“We’re here,” Lana whispered, as we stopped in front of the door to Dukes Pub. She knocked three times, pausing a second between each one as our informant had instructed. The hookabove the door normally holding the establishment’s sign lay bare.
A makeshift peephole slid open, and a wide eye pressed against it from the other side. “Password?” a gruff voice sounded from behind the door.
“Tambourine mar-marching band?” Lana stuttered, a hint of skepticism in her voice.
The peephole slammed shut without another word from the burly sounding man.
Lana and I stared at each other for a moment in confusion. “Do you think we got it wrong?” she asked.
Suddenly, we heard locks turning before the door cracked open, one chain lock remaining in place.
“Name?” the man with the gravelly voice asked. The small sliver we could see of him gave nothing away as to his identity. A wound stretched under his eye, red and raw, still healing. Whoever he was, he clearly didn’t have strong healing magic.
“Ian Stronholm, former Captain of the Royal Guard.” I pulled Lana back. I would rather give my name in case this didn’t work. Lana could at least have a chance to escape and Andras would only be able to guess if she were truly here or not.
“And your friend?” he growled.
Lana looked at me as we hesitated, but only for a moment. She nodded, then raised her chin like the queen she was born to be. “Illiana Dresden. Rightful ruler of Brookmere. If you are a friend, you will let us in, and quickly so we can get off the street before we are seen.”
The door slammed shut in our faces, and we were left wondering if we were being met with friend or foe. The chain slid on the other side of the door, and slowly, it swung open. We were ushered into the bar before the door closed shut once more. The man locked the handful of bolts and chains before turning to us.
He stared at Lana, who remained cloaked. After a few moments, she took the hood off.
The man stumbled back a step and bowed. “Your Majesty.” He rose hastily, limping toward the back. “Take a seat, I’ll get Tommy.”
Lana nodded and sat at one of the nearby tables. “Thank you, sir.”
He let out a chuff, but I saw the grin on his face. Lana had a way of making people feel seen.
“He probably hasn’t been called ‘sir’ ever,” I chuckled. “You flustered him.”
I stood beside Lana, ready just in case this was a trap. Looking down at her, I noticed she left her hand on her thigh, right on the hilt of the dagger in its sheath. She was prepared for a potential fight. I’d taught her well.
Two minutes later, Tommy Soloman appeared from around a corner. “I miss the days when breaking tables was the biggest problem you caused me, but now”—he paused surveying Lana and me—“ look at you.”
“I—” Lana started.
Tommy shook his head. “Doing the king and queen so proud.” He bowed his head low. “What can I do to help serve the crown, Your Majesty?”
I could see the muscles in Lana’s shoulders relax as she exhaled a large breath. “I heard you’ve started up a resistance.” She smiled at the barkeeper. “I’m hoping perhaps we could work together to take back our kingdom.”
A crash in the kitchen caused all of our attention to immediately shift to high alert. I positioned myself in front of Lana, sword drawn. I would take no chances when it came to her safety. Not when we were so close.
“Not again,” Tommy muttered.
A second clang of a metal container being dropped sounded, and a figure appeared in the kitchen doorway, just beyond the bar.
I dropped my sword in disbelief. My eyes had to be playing tricks on me.
The man before me had his sleeves rolled to his elbows and flour spilled all the way down his pants.
“Leif?” I practically whispered at the sight of my friend.
Lana jumped from her seat and ran toward him. “Oh, Leif.” She threw her arms around his neck. “You’re alive. You’re all right?” she asked, squeezing him so tightly I didn’t know if he could answer.
When she pulled away, she shoved him as she cried and laughed all at the same time. “I’m so angry you risked yourself, but you saved them all.” She wrapped her arms around him again. “I am so happy to see you.”
Embracing her back just as enthusiastically, Leif held on to her, chuckling. “And I would do it a thousand times over, Your Highness. I’m relieved you’re safe.”
