“It’s a fire poker, Lerek,” she said. Gods, was he really this coddled? To not even know what a fire poker looked like?
“Sorry,” he mumbled. “It’s dark out.”
Sonah twisted her lips, thrusting the poker at him. “Use this. I brought it for protection but maybe we can use it to loosen the bars.”
Lerek snatched it from her hands with a scowl. After a few awkward attempts, the grate gave and yanked part of the way out of the stone. Lerek repositioned his feet against the wall and gave it another pull, flying onto his back when the grate gave way.
Sonah gasped excitedly, and grabbed Lerek’s cloak. “I knew you could do it! Now, let’s get the fuck out of here!”
“We can’t find them,Your Majesty,” Captain Athanasi said with a scowl.
Daris swore and glanced at King Altos.
“Fuck!”
The curse was uncharacteristic of the king, especially in front of his men. His face turned a deep scarlet, and his eyes narrowed as he looked around, his gaze landing on Daris.
“They can’t have gone far,” he snarled. “Find them. Put the prince in a cell and bring Sonah Yahn to me.”
“Aye, Sire,” Daris said and made to turn when the king grabbed his arm.
“Do it quietly,” King Altos seethed. “I don’t want the duke getting wind of this.”
Daris looked at him for a long moment before giving the king a curt nod. Altos released him and Daris strode away, his men following.
When he was a good distance from the king, Daris said over his shoulder, “Jason, you and Michael head for the Champion’s Gate. I doubt they’d be stupid enough to go out that way, but you never know. Trojus, you’re with me.”
He turned as the men moved off. When Captain Athanasi came out of the doorway, Daris stopped him.
“Have your men watch every stableyard in the city. If they’re on foot and have already made it out of the city limits, they’ll be easier to catch without horses.”
“Aye, Commander,” the captain said.
Daris’s pulse raced as he descended the staircase and strode across the grand foyer. At that hour, there were few courtiers still milling about, their hooded eyes and slurred speech testament to their evening’s revelry, so he and his men were largely ignored.
He knew the whispers of Sonah’s departure would circulate soon enough, despite King Altos’s wishes. While Sonah had kept to her rooms, the servants were very aware of who she was and their tongues would soon whisper in the ears of those servants in the pocket of some of these courtiers.
He hoped they’d be back before those whispers found the duke and duchess.
Chapter 9
NEAR VESALA, OVENNO
Terena could not speak for the giant knot in her throat. She stared down at Vassori, the woman’s hazel eyes bright with zealous fervor. The fact that this woman knew what Pytho had told Terena was not the only thing bothering her about this conversation.
The man standing behind the tracker bothered her more.
“Your sister wants to side with gods in a war that might not ever come to pass,” Terena said flippantly. “Yet you’ve still not said why you wish to find the amulet for yourself and not your master.”
“Emperor Solon is not my master,” Xoran bit out, his face a storm of anger. As if reading her thoughts, he scrubbed a hand down his face. When he regarded her again, his mask of indifference was restored.
“I have reasons to do so, which do not concern you. I have not lied to you. I will bring Sonah Yahn to you in exchange for the amulet. And Emperor Solon will never see it. I swear on?—”
When he stopped abruptly, Terena cocked her head. “Aye? You swear on…”
“Xoran,” Vassori chided, turning her head long enough to glare at her brother before she turned back, earnest once more. “I beg you, goddess. Do not turn me away. I will be your shield when you need it, your sword when?—”
“Yes, yes,” Croak scoffed, sauntering closer to them. Terena arched a sable brow at him. “We are all her shields and swords. What else do you bring to the table?”
