‘Why?’ asked Wynter.
‘So we look fresh and untouched by life for our future spouse,’ said Lancen. ‘There is a huge masked ball in our honour, where we have the unveiling, then our father chooses three men he thinks suitable to court us for two months, then we marry one. That’s the life of a princess.’
Scarlen wrinkled her nose at the tradition. ‘Another reason I ran away.’
‘Princes can choose their own partners,’ added Lancen. ‘Not that my brother has. Well, there’s been no word of an engagement.’
‘He’s too busy fighting Father’s wars, that’s why.’
Lancen turned to Elbar. ‘And now you want my sister to join the battle. That’s what you’ll be doing, Ria, if you go home. I can tell you where he has the book, but if he catches you, he’ll kill you to keep his secret safe. Look what he did to me.’
Scarlen fiddled with the bottom of Bear’s sweatshirt, keeping her warm as thoughts of returning to the palace overwhelmed her. ‘If I went back, said I parted ways with all who escaped, it’s possible my father will send me straight back to prison to finish my sentence.’
Lancen gasped with excitement, her hand covering her mouth as a moment of realisation occurred. ‘He would have taken you out of prison in a few days, Ria. It’s your twentieth birthday next week, and there’s no way he’d risk not showing that off to the kingdom.’
Scarlen had completely forgotten about her birthday, what with everything going on around her.
‘So she’d be safe?’ asked Wynter.
Elbar chuckled. ‘More than safe, I would say, because if there’s a ball to be planned, then there’ll be a lot of fuss going on, and what a perfect time to go book hunting unseen.’
Scarlen agreed. ‘I could do it. Go back, pretend I’ve changed, grab the book and run.’
Lancen didn’t look convinced. ‘He knows you well, Ria. He might not believe you’ve changed.’
‘Horstal changed Milon. Stripped him of his personality and turned him into one of Father’s warriors. So why not me? I can fool him. All I need is for you to tell me where he has the book hidden, a boat ready to take me away the night of the ball, and some way to get there before my birthday so we can have the ball.’
‘I’ll fly you there,’ said Raven, appearing in the doorway. ‘Right now, but Bear isn’t to know.’
Scarlen frowned. ‘But if my father reads the book, he’ll know we’re there together.’
Lancen shook her head. ‘It will just show that Raven flew over, then left, as it will only record his movements, not yours. Besides, Father probably doesn’t check the book daily.’
Scarlen wasn’t sure about keeping any more secrets from Bear, but perhaps it was for the best if he was left out of their plan. He was hurting for many reasons, and the last thing she wanted was for him to be involved in another dangerous scheme. Once she brought the book back, they could all get together and find a way to save the fifth knight. ‘Okay,’ she replied. ‘Just let me get dressed.’
‘The king could have the knight hidden anywhere in the kingdom,’ said Wynter.
Elbar grinned. ‘Let’s think like him for a moment. He’s crazy enough to think he can control wyrmocs, and he kidnapped a baby to help do so, which means, he wouldn’t want his precious prisoner to be too far from him. I know I wouldn’t.’
A shiver ran the length of Scarlen’s spine as she turned to Wynter. ‘That poor girl. He’s had her trapped somewhere for years. Blyton was on his way home with the fifth knight at the time of your birth, so she has to be your age.’
‘What if she doesn’t have a Ring?’ Lancen asked. ‘What if he trapped her as a dragon. Would that be possible?’
‘No,’ replied Elbar. ‘She’s a shifter. She would change when she wanted, and it’s far safer to bind her with a Ring. Remember, think like him. What would the king do? That’s what you have to ask yourself whenever in doubt.’
Lancen looked to Scarlen. ‘Our father can be a little unpredictable.’
Raven scoffed. ‘You mean crazy.’
‘Well, whatever he is,’ said Elbar, ‘we’re going to outsmart him and find his buried treasure, then steal it right from under his nose.’
‘I just hope the knight is okay.’ Scarlen knew what her father could be like. What if he tormented his prisoner as well? What kind of state would she be in when found?
‘Stop overthinking things, Smithson,’ said Elbar. ‘I can hear your cogs turning. We have a simple plan, and we’re going to take it one step at a time.’
PART IV
THE BOOK
