s not a spy,” Will snapped, turning back to his friends again. “If anything, it’s that rider from Kelkor we need to worry about. Even the Ranger warned me about her. Doesn’t that seem a bit more like she’s the one to worry about?”
“He also told you not to tell Haru anything,” Rowan said. He chewed his lip nervously. “But I also don’t know that I could believe it either. We’ve known Haru for years, he’s never acted like a spy. He’s always been a lot better person than Danvac or Vonnic. Or Marl, for that matter.”
“They weren’t brilliant spies,” Colin countered. “I’m with Miller and the Ranger. We can’t accuse Haru of anything, but we also can’t let our guard slip around him, or the Kelkor knight,” he added as Will opened his mouth to protest. “Because I agree with you. Her showing up and the Cutthroats appearance seems too perfect of timing.”
Rowan groaned, dropping his head on the table that they were seated at. “And here I was thinking my biggest headache today would be how to build a tower out of all the chairs in this chamber. Now we’ve got this to contend with.”
“Maybe I should just outright ask Haru if he’s a spy,” said Will.
“Right, because that wouldn’t be an uncomfortable conversation.” Rowan lifted his head, snorting with laughter. “I can imagine it now; ‘Oh hey, Haru, Miller thinks you’re actually trying to get me killed by my murder-happy father. Would you mind confirming or denying these details?’” When Will gave him a stony glower as his only response Rowan rolled his eyes. “The point is you can’t just ask him.”
The Cutthroat Prince (William of Alamore Series Book 2) Page 10