Sable smiles. “Okay.”
I go back to the adjoining door and open it to find an irritated Sym standing there, red-faced and out of breath.
“Cara, we’ve got a problem.”
I suppress the desire to roll my eyes. “Of course we do. What is it this time?”
“The Elders have escaped. Corvin’s gone, too, along with Niles and Bram. Several of your troops have gone missing as well, presumably left with them.”
Great. Just what I need. I turn back to Sable with what I hope reads as an apologetic grin. “Duty calls—again. See you here for dinner, I hope?”
She nods, and I follow Sym through the back halls to the Chamber. Even using the servants’ passageways, we have to dodge harried staff and squeeze through throngs of people. I catch snippets of whispered conversations as we hurry past, none of it good.
“There’s the Suntouched! I heard she’s lost her mind and overthrown the Elders!”
“I heard she’s been plotting this for years with the new Suntouched they found in the woods.”
“Well, I heard the new Suntouched is her cousin.”
“Cousin?! I heard they were caught together on the road back from the panther attack.”
If I had the time, I’d stop and straighten these busybodies out. As it is, I have to deal with the escapees and the deserters first. Court gossip will have to wait.
The Chamber is no less chaotic. Servants dodge raging generals as they race to keep up with thirsty nobles who seem to think wine is the solution to everything. Between the sniveling sycophants, the stomping commanders, and the harried advisors, I can barely concentrate. Finally, ten minutes after my arrival, I put two fingers to my mouth and release a shrill whistle to get their attention.
“That’s enough!” I sweep the room with my gaze, meeting the eyes of each and every wolf. “If you are not a general, commander, or guard, I want you out of my Chambernow!”
It may be a bit unorthodox to dismiss even the servants, but in my experience they hear most of anyone. We will likely be discussing sensitive matters, and I can’t have some forgotten staff member running off telling the general populace what’s happening.
Once the hangers-on have vacated the Chamber, I order the guards to bring in tables and chairs so we can all sit down. I fear this won’t be resolved quickly, and sore, tired feet only lead to more cranky men and women. I need everyone sharp, so comfort becomes a factor. I know that I, for one, think better when I’m comfortable, and no reason for me to be the only person sitting. I even come down off the dais and take a seat at the head table with my remaining generals.
With everyone seated except the guards, I start questioning those who have stayed behind. Just because they didn’t desert with the others doesn’t mean they don’twantto desert, and some may have stayed behind just to gather intel and report back to the missing wolves.
Vic, Fizz, and Lann—who arrived while I was gone killing panthers—all staunchly declare their loyalty. Vic even goes so far as to slice his palm in an attempt to make a blood oath, which I quickly put a stop to. The last thing I need is people thinking I’m demaning blood sacrifices from my followers.
Several commanders also pipe up with proclamations of fierce devotion, but some are more reluctant. I make mental notes of both those who speak too loudly in my favor and those who are far too hesitant to commit to anything.
Hours pass as we go over plans to locate and capture Corvin and the Elders. No one seems to have any clue where they could be, though a few offer vague suggestions for places to look. My instinct is that they’re probably going to hide out within a day’s journey, so any attack they might plan can be executed swiftly. That doesn’t bode well for me, but it also narrows the search parameters.
A servant knocks on the door just past dinner time, and I have Sym let them in, hoping for food. Instead, she scurries to my side and hands me a tiny, wax-sealed note bearing my name. It looks to have been tied to a messenger raven. I wave her off and dismiss the convened soldiers to go get something to eat. We’ve been at a standstill since lunch, anyway.
As soon as the room is empty save for me and the guards, I open the note. There, in Bram’s blocky handwriting, is a short, simple message.
They don’t know I’m loyal.
Chapter 15
Cara
So … I have a wolf on the inside of this little counter-coup. Interesting.
Life sure took a swift about-face the past few days. Finding Sable, losing my temper with the Elders, losing theElders… I can barely keep my head on straight.
Word is out that the Elders have escaped, making life that much harder. Now in addition to suck-up sycophants, I have irate Elder loyalists screaming at me wherever I go. Things get thrown, the guards step in, and chaos ensues. It’s a mess. Thankfully no one has been hurt yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Someone somewhere along the line will get truly violent, and my guards will have no choice but to react.
The servants’ halls have become my salvation. In a strange sort of irony, my dallying with servant girls has served me well, because I can navigate the labirynthine halls like a native. I can avoid most of the insanity as I try to pick up the pieces of the shattered tribes.
Unfortunately, that makes me easier to find for those who know my habits—namely Kiki.
