She wondered if he was really asleep.
Or if he simply didn’t trust her enough to close his eyes.
CHAPTER 19
IN THE COUNCIL’S HALLS
Any person found to have aided or abetted a traitor to the realm may be subject to the same penalties as the traitor themselves.
–Vallennan Law, Statute XVII
Alaric Hale remained in Vallenna City in the days since Karalynna had left, awaiting word of his daughter’s mission. Eliyana had been furious with him for letting her go. Their only daughter, sent to hunt down a traitor. He’d told her duty came first.
It hadn’t helped his wife sleep any better.
The message from Henry Caldris had arrived that afternoon – delivered to Galen by wind magic.
Kara had done it.
The Thorne heir was under, bound, and secure. All three Shards in their possession. They would begin their journey back to the City tomorrow. But tonight they would rest. It had been a long few days. For everyone. Alaric hadn’t been surprised – Kara had the power, the skill. But he’d worried, only a little, that sentiment might cloud her judgment. She’d known the boy after all. But Henry’s steadying influence had kept her on task. Just as Alaric had known it would. They were a good match.
Only hours after Henry’s message, whilst he prepared valerian root to brew a sleeping draft for Eliyana, the summons came.
The messenger’s face was pale, words clipped. “The Council requests your presence, milord. Urgently.”
Alaric expected a border report. More flooding in Navyr, or another hurricane in Hale. The third Shard theft had been grim news, but at least the Shards were no longer in Sebastian Thorne’s hands. What he did not expect was Galen Caldris waiting outside the chamber doors, arms folded, his expression carved as if from stone.
“What’s all this about?” Alaric asked.
A muscle jumped in Galen’s cheek. “A message from my son.”
The hairs on the back of Alaric’s neck prickled at the words. “About Sebastian Thorne?”
“He says your daughter set him free. Is now travelling with him.” He paused, deliberate and cutting. “Helping him.” He spat the last two words.
Alaric didn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t have heard the words right. When he found his voice, he could only deny it.
“No,” he said weakly. “That’s not – there must be some mistake–”
“They took the Shards, tied my son, and left him there,” he said venomously. “Whilst your daughter rode off with the traitor. Henry is lucky he wasn’t killed.”
The blood drained from Alaric’s face. His hands began to shake. His mind desperately tried to grasp Galen’s words, searching for an explanation.
Karalynna couldn’t. She wouldn’t.
Execution. That was the path that laid before Sebastian Thorne, whatever his motives. And if Karalynna stayed with him, tangled her fate with his... then what? The Council wouldn’t show mercy for her anymore than it would the Thorne traitor. She’d be dragged down with him. He could see it already. The scaffold. The fire. The thought made his stomach turn.
Karalynna... what in Gods’ names are you doing?
“The others are expecting you,” Galen said icily, walking on ahead. “There is a great deal to discuss.”
Alaric followed in tense silence to the Council chamber, mind reeling, but as soon as they entered, he was met with a wall of noise. The rest of the Council were in uproar, still seated around the long table, but panicked voices were shouting over each other.
“–three Shards in less than a week. Fatàn shields bypassed–” Merrick Durent was saying.
“Our lands are in turmoil,” Simone Navyr snapped over him. “The sea won’t answer us. My fleet are forced to shore.”
“And now,” Evelyn Sorrel cried, “The woman we sent to bring the traitor back has joined him!”
