Page 34 of To Kill a King
Zadé pushed herself back upright. “Speaking of, Princess, pick a different pretend name. Yeh stammered like ye’d never said Beth afore.”
Aliya turned her attention back to the burning tavern below, hiding her face from the others as she waited for the heat to fade.
“Tell us about the Red Cloaks—” Elessan paused— “General.”
Aliya almost kissed him for his kindness in changing the subject. She almost missed his last word. Squinting, she eyed the other elf. Nothing in Zadé’s attire or demeanor indicated any military training. At least, based on what she’d seen of human soldiers.
Zadé glared. “Don’t call me that.”
Elessan lifted one shoulder in a shrug, then looked away, breaking eye contact.
With a deep breath and a quick glance at Aliya, she leaned back, staring at the sky. “Not much ta tell, really. They’re a bunch’a local thugs-for-hire. Good fer bullyin’ folks weaker ‘n them when they’re bored, or as hired muscle when they’re paid.” She shrugged. “Like any human with a little bit o’power.”
Turning her attention back to the flames below, Aliya swallowed. “What do we do now? You still have things you need to do in town. And I need to get to the college.” A weight settled across her shoulders at the thought of leaving Elessan, but she’d be safe there.
“Ya mean the Mage College?” Zadé shook her head emphatically. “No, Princess…ya don’t wanna go there. They’z all murdered last night!”
Aliya’s blood turned to ice as she whirled to face Zadé. “Killed? By who?” The ground dropped from beneath her—all those people, and her only safety net…gone.
Elessan’s voice rattled her bones as his fingers tightened around the grips of his swords. “Malkov.” His jaw was so tense the snapping tendons were audible.
Aliya’s head spun. Her husband must have decided to forgo the rest of the wedding festivities after all.
Dropping to the grass, she buried her face in her hands. Her throat swelled, choking off anything she would’ve said. Their deaths were on her. She pressed her eyes closed against the stinging.
A hand squeezed her shoulder. “This isn’t your fault.” Elessan’s breath tickled her ear. “There was nothing you could’ve done.”
“What do ya mean, not her fault?” Zadé paused, and the turf in front of Aliya rustled. “Unless you’re the one who killed them…?”
“What?” Aliya dropped her hands and glared at the other woman, who was leaning forward, inches from her face, eyes narrowed. “Of course I didn’t!” She slapped the tips of the grass with one hand and turned away. “I’m no murderer.” Though she may as well be…if she hadn’t run away, Malkov would never have come to the Mage College.
Zadé smacked her palms together like she was brushing off dirt. “Well, then, Elsan’s right…not yer fault.”
Aliya bit her lip to keep from arguing. There was nothing she could say that would convince them otherwise, even if they were wrong. Her shoulders curled forward as she sighed.
Elessan cleared his throat. “Let’s hunt down somewhere nearby to camp. If we don’t light a fire, we should be hard to find. We can set watches during the night. Even the Arcane Inquisitor will need a few days to heal from an arrow in the gut.” He raised an eyebrow at Zadé. “I assume you’re planning to join us for the evening?”
She shrugged. “Sure. I ain’t got nothin’ better ta do tonight since th’ waterin’ hole burnt down, and nowhere ta sleep, so…” She plopped down and patted the dirt beside her. “How about right here?”
King Malkov stood on the balcony outside what had been Aliya’s room in the palace. The stone beneath his feet still radiated the day’s warmth. Brooks and the Red Cloaks had found Aliya in Westcliff, in the company of two elves. He shuddered. Elves. Dreadful creatures. And his new wife seemed to be allying herself with them; the kingdom’s sworn enemies for over a hundred years. Who knew what he’d do if she fled his kingdom for theirs.
Or if they took her prisoner. It was what he would do if he was an elf. Even the dim-witted beasts would recognize her significance as a political prisoner.
The Red Cloak Mercenaries were the best bounty hunters in the realm. Hence, their high price tag. Truth be told, he’d have paid any cost for the return of his bride, whether or not the treasury could afford it. Any expense would be worth it once he’d used her magic to eradicate the pointy-eared miscreants.
He clenched his fists until his fingernails cut into his palms.
“Mrow?” Shadow came up behind him and rubbed against his calves.
“If the blasted Red Cloaks are so good,” he said, crouching to run his hands down the silky fur of her back, “why, then, did she escape? Again.”
Aliya was not supposed to be self-sufficient enough to evade both Brooks and trained mercenaries on her own. According to her father, she had no experience in combat, or in the wilds. She should’ve been easy to recover, even with her errant magic.
Shadow leapt onto the banister and tilted her head, blinking at him.
He scratched the cat’s chin. He’d never admit it in public, but… “I’m starting to get worried, Shadow.”
She purred and arched her neck to move his fingers until they were underneath her ear.