Page 64 of Queen of War and Ruin

I look down at the little lip of stone below the window. It’s not much, hardly more than a foothold for the flocks of pigeons that live in the courtyard.

“Godsdamnit,” I mutter under my breath.

I grit my teeth against the swell of nausea, and then I swing my leg through the open window. Wind tugs at my clothes as I lower my leg, feeling for the stone ridge. There’s a moment when I don’t catch it, when I think I’m about to fall, and then my foot hits the ridge and I dare to breathe again.

I press my cheek against the wall and dig my fingers into the tiny cracks between the blocks of stone. And then, keeping my gaze fixed on the balcony and the golden light spilling from the windows of Prince Elrick’s room, I force my legs forward.

The wind howls in my ears like it’s trying to convince me of something. My shirt flaps like a sail; the stone beneath my fingers feels cold and gritty. I try to move only one part of my body at a time. One foot, then a hand, and then the second foot. The stone lip is rough and uneven; it feels like it’s going to crumble at any moment.

Weak, the wind whispers. You’re weak. You’ve always been weak.

Slowly, painfully slowly, the balcony creeps closer. At first, I thought the light in the windows meant Lilias was still there, that she hadn’t been able to convince her brother to leave. But no shadows cross through the light while I force myself along the wall. And, by the time I pull my trembling body over the railing of the balcony, I’m not surprised to see that the room of Prince Elrick is completely empty. Thank the gods.

I sink to the polished stone balcony and let my head fall to my knees as my body trembles. I clench my jaw and breathe, fighting to wrench control back from my traitorous body.

Gods, I hate climbing.

Finally, I force myself to my feet and follow the edge of the balcony, staying far away from the pools of light spilling out of the empty room. I drop down to the roof below, then crawl as quietly as possible across the slate tiles. The massive oak tree looms against the southern wall. As I creep closer, I realize there’s a figure standing on the roof, almost hidden in the shade of its branches.

“Shit,” I sigh.

There’s no sense in trying to hide; whoever they are, I’m sure they’ve already seen me. So I stand up tall, holding my hands in front of my chest. The figure steps out of the shadows. It’s Gerard.

And he’s holding a dagger.

Chapter 34

Zarek

NOT OUT YET

“Gerard,” I whisper in as friendly a tone as I can manage while trying to sneak across a slate roof in the dark.

Elrick’s man-at-arms doesn’t reply. Nor does he make any move to sheathe the blade in his hand. I stay where I am for a moment longer, then take a step forward. I don’t see anyone else lurking in the deep shadows of the oak tree.

“Where is she?” I whisper.

“With Elrick,” Gerard replies. “In the stables. Getting our horses out.”

“Thank the gods,” I whisper, under my breath.

Gerard tilts his head as he stares at me. “She didn’t want to leave without you.”

“Is that why you’re here?” I ask, glancing at the dagger in his hand. “To make sure I’m coming?”

“Something like that,” Gerard replies.

Wind gusts between us, carrying the heavy scent of the ocean. I wonder how much time we have before someone checks on the rooms and realizes we’re gone. I take another step closer to Gerard.

“Look,” I whisper, “as much as I’d love to resolve this problem you have with me, we don’t have time. Elrick and Lilias need to put as much distance between them and this palace as possible. Whatever issue you have with me, I’m sorry, but it’s got to wait.”

With that, I step past Gerard. He turns to follow me, his dagger catching on the light. My back tightens as I turn toward the oak tree, some part of me expecting the bite of cold steel between my shoulder blades.

Instead, I hear the soft rasp of metal against leather as Gerard slides his blade back into its sheath, then comes to stand next to me.

“Did you know?” he asks, his voice low and dangerous.

I turn to face him. “Know what?”