Rawn’s pulse spiked at the news. “Who would dare, Your Majesty? Give me a name, and I will remove them. No one will ever touch her.”
King Leif’s mouth twitched at his passionate declaration, and Rawn flushed when he exchanged a look with his father. “I am pleased you are willing to protect her, Rawn. However, I fear the threat also comes beyond our walls. It is no secret Red Highland wants to return the kingdoms in the Vale under one rule again.Theirs. If not by marriage, then by war.”
The threat of war was the last thing Rawn had expected today, yet when was anyone ever prepared for it?
Then Rawn realized the implication in his statement. “King Altham has asked for Aerina’s hand, sire?”
“Altham has proposed that she marry his eldest son. I refused him, of course, but now we hear rumors of radicals who are sympathetic to Red Highland’s cause. Some believe he is the true heir of Greenwood, and others merely have grown weary of bloodshed. I fear our borders may no longer be properly protected.”
Rawn’s mind spun. His garrison was attacked not a short time ago. If Red Highland soldiers could ambush them so easily, perhaps they were being helped.
If it was a question of heredity and who could have rights to the throne of Greenwood, even Red Highland had a claim. For at the end of the first age, it was two princes of the Silva bloodline who had split the Vale into two.
God of Urn, if a red prince managed to abduct a green princess, to abduct Aerina…
The world was tilting.
“You understand my concern.” The king watched him soberly.
“Yes, sire.” Rawn glanced between him, Eldred, and his father. “Have you received word from your spies that our enemies mean to infiltrate our borders? If they attempt to kidnap our princess, that will put an end to the current ceasefire between Greenwood and Red Highland.”
King Leif leaned back on his throne with a sigh. “A calamity I would prefer to avoid. We have hardly recovered from our last war. I do not wish for another. Alas, until we find out who is aiding them, Aerina is not safe.”
Rawn clenched his jaw at the thought of anyone harming her. To think that some of his people were secretly sympathetic to Red Highland after all the lives that had been lost sickened him.
“Then I will go and find where the threat in our borders lie before they have a chance to enter?—”
“I am afraid it’s too late.”
He stilled. “Sire?”
His father shifted on his feet, resting a hand on his sword's hilt. The scar on his lip pinched with his frown. “The garrison at West Wall was infiltrated three days past, and no survivors were left behind. They could not have crossed our walls without help, but one thing is for certain. They arehere.”
Rawn’s pulse climbed as he thought of the night a spear took him down. His garrison had not been attacked at random. They had been planning this.
To think red elves were in his home with the intent to do harm angered him.
“I have made an attempt to track them,” Eldred said, “But they are cloaked. One among them is certainly a Magi Master, and a dangerous one.”
King Leif leveled him with a look as he stood. “Aerina is the only hope for our kingdom now. Protecting her life may come at the cost of your own.”
But Rawn didn’t hesitate again. He lowered to one knee and bowed his head. “What will you have me do? I am at your command, whatever it may be.”
King Leif climbed down the steps to him, and he looked outside to the courtyard. At the center rose a particular tree split in two at the base that had grown into a perfect circle.
“Your mission is to take Aerina away from the palace tonight at high moon through the Elder Tree’s gateway. It will take you as far as the highlands of Erendor, and from there, escort her to the convent in Galadir. A week’s travel at best. You will remain there and guard her. Do not return until you have received word that the threat has been eliminated or that my wife has borne an heir. The future of Greenwood is at stake, Rawn. Can I trust you to keep my sister safe?”
“I swear upon my life that no harm shall fall upon the princess.” Rawn clanked a fist over his heart, and it shook with the weight of his oath.
Should he fail, the cost would be his head.
“Good. Then you may take two others to help you. Is there anyone who you can trust with this mission?”
Rawn didn’t need to think long on it. He glanced at his father and Eldred. Both could guess his thoughts, and neither spoke against it.
He rose to stand. “Nisa of House Norrlen, sire. She was a Ranger before becoming part of the princess’s personal Royal Guard. As well as Sylar of House Lothiriel, Magi Apprentice. I trust them both with my life. I would like to request them to join me.”
King Leif dipped his chin in a nod. “Granted.”
