Mattias’s eyes lit up, and he gave a bright smile. “I’d be glad to, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Sophia.” She returned the smile and linked arms with Mattias and the two of them departed, leaving Leo alone with his rolled-up map and too-fast beating heart.
He sat frozen for a moment, and then he was up and walking out the door. Janus, who’d been keeping watch outside the offices, fell into step alongside him as he strode down the corridors and headed for the stables, and Leo accepted his presence without comment.
Together the two men made their way across the courtyard, boots ringing out a quick rhythm against the cobbles. Leo was so sure that Felix would be waiting for him that when he got to the stables and the only person there was Mother Jones, the weight of his disappointment made it hard to breathe for a moment.
“Your Majesty?” Mother said, pausing in his brushing of Blackbird’s mane. “Are you riding today?”
Leo swallowed past his dismay. “Not today, no,” he said. “I was hoping Felix was here, actually.”
Mother tilted his head at the empty stall. “I haven’t seen him. Shadow’s gone, so I assumed he must be riding.”
Leo frowned. “Still? Shouldn’t he be back by now? He’s been gone for hours.”
“Has he? Apologies, Your Majesty, but I didn’t see him leave. I was out trying to find Davin. The little bugger skived off again, and he’s taken one of the horses as well.” Mother harrumphed in frustration.
Leo ignored him, less concerned with the comings and goings of a stable lad than Felix’s continued absence. A tiny, terrified part of him whispered that perhaps Felix hadn’t just gone for a ride, that perhaps he’d packed up and gone for good. But as quickly as the thought surfaced, Leo dismissed it. Felix wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.
At least, he hoped not.
“When did Felix leave, Your Majesty?” Janus asked, and the obvious concern in his voice had the back of Leo’s neck prickling.
“It was”—Leo tried to think—“well, it was before the guests arrived.”
“Aye,” Mother confirmed. “Shadow was already gone when I came down to sort the horses.”
Janus’s brow furrowed. “He could just be making the most of the sunshine after being cooped up for so long, but it’s not like—” He broke off, shading his eyes with one hand, and peered over Leo’s shoulder and across the meadow. “All hells,” he cursed, and Leo swivelled on his heel to see what had caused his reaction.
His heart dropped into the pit of his stomach at the sight of a horse meandering back towards them, reins dangling loose and no rider in sight.
It was Shadow.
Mother bustled toward the gate and grabbed the horse’s reins as soon as Shadow drew close. “It looks like Flick’s come off again.”
Janus rubbed a hand down the side of his face. “He probably overdid it, the stubborn little shit. I’ll go and look for him.”
Leo opened his mouth to say that he’d come too, but he was cut off by the sound of hooves thundering against the dirt and a desperate voice calling out, the words lost to wind and distance.
If he squinted, Leo could make out a young man riding toward them like the devil himself was after him, clouds of dust flying up behind him as he leaned forward and spurred his mount on. When he got closer, Leo saw that there was a second figure behind the first—a girl, if the long hair billowing out behind her was any indication.
Beside him, Janus tensed and gripped the handle of his sword, and Mother grabbed a broad shovel, and, holding it up like a weapon, moved in front of Leo. In that moment, Leo felt both overprotected and underprepared in equal measure.
The horse reached them, hooves clattering against the cobbles and sides heaving as the rider slid from its back, followed by a young girl who Leo vaguely recognised from his trips to the kitchen.
“Davin? What the bloody hell is going on?” Mother barked.
Davin gasped out “Felix!” and the girl let out a soft sob.
“What about Felix?” Leo demanded, his gut churning. He resisted the urge to drag the boy up by his shirtfront, but only barely. “Where is he? Did he fall? Is he hurt?”
“No, sire! He’s—someone took him!”
Leo froze.
“What do youmean, someone took him? Don’t talk nonsense, boy!” Mother said.
“’S true! We saw!” Davin insisted, elbowing his companion, who sniffled and nodded.
