‘That’s the thing. I don’t know. She refuses to speak, but she handed me a piece of parchment with your name written on it.’ He gave it to Harlan.
‘Eda,’ Astin said, his feet already moving in the direction of the gate.
Harlan followed. ‘That’s her handwriting all right.’
When Astin arrived at the gate, he saw Eda had been detained by a visibly annoyed defender on the other side. At her feet was a canvas bag with items of clothing spilled out.
‘She pulled a knife on me,’ the defender told Harlan through the latticed wood. ‘Any other borough and I would have taken her hand off.’
Astin laughed through his nose. ‘Good luck with that. Commander Wright trained her.’
The defender looked between them, confused.
‘Let her go,’ Harlan said.
The defender released her with a shove, and Eda turned to glare at him as she snatched up her bag and stuffed the spilled contents back into it.
‘Does Blake know you’re here?’ Harlan asked her.
Eda shook her head as she approached the gate, signing something Astin could not interpret. Harlan seemed to understand though, because he replied with ‘Even if I was to let you in, they’ll never let you stay.’
More signing.
Harlan took a step back. ‘If you want to help Lyndal, go home.’
Eda pounded on the gate with her fist, prompting the defender on the other side to come for her again.
‘For God’s sake,’ Harlan said. ‘I’ll lock you in the tower myself if you make a scene.’
She signed something before the defender detained her once more.
‘What did she say?’ Astin asked.
Harlan rested his hands on his hips, replying quietly, ‘She said, “Open the gate, or he dies, and then I open it myself.”’
Astin’s eyebrows rose. ‘Right.’ Harlan was looking at him like he had the solution. Lyndal needed somebody right now—he knew that much. ‘Take her to Queen Fayre. Explain who she is. Be ready to translate.’
Harlan nodded slowly and cast a warning glance at Eda. ‘Open the gate.’
A knock at the door forced Lyndal to drag herself from her oversized bed. She had not long returned from the farming wall, and she just wanted a few minutes to process everything before she had to face the nobility.
There stood Roul with his usual serious expression. Every defender was the same.
‘Queen Fayre wants to see you in her quarters,’ he told her.
Lyndal wanted to cry. ‘I literally just left her side. What does she want?’
‘I don’t know. I’m just following orders.’
She closed her eyes and took a moment to collect herself. ‘Fine.’ Stepping out into the corridor, she said, ‘Let’s go.’
When they arrived at the queen mother’s solar, they were let straight in. Lyndal sucked in a breath when she spotted Harlan and Eda standing there. She ran to her sister, all propriety gone. She hugged her so tightly she might have busted ribs if Eda had not been covered in a healthy layer of muscle. ‘What are you doing here?’
Eda pulled away and signed,We were in the square earlier, for the announcement. I figured you needed me.
‘And Mother and Blake let you come?’
She shrugged.Mother said she would handle Blake.
