The heavy iron door swung open, and Tobias Thorne stepped into the tower room where his son had been held.
It was empty.
“Gone,” one of the guards muttered beside him, pale-faced. “He was – he was here last night–”
“Clearly not now,” Tobias snapped, playing the role of shocked lord. Inside, relief warred with worry. Sebastian had made it out. But had he made it far enough? He stepped inside, scanning the room – thebindings left discarded in the corner. Nightshade wraps cut straight through.
As intended. Well done, boy.
He tensed his jaw. Clenched his fists. He had to look the part. He turned slowly, to face the two guards standing uselessly in the corridor. “You had one job,” he said, low and dangerous. “One.”
“My lord, we don’t know how he–”
“Then perhaps you’re too dim to be wearing a sword. Shall I send you to explain to the High Council how we lost the most wanted fugitive in Vallenna?”
The younger one paled further. The other said nothing.
Tobias straightened. “Never mind,” he snapped. “I’ll write the report myself.”
He stormed out, footsteps echoing his rage.
Make it convincing. Let them believe I’m furious.
Tobias strode back through the halls to his study, not bothering to stoke the fire. He sat at his desk, pulled parchment towards him, and dipped his quill. He chose his words carefully:
To the High Council of Vallenna,
It is with regret that I inform you that the prisoner, Sebastian Thorne, has escaped his cell in the night–
He wrote it all, the nightshade, the tower. Clearly. Precisely. The truth, more or less. He just left out the part about giving him the blade. He set down the quill. The scroll sat before him, neatly written and ready. His personal hawk sat on a perch by the window. Waiting. He stared at it for a long moment. The wax seal sat close at hand, his signet ring glinting beside it. And yet, he didn’t move. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, exhaled slowly, and stared into the fire.
“Ride faster, boy,” he muttered. “I’ve bought you all the time I can.”
He turned away, leaving the scroll where it lay.
Unsealed. And unsent.
CHAPTER 26
THE SENTENCE
For crimes of treason against the realm, the penalty is death; by fire or rope. Extenuating circumstances may be considered at the presiding judge’s discretion.
–Vallennan Law, Statute XVII, Subsection I
The door creaked open in the middle of the night. Kara bolted upright. She raised her nightshade-bound hands to cover her eyes, blinded by the sudden torchlight shining in her face.
“Up you get,Healer.”
Cade. No.
He smiled at her reaction. Pleased by her fear. Like it had been the only thing he’d come for.
“What–” Her words were cut off by him dragging her upright and shoving her out of the cell.
Cade marched her silently through the halls. No explanation. No guards. Just him and the firelight, his grip vice-like on her arm. The threat clear: walk or I’ll drag you.
The dungeons were quiet at this time of night. Empty and pitch-black.
