“Try the outbuildings.”
More boots stomped past, men shouted. The door to the millhouse slammed open. Something thudded, perhaps a barrel being tipped. Chains clanked, and the rotting floorboards shook under the onslaught of stamping boots. Dust filtered down through the tiny shards of light.
Beside her, Val twitched restlessly, and Nim pressed her free hand firmly over his mouth, bending to kiss his forehead silently, trying to reassure him and keep him still.
Long moments passed as she desperately willed him to stay quiet.
And then the noises faded, footsteps receded.
“Clear.”
“Clear.”
“Nothing here, m’lord, sir.”
Nim felt her aching shoulders drop ever so slightly.
“They must be here!” Grendel’s voice snarled as he ordered, “Archers, cover them.”
The Hawks, wisely, remained silent.
“You were seen last night,” Grendel announced.
“I was in the palace last night.” Tristan’s voice gave away nothing. “It’s entirely to be expected that I’d be seen.”
“You were seen in the kitchen with the prisoners… helping them to escape.”
“The Hawks were helping upstairs, nowhere near the kitchen. Plenty of people saw us there.”
“The cook identified you. She saw a Tarasque captain escaping with the prisoners.” Nim could imagine the smug look on Grendel’s sneering face.
“She could have seen anyone. Surely there is more than one Tarasque officer in the palace guard? How would she have even known a captain in the dark? Or particularly identified me?” Tristan still sounded calm and logical. “Why don’t you tell us how they escaped, and maybe we can help you?”
The silence stretched for so long that Nim wondered if Grendel might be convinced. But then he laughed, an oily, patronizing sound.
“Ah, Tristan, I do like watching a man squirm. But it doesn’t matter now. We know it was you. A young noblewoman and her brother had an audience first thing this morning with the king. You might remember Helaine?”
Nim raised an eyebrow to Keely, who gave a single shake of her head.
Grendel continued, “Apparently she had a most fascinating visit from young Corporal Reece. He was looking for somewhere safe for his squad to stay. Somewhere on the river, not too far from the palace, easy to reach by boat… all very urgent and secret. I believe they were able to help.”
Gods. That was how they found them so quickly. Poor Reece was going to be devastated.
“You know, Corporal Reece,” Grendel mocked, “you really shouldn’t break a woman’s heart and then expect her to help you. Women are very… fragile.
“And now, well… you know what the penalty is for conspiracy. Guards, take Corporal Reece into custody.”
“No.” Tristan’s voice rang out clearly, and Nim knew. Knew exactly what he was about to do. What he had always meant to do.
Remember everything I said... You promised... The Hawks will treat him like their own family… I love you.
She wanted to hold her hands over her ears so that she didn’t have to hear what he would say next. She wanted to scream and drown out his words. But she didn’t. She held her courage together by a thread and listened as he spoke.
“This has nothing to do with anyone else. Corporal Reece had no idea what the house was for; he was simply following orders. Your prisoners are not here. I sent them away.Ifreed them, andIput them on a boat to escape. And I did it by myself.”
A rough grumble followed his words, but Tristan grunted, loudly, and the noise died away, leaving only the snuffling of the horses.
“Follow the river. Find the boat,” Grendel ordered, and several horses thundered away.
