“I think I should go lie down; my leg is aching,” he said, rubbing his leg. But he wouldn’t look straight at her, and all the color had drained from his face.
Before she could stop him, he hobbled away from behind, his uneven gait reminding her of something... Captain Rosen’s warning rang through her head: trust no one. But that wasn’t possible. This was Ludwig. When elves attacked the smugglers, he’d searched for survivors. He despised Heinrich as much as she did; he wouldn’t work for him. And yet watching him from behind, the resemblance to the killer was uncanny. A pit of dread settled in her stomach, but she shoved her unease down long enough to smile at Captain Rosen.
“Captain Rosen!” Liane greeted, her voice over-eager. She needed to rein it back in, or Captain Rosen would be suspicious.
“Your majesty,” she said with a tight bow. Her hawk-like gaze followed Ludwig, then snapped back to Liane. She wasn’t free of her distrust either. “It’s fortunate we ran into one another. I’ve been meaning to speak to you. Any new developments?”
Liane’s heart lodged into her throat. “Nothing yet. But if I hear anything, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Be sure you do. I’d hate for another incident like last night to happen.” Her dark, shrewd eyes pierced Liane as if she saw through her lies.
“I will,” Liane said, choking on the lump in her throat.
Then with a bow, Captain Rosen departed, leaving Liane trembling with cold despite the heat of the day. Ludwig wouldn’t betray her; he couldn’t have betrayed her. She’d prove it. Ludwig was in the barracks this morning and couldn’t have been in the city killing the apothecarist.
Spinning around, she turned to her guardsAayden and Simon, who’d just come onto watch.“Was Ludwig in the barracks this morning?” she asked.
They shared a look. “I was training the new recruits. Did you see him, Simon?” Aayden asked.
“I was out…” Simon said, rubbing his neck.
There were other soldiers in the barracks; surely they’d seen him. Not willing to believe her worst fears, she headed there and a found group milling about outside, laughing and gambling with bone dice. They jumped to attention, bowing to her as she approached.
“Your majesty,” they said in unison.
Heart pounding in her ears and her mouth dry, Liane wet her lips.
“Do you know Ludwig Wildner?”
“Your majesty’s head of the guard, of course, we do,” said a guard.
She focused her attention on him, latching on as if he were a lifeline.
“Were you off duty this morning?
The guard shifted uncomfortably. “I was, your majesty. I was playing dice with some other guards who were as well.”
“Was Ludwig among them?” she asked.
He furrowed his brows in confusion. “I thought he was on leave...?” He turned to his companion for confirmation.
“Yes, that’s what I heard. He went into the city this morning to visit family who came for the Sun Ceremony.”
Her stomach dropped. Ludwig had no living family. They’d all died in an elven raid when he was a boy.
“Are you sure?” Liane asked.
They frowned and scratched their chins, avoiding her gaze.
“Yes, I’m certain. I don’t want to get a fellow guard in trouble. But I wouldn’t lie to your majesty,” the guard said.
Ice crashed through her veins. It couldn’t be true, but from his build to his ability Ludwig fit the description of her killer…
21
“Just for a little while,” Liane said, hands pressed together as she stared hopefully at Luzie, who avoided her pleading eyes by gazing at the ceiling.
The idea that Ludwig was a killer was unimaginable, but she had to talk to him, alone, and get his alibi before Captain Rosen questioned him. And to do that, she needed Luzie’s help sneaking out. Luzie’s strawberry blond locks and shorter, stockier frame weren’t a perfect match for Liane’s fiery-red hair and tall thin body, but in the dark and wearing a maid’s uniform, she could move around the palace without being questioned. But Luzie stubbornly refused to cooperate.
