“Klyn, what have they gathered around?” I hesitantlyasked.
“Octavia, goinside.”
“I want to know what they have gathered around,” I firmlysaid.
“Yes, my Queen. I will inform you as soon as I deal with the situation. But for now, I am telling you to go inside the castle,” Klyn matched my firm tone. “For your safety,please.”
I respected Klyn too much to blatantly go against him. I nodded and knew he watched me until I disappeared inside. I went to the formal dining room and waited for Klyn to show. He was taking his time, or perhaps the situation was bad enough that it required this muchtime.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on hearing Klyn, but there was too much other noise between us. I decided to go upstairs and sit on my balcony in hopes that I would be able to hear him. Though I could not see Klyn as they were around the corner, I could hear him with theothers.
From the part that I was able to hear, it sounded like one of the groundskeepers had been found dead. Now they were talking about notifying the family, the priest, and putting extra security on thecastle.
Sean’s voice broke into the conversation that I had been listening to. He was not with Klyn, but somewhere else on the grounds. I looked down around the castle grounds and spotted Sean standing over Liam near the stable. Liam sat against the tree that he often sits by while hereads.
“Do you really know how to?” Sean askedLiam.
“How to what?” Liamreplied.
Sean looked over his shoulder and then back down toLiam.
“How toread?”
“Yes, Sean. Yes, I do,” Liam smiled at Sean and held his book up and shookit.
“Could…could you show me how to read? Could you teach me?” Seanasked.
“You do not know how to read?” Liam soundedsurprised.
“No. Can Ethan and Michan readtoo?”
“Yes, they can read too. Did you not attend learning classes in Stonebridge?” Liamasked.
“No. We did not have things like that inStonebridge.”
“What did you do in Stonebridge as aboy?”
“Helped my pop. So will you? Will you teach me?” Seanasked.
Liam scooted over and made room for Sean to sit beside him so he could lean against the tree too. I listened to Liam give Sean instructions on how to sound out words when a voice caused me tojump.
“My Queen,” Klyn said from behind me and startledme.
When he came closer and stood next to me, I playfully pounded on hisforearm.
“Bloody hell, Klyn, you scared me,” I hissed at him as he laughed. “What happened outside?” Iasked.
“A groundskeeper and a castle maid were found. Both are dead. They both had teeth marks on their neck,” Klyn said cautiously for mybenefit.
I covered my mouth with my hand as a flurry of thoughts rushed into my mind. So many questions bombarded me, and I hoped Klyn had someanswers.
“Was it Carpe Noctem?” I firstasked.
“Most likely,yes.”
“Dammit, Klyn!” I crossed the balcony and leaned against the stone to look out over Drishane. “How did they get on the grounds? I did not think they could get on thegrounds!”
“I do not believe Carpe Noctem were on the castle grounds, myQueen.”
