“You can’t do this!” Caryn objected. “You can’t re-station us.”
I stepped forward, eyes glistening with a challenge. I was sick and tired of men telling me what I could and could not do. My nerves were shot, the thought of Kalen missing was gnawing at my chest.
“Apologize.” My words were like grinding iron, hard, and offered no room for contradictions. Donovan threw himself at my feet, a blubbering mess, as he wailed his apologies. Caryn, on the other hand, looked as if he was going to be sick.
He lowered his gaze to my feet. “I apologize,” he mumbled weakly.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t quite hear you. What was that you said?”
“I said,” he gritted out, “that I apologize.”
I patted his cheek. “That was not so hard, was it?”
The most fitting punishment would be to cut their balls off and have them scrub the floors of the palace, I thought to myself. Yet I refrained from saying such. In honesty, I knew that neither man would learn anything from a dismissal and it would only create a thread of animosity that we did not need. But stationing them somewhere else, somewhere they would be knee-deep in literal shit, was both entertaining for me and at least allowed them to keep their livelihood. Not many people would hire someone dismissed from the king’s guard, much less after Erina’s passing. It would be seen as the ultimate dishonor.
“Let it be done, then. Back to the barracks with you,” I said. “And gods help you if I find you’ve gone to another superior and begged them for your position back.”
Donovan stood on shaky legs. “Thank you, Captain Saveq. Thank you. I won’t forget this!” He turned and quickly walked down the corridor toward the barracks without a second glance. Caryn followed, but there was a glint in his eye that told me this was not over.
Clearing my throat, I gave the girl a soft smile and nodded my head in the direction of the dungeon. We didn’t linger in Damien’s cell, staying only long enough to tell him not to expect me until the later afternoon. He nodded vaguely, tearing into his meal with ferocity. As the girl and I walked back, she’d told me that Briar had designated her to deliver Damien’s meals from here on out to ensure he received them. I was thankful to have a good rapport with her, and let her know that if any of the guards who were posted on duty gave her issues then she was to report to either myself or Briar immediately.
She smiled as we split ways, returning to her duties in the kitchen.
I made my way to Eva’s rooms, though I knew she would not be there. She was hiding, and doing it well, but surely she must know she would need to come back before the sun rose or else the whole capital would search for her.
As I approached, I saw Briar pacing the hallway. She was wringing her hands, a worried look on her face.
“Good morning, Briar,” I said, standing tall. She stared right back, straightening her posture and lifting her chin.
“Captain Saveq,” she replied, giving a terse nod.
I leaned down, whispering in her ear with a smile. “I know you know where Eva is. It’s best if you tell me so we can stop this madness.”
She waved her hand. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”
“Do you know where I just came back from, Briar? Seeing a certain prisoner in the dungeons.” Her skin paled, but to her credit, she did not balk. “He told me of her visit, and I know she reported to you in order to have food sent to his cell.” I softened my eyes and gripped her hands. “Please tell me where she is. Let us bring her home and then we can see what she needs and help her. We cannot do that if you do not let us, though.”
“You do not understand,” she whispered. “That girl is as good as my own. I have loved her since she was a babe, and I would do anything for her.” She sniffed, wiping her nose on her sleeve. “She needs space, and so I will do what I can to give that to her.”
“Briar, she can have space, but within hours, this capital will know she is missing because the call will go out to search. Soldiers will be in the streets, in the fields, in the forests. We can stop that if we only know where she is and that she’s safe. And she is not the only one who is missing, so please help us.”
“Of course, she is safe!” Briar’s voice rose, drawing the attention of the sentries down the hall. She lowered it quickly. “I would do nothing to harm her, nor would I keep quiet if I thought it was not what was best for her.” She paused, sniffling. “I stood by and did nothing. I saw her hesitation and did nothing.”
“You have the choice now, Briar, to do something. Tell me where she is.”
She closed her eyes, holding onto her quaking hands for dear life as she whispered, “I’ll tell you on one condition.”
“Deal,” I breathed, holding out my hand to shake hers.
Chapter13
Matthew
The misty morning air seeped into my skin and chilled me to the bone. It was not quite sunrise, yet the soft gray glow of the sky caused the dew on the grass to shine, twinkling at me as I walked by. I hadn’t slept at all, the ticking of the clock driving me out of my mind, and I quickly left Eva’s rooms before the sound sent me into a frenzy.
I pulled and pulled at the bond between us. Each time, I reached a solid wall with no way through. It towered to the sky, archers in the battlements ready to strike me down should I try to climb. So I sat outside that wall and banged my fists on it until they were bloody.
It did not make a difference. The wall did not budge.
