Shapur was not shutting him down like usual, which meant Harlan was raising valid points. But because the warden was loyal to a fault, he would follow the prince’s orders.
‘Take what is left of your men and split them into four groups,’ Shapur said. ‘Start at both ends of the main roads. We do not want people warned of your arrival. That will give them time to hide their items. Every shop is to be turned upside down, every weapon, including things that can be used as weapons, confiscated.’
Harlan tried to relax his jaw. ‘You do this, you take away what little these people have left, and you’ll have men carving knives from sticks and killing defenders on the street.’
Shapur’s eyes darkened. ‘You are a defender of the king. Do not stand before me on the day of his death protecting those responsible.’
‘One person fired that arrow.One. You cannot punish an entire borough.’
Shapur leaned closer. ‘Tell that to your men in the infirmary. What we witnessed today was an uprising. If you think they will make daggers out of sticks, then take away their sticks.’ He straightened. ‘Go do your job, Commander.’
* * *
They heard the defenders before they reached their home. Blake, Lyndal, and Candace watched from the shop window as the men marched onto the street. Eda was recovering in bed, five stitches in her scalp.
‘What are they doing?’ Lyndal asked as men stormed into the shop opposite, shouting instructions.
Candace drew back from the window. ‘Looking for the killer.’
The defenders exited the house, tossing a crossbow, two daggers, and a quiver of arrows into the centre of the road.
‘There’s no way the king was killed with a crossbow,’ Blake said. ‘This is ridiculous. And why are they confiscating people’s knives?’
More defenders appeared, tossing weapons onto the growing pile. Some merchants tried to lock their doors, but the soldiers kicked them open and marched straight inside.
Screaming ensued.
Blake backed away from the window, head shaking. ‘Open the door so they don’t break it.’ She rushed out back and gathered the two bows they owned, placing Kingsley’s in plain sight before taking the other one to the bedroom. It had belonged to their father, and it meant more to Eda than anything else in the world.
Blake looked around. Time was running out.
Eda sat up, eyeing the bow.What’s wrong?
‘We need to hide it,’ Blake said. ‘They’re coming.’
Who?
‘The defenders.’
Eda swung her legs over the edge of the bed, eyes closing momentarily with dizziness. She opened the drawer where her underthings were kept and pulled out a small knife.
Of course she had knives hidden around the place.
Crouching beside the bed, she lifted the linen and plunged the blade into the side of the mattress, making a hole wide enough for the bow.
‘Good idea,’ Blake said. She knelt and began tearing handfuls of wool out. It took her a minute to get the bow in, and then she had to restuff the mattress.
Lyndal burst into the room. ‘They’re coming.’
They all looked at the quiver of arrows sitting on the floor, each one handcrafted by their father. Blake took a single arrow and poked it into the mattress before kicking the quiver to Lyndal. It slid across the floor, where it was snatched up.
‘Put it with the other bow,’ Blake said, her heart like lead in her chest. She did not dare look at Eda.
Men’s voices reached them from the shop.
‘Lie down,’ Blake whispered, scooping up a rogue tuft of wool and hiding it. ‘And for God’s sake, look sick.’ She tucked the sheet over the damaged mattress just as heavy footsteps stopped in the doorway.
Rising, Blake turned to see Harlan. She stopped breathing for a moment. His face was covered with cuts and bruises, and dark circles enclosed his eyes.
