“Even better.” Ari rubbed his hands together.
I started to feel hopeful about this whole messy situation. “Should I go pick up the cane, then head to the dungeons to negotiate?”
“No, let the nobles seethe and worry a bit longer.” Ari chuckled. “There’s no rush. You should sit back and savor victory. You deserve a break.”
“That might be the nicest thing anyone has said to me lately,” I said, gazing into his eyes.
Of course, at that precise moment, a messenger boy burst into the room. His collar was disheveled, and his armpits had soaked his red uniform with sweat. Terrified eyes locked with mine. “Dark Lord Kaine has breached the city!”
Chapter Twelve
Adozen Arahasnor guards burst into the room on the page’s heels. They shouted over each other as they bumped into the furniture. Dammit, I needed to start learning to lock doors. Absolutely nothing good ever happened to me when someone came busting in. Next time I got promised a break, I would barricade the damn door.
I stood up and cupped my hands to my mouth. “Silence!”
The voices rose to a crescendo.
Ari banged his sword hilt against the wall. “Silence! Let the ranking officer step forward and explain the situation.”
For some reason, it worked when he did it. Maybe I needed to get my own sword.
An Arahasnor guard walked up to the throne and saluted. He must be the captain, judging from the plumes in his helmet. “Your Grace, just minutes ago, an explosion occurred at the South Wall. Three intruders entered through the hole. The guards on duty only glimpsed them from a distance, but they heard a woman in a white dress shouting loudly at the other two, and they recognized the voice of Holy Maiden Ysabel. The woman accompanying the Holy Healer could only be her bodyguard, Alzira. The man wore a distinctive black helmet marking him as Dark Lord—I mean, King Kaine.”
I was baffled that my sister had reached the Holy City so quickly. Since she’d apparently only shown up with a group of three, they must have been using a magical method of transportation that could only carry a small group. Not that she needed a larger one—either Kaine or Alzira alone could equal an army.
“Which direction did they go?” Ari asked.
The captain looked at Ari as if he’d lost his mind. “Do you think we followed them? He’s moon-damnedDark Lord Kaine!”
“You could have at least tried to tail them from a distance.” Ari raised an eyebrow, distinctly unimpressed.
The captain muttered something about not getting paid enough. In a louder voice, he said, “It would have done no good to track them. They vanished into some sort of swirling dark portal. Then minutes later, the portal appeared in the guest bedroom in the palace where Countess Donya has been staying. King Kaine dragged her through the portal, then vanished.”
“Oh, that’s all right, then.” I exhaled in relief. “Donya and Ysabel are good friends. I’m sure Kaine came to rescue her because of the duchess’s—because ofmylittle execution joke. Donya will explain that was all a big misunderstanding and now we’re on the same side.” Or rather, Donya would explain to my sister and her team about the body swap. It would be a huge relief to have Ysabel and her two walking armies on my side.
“Not necessarily.” The captain looked uneasy. “Part of the bedroom wall exploded when King Kaine activated his portal through it. Some debris struck Countess Donya on the forehead. She fell unconscious, then Kaine and Alzira dragged her through the portal.”
“Oh dear. Did she look badly hurt?”
“The guards on duty couldn’t tell. They barely arrived in time to see her taken away.”
I still believed Donya was in no danger, because my sister’s healing ability could erase anything short of death. Surely Donya would shortly be on her feet and explain this entire misunderstanding.
I clapped my hands for attention. “Set patrols to watch for any sign of Ysabel or her escorts. If you find them, tell me and I’ll go talk to her—”
The captain coughed. “Actually, I came here to deliver my resignation. I’m not fighting Kaine whether he’s a king or a dark lord. The man is the living incarnation of terror and destruction. I’m not paid nearly enough. I wouldn’t fight him if you offered to make me the next king.”
The Arahasnor guards behind the captain all raised their hands. “I’d like to resign too,” one said. A chorus of agreement came from the rest.
I felt a headache coming on.
As a dark lord, naturally Kaine had quite a terrible reputation. I’d almost forgotten just how frightened people were of him. Being half-Conollian, I’d had a lot of sympathy for his cause from the very beginning. Conollia had been abused by neighboring countries and raided for slaves before Kaine had taken charge. I didn’t think he was a bad person. I’d only met him once, at my sister’s wedding. Kaine had swept me off my feet in an effusive hug, then told me that we were family now and he’d always help me if I ever needed it.
Then my father had tried to crash the wedding despite being distinctly uninvited, and Kaine had made a serious attempt to murder him before Ysabel stopped him. Despite being kind to me personally, he was a very dangerous man. His ability let him steal the gifts of others. Although he’d calmed down on the destruction and theft since going legitimate and marrying my sister, he possessed as many powers as a walking army.
I sighed. “I hope you’ll reconsider. I truly do believe that this is a misunderstanding. It will blow over shortly. I’d never order any of you to fight King Kaine. However, if you want to resign, then I can’t force you to stay.”
“I’ll consider returning to my job if this city is still standing by the end of the day,” the captain said with worrying frankness.
