“Yes, but you know things, and you’ve worked in the castle for years, haven’t you?”
May drew back her shoulders, chin lifted. “Since I was a wee slip of a girl.”
Now to find out the depth of Draylon and May’s budding friendship. “If there were passageways in the walls, you’d know about them, wouldn’t you?”
May paled. Even so, she planted her hands on her ample hips, digging in to defend Yarif’s secrets.
Draylon’s patience wore thin. “I’m not asking you to betray Yarif’s confidence, but he’s been taken from this room. He didn’t go out the door.”
“Taken?” May paled further, wobbling a little on her feet.
Draylon put out a hand to catch her if she fell. “Yes. The sooner I find out where they took him, the sooner I can get Yarif back.”
May narrowed her eyes. “It’s no secret you didn’t want this marriage. What if you’ve done something to him? Or what if he’s run away?”
Draylon swept out a hand, indicating the ransacked room. “There’re signs of struggle. His jewels are in his room. The only thing missing is him.” He growled. “Stop wasting my time! He’s gone, and I mean to get him back.”
May wrung her hands, staring at the floor.
Draylon dropped his voice. “Please, May. Help me.”
May glanced up, meeting Draylon’s gaze. “Everyone else must leave. I’ll speak to none but you.”
“Out!” Draylon commanded.
Rufe herded the guards out, glancing over his shoulder as he left the room. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
May stalked over to the fireplace the moment she and Draylon were alone and lifted one side of the mantel, revealing a space large enough for a hand. She pushed, and a panel beside the fireplace opened. “Bring a lantern.”
Draylon did as told, following May. Footprints in the dust told of many feet passing. Down, down, down he and May went, blackness surrounding them. The passageway split at several points. Draylon and May continued following the prints. Finally, faint hints of light shone ahead. May shoved open a door above her head, climbed a rickety ladder, and sneezed. Draylon climbed up behind her. The stables. They were in the stables.
Or rather, a long-abandoned stable, judging by the overall sense of disuse and heavy coating of dust.
“These haven’t been used in years,” May explained. “Someone had to show the bastards this passageway.”
Two bodies lay in a corner. Draylon rushed over, gently turning the first man. One of Yarif’s guards. The other’s unmistakable red hair marked him as Yarif’s other guard. Blood pooled beneath their bodies, from a sword wound to the gut.
Draylon stood, wiping dust from his hands. Fresh hoofprints marred the dirt outside the building. Along with a bridle, emblazoned with a “G”. Gryphon! Someone had taken Gryphon!
Draylon charged out of the stable, giving two high-pitched whistles. Please let them be close enough for Gryphon to hear. After a moment, he tried again. Pounding hoofbeats sounded. His black stallion charged through the deserted lane, dragging something behind him.
Gryphon slowed, whinnying as he approached. The lifeless remains of a woman hung from one stirrup. She must have fallen and gotten stuck.
Her clothes were bloody and torn, but her tunic was black, emblazoned with a white goat.
The symbol of Delletina’s army.
Chapter Seventeen
Draylonwastednotimeon power games. He barked, “Go get Commander Illa!” to one of Father’s guards, stormed past the usual cadre of secretaries, and into the office Father had claimed.
“But, but… Your Majesty!” a strutting little peacock of a secretary called out.
Draylon ignored him. “Father. Yarif is missing.”
Father rolled his eyes upward from behind a massive desk. “Perhaps he wasn’t happy with the marriage. Are you aware if he had a lover? Was last night… unpleasant for him?”
Trust Father to view the rest of the world through his own arrogant, selfish, and twisted views. “All evidence says he’s been kidnapped. His room has been ransacked and I found his guards’ bodies in an abandoned stable. I’ve got men out there now.”
