And then I don’t know what else to say.
The kingdom is falling apart. I don’tdeservethat kind of loyalty.
“Advise,” I say, because I have to saysomething.
“Bringing everyone at once would be foolhardy,” he says. “We don’t know what’s happened in the last week, and we don’t want to risk discovery. Perhaps we could start with two or three. If Huxley doesn’t have them in the palace, I’m certain he has some of them being watched, so we can’t go for those we were close with. I’d personally go for Dart and Granger right now, but that’s exactly what Huxley would expect.” He looks at the ceiling, thinking. “We could try Reed and Sommer. They’re newer to your guard, but they’ve never run afoul of Huxley. They’re young, too. No wives or children to miss them.”
I jerk my head up.Wives and children.I’ve been so worried about my own brother that I haven’t spared a moment to consider that my guards might be missing someone. “You’re not married, Thorin,” I say, then realize I’m not entirely sure. “Are you?”
“No.” He hesitates, and there’s a weight to it now.
“But you have family you’re missing? Tell me. Please.”
“No. Not me.” He pauses again. “Saeth is married. He has a son and daughter.”
And we’ve been stuck here in the Wilds for more than a week. He disappeared from his family without so much as a word.
Lord, I’m a terrible king.
“He never said anything,” I say quietly.
“No, Your Majesty,” says Thorin. “He wouldn’t.”
I feel that same clenching in my chest that I did when Thorin said all my guards would join us here. “Did Saeth live in the Royal Sector?”
“No. Mosswell. Right by the border with Artis, on the eastern side of the Royal Sector.”
I don’t spend a tremendous amount of time outside the Royal Sector, but I estimate that to be less than two hours from where we are, by carriage or horseback. “Do you know his wife?”
“Leah? A little.”
“When Saeth returns from patrol, tell him to come speak with me.”
Thorin frowns. “He won’t like that I told you. But you should know he’s been sick with worry.”
And he has been, I realize. Saeth has been as dutiful as Thorin, but over the last few days, he’s been tense and restless. I assumed it was the same agitation we’ve all been feeling, but now I see it’s more than that.
I should have noticed.
Voices echo outside, and I assume Quint is returning, but the conversation suddenly turns loud.
Very loud.
From outside the door, Quint says, “If you will wait just amoment, I will ask the king—”
Something heavy hits the door hard. “We’re going totellthe king. Get him out here.”
Thorin is on his feet in front of me, a dagger already drawn.
“No,” I say. “Put it away.” If I’ve learned anything during my time in the Wilds, weapons do very little to defuse a situation.
Outside, Quint says, “You will not—”
Something heavy hits the door again. “Get out of theway!” a man yells.
Thorin looks at me. The dagger is still in his hand.
“Put it away,” I say again. Then I stride for the door.
