Page 50 of Queen of War and Ruin

There’s a long, low whistle. Every muscle in my body pulls tight.

“That bitch started the war,” another man replies. “Can’t believe Laurance is gonna marry her anyway.”

More laughter, harsh and loud. My gut churns.

I lurch to my feet and start to gag like I’m about to throw up. As I expected, the men closest to me move away as I stagger toward the door, push it open, and throw myself into the hallway.

I press my back to the wall, panting for air. Voices drift down the hallway, getting closer. Another group heading to the kitchens, I assume. I turn to face the floor and stumble away.

The next group rounds the corner. My entire body goes cold. I lean over, brace myself against the wall, and start to gag as they approach, praying to any gods who might be listening that this group will be too invested in what’s going on in the kitchens to pay any attention to the soused nobleman losing his dinner in the hallway.

Their names flash through my mind as they push past me, their voices raised, their breath already smelling of sour ale.

Yalor. Banes. Cedrik.

All members of the Vsenrog Royal Guard.

All here, walking into the palace kitchens in Ethiria.

Chapter 28

Zarek

MAYBE HE MADE A DEAL

“Ichecked out the stables,” Gerard says.

We’re all sitting around a table in the room Prince Laurance gave Elrick and Anura. This room is substantially nicer than the room Laurance gave Lilias and me, although whether that discrepancy reflects his attitude toward Vsenrog or his attitude toward the woman he was supposed to marry is impossible for me to know.

“That was a good idea,” Lilias says. “Looking in the stables.”

“Indeed,” I add, raising an eyebrow at Gerard.

Gerard scowls at me. I wait for the bastard to mention that it was my idea. Of course, he doesn’t.

“I tried to go last night,” he says, “but those fucking guards were watching us like hawks. This morning, though, I could slip right down.”

Elrick nods. “Tell them what you found.”

Gerard stares at us with a dark expression. “Horses,” he says.

“In the stables?” I reply. “You don’t say.”

“Fuck you,” Gerard says, almost amicably, as he waves his hand at me. “I found horses that weren’t supposed to be there.”

“How could you tell?” Lilias asks.

Gerard looks almost smug. “Most of the stalls have nameplates, the same as ours. But the ones closest to the doors don’t have anything. I assume that’s where they keep visiting horses, like ours, right?”

Lilias nods, and I think of Vsenrog’s massive stables. They operate in much the same way.

“Well, the visiting stalls were full,” Gerard finishes. “With our horses, yes, but also with a half dozen other horses. Ones I didn’t recognize.”

“Oh,” Lilias gasps.

“That’s very interesting,” I say. “I also discovered something.”

“If you’d let me finish,” Gerard snaps, scowling at me.