Page 28 of Entangled

Nine

Sebastian awoke early the next morning, having had little sleep. He couldn’t stop thinking about Merrow and what she’d said to him. She thought everything he did was because he was looking for approval. She accused him of living his life the way others expected him to instead of how he really wanted. No one had ever said such things before to a king. Didn’t she realize he had no choice? He was a ruler and had duties. Responsibilities to fulfill. He had to do whatever it took to protect his people.

“My lord, I can’t believe you slept through all the commotion.” Hitch ran into the great hall, having come from the courtyard. His men were slowly waking up, but the servants who rose before the sun were already working.

“What are you talking about?” Sebastian asked with a yawn, running his hands over his face. “It is too early for your jabbering, squire.” He had a stiff neck from sleeping in his chair while the nymph spent the night in his comfortable, soft bed. He made a face, stretching his neck one way and then the other.

“It’s the handmaid you confined to the dungeon,” said Hitch, talking quickly, being excited about something.

“What about her?” He yawned again and stretched some more.

“The patrol found her by the sea. She escaped and took the gong farmer’s wagon to leave.”

“What?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“It’s true. They’re bringing her back to the dungeon though, so don’t worry.”

“How in the name of Belcoum did she escape? She was under guard. The frail woman is just a simple handmaid.” He sprang to his feet.

“I’m not sure,” said Hitch with a shrug. “Mayhap the guards aren’t doing their duty.”

“Merrow,” he said, having a suspicion that she was involved. After all, hadn’t she begged him not to put the woman in the dungeon? His action had upset her greatly. He took off at a run with his squire right behind him. Sebastian saw the guard standing watch at his solar door as he came down the corridor. “Did anyone leave that room last night? Answer me,” he commanded before the guard could even open his mouth to speak.

“Nay, my king,” said the guard with a bow.

“Were you here all night?”

“I replaced the original guard, but there was always someone at this door, my lord.”

“Out of my way.” Sebastian pushed the guard aside, using the key in his pocket to unlock and push open the door. He bounded into the room to find it empty. “Dammit, she’s gone.”

“Who’s gone?” asked Hitch, looking around the room too.

“The sea nymph.” He threw the key down on the bed in anger. “Why do I bother to lock the door when she can pick a lock? What is the matter with me?”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself, my lord,” said Hitch. “Besides, she’s only a sea nymph. What does it matter if she’s escaped?”

“Did the watch patrol find anyone with the handmaid?” he asked Hitch.

“Nay.”

“Did they question the woman as to if anyone was with her?” He fired questions at his squire one after another.

“I don’t know, my king. Would you like me to find out?”

“Nay,” he said, slipping his hand into the pouch and fingering her shell charm. “I know where she is, and I’m afraid I don’t like it.”

“Where is she, my lord?”

“She’s gone to Evandorm Castle to get her sisters.” Sebastian headed back to talk to the guard at the door. “Fetch Farrimond, quickly,” he told the guard. “Tell him I want the army to head out at once.”

“My lord?” asked the guard. “They were planning on leaving this morning.”

“Well, I want to leave now. Let them know that the king has declared a battle, and it is against those pesky Blackseed brothers who stole the title of king.”

Merrow drove the wagon over the bridge and stopped right outside the gate of Evandorm.

“Who goes there?” called a guard from the battlements, looking down at her. Her head was covered with an old ratty blanket she’d found in the cart so she could hide the hood of Sebastian’s robe. She was deciding whether or not to tell them who she was when the guard called down to her again. “Never mind. I can see it’s the gong farmer. Open the gate,” he told his friends.