“If they wanted ransom money, obviously, they would send someone here,” Rosemary said. “It has been a few hours now, and they haven’t sent an envoy to demand a price.”
“Would they have gone back to the water kingdom?” Topaz asked.
Helena shook her head. “All of the insurgents have scattered. Our people are keeping a tight watch on former warriors for the evil water king. It wouldn’t make sense to take her there. But…”
Helena started pacing, lost in her own thoughts.
“Helena,” Topaz said once and was ignored. Twice, he was ignored again. “Helena!” he shouted. “Let us in, please.”
“It’s just that—during my days working for the water king as a spy, there was a secret hiding place just outside of the kingdom limits. No one much went there in the later years, because all of the king’s awful plots became common knowledge and everyday occurrences. The king’s servants didn’t need to hide their ill-doing. Still, I think any warriors loyal enough to the king to execute a kidnapping after his death would know about it.”
“Let’s not waste time then,” Finn said. “Let’s go there now.”
“Do we all need to go?” Helena asked looking to Freddie who, Finn just now noticed, was absolutely starstruck by Helena and Topaz. “This one looks a little young,” Helena said. “And this won’t be safe by any means. We’ll need Oak and Rain, too.” Helena sent someone to get them out of bed and prepared for a journey.
“Really,” Topaz said to all of them, “this is in our hands now. You don’t have to go with us.”
“I am going,” Finn said sternly. “I have a bow and arrow, and my brother William has a sword, though we are not shifters.”
Topaz looked to Helena, then sighed.
“Good sir, it is for your own safety…”
“You cannot keep us away,” William said plainly. “Marigold has become like family to us, you understand.”
A wide smile spread over Helena’s face.
“I am so glad to hear that,” she said. “Then you must come. And believe me, I am the last person to say a woman is unfit for battle. But I was trained just like a man to fight, and those without any abilities should be warned.”
Rosemary nodded.
“We’ll go, but hang back. You can leave us on the outskirts with a guard or two. It’ll be helpful, anyway, to have the area surrounded, in case the kidnappers try to flee.”
“That is very much what our commander of the armies, Oak, would say.” Helena smiled. “Very well. You will be lookouts. But come, let’s waste no more time. We’ll fly there.”
Freddie nearly fainted.
“Fly?”
Helena shook her head vigorously.
“I must insist. This one is too excitable.”
“No!” Freddie shouted.
“You’re right,” Rosemary said. “I’ll stay with her.”
“We won’t be able to sleep!” Freddie said. “We’ll be sick with worry.”
“The servants will show you a room, and you’ll be permitted in the library. I’m sorry. But this is a bit of an order.”
She gave Freddie an encouraging look.
“One day, if you want, I’ll teach you what I know,” she added, to which Freddie brightened. Rosemary pulled on her sister’s ear and reminded her that this was not her moment, and the two of them disappeared along with some guides into the corridors of the castle.
Soon two different figures appeared: one of them a male, very big and strong, and the other a female with silver hair and an extremely sympathetic but stern face. Behind them was a scrawny looking, out-of-place boy.
“This is Oak, commander of the armies,” Topaz said, “and Rain, my advisor; and Theo, our guard.”
