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Caelan was inclined to believe her. Andy’s Savage Sundries really did have a bit of everything. They had to watch what they picked up, though. If they couldn’t find transportation quickly, they were going to be hoofing it to the next town and carrying anything they bought today.
“We were also wondering if you knew of anyone who might be selling a vehicle. We find ourselves with a lack of transportation, and we’re heading to Pine Key Point.”
Oh, yeah that was a lie. Pine Key Point was technically on the way to Sirelis. If Caelan remembered correctly, it was a medium-sized town not too far from the capital. It was best no one knew they were headed for the capital.
The woman—who may or may not have been Andy—scratched her ear, her face twisting up a little. “Well, I’m not sure. Warner down at the service station usually has a clunker or two he’s tinkering with. He might have something he can part with, but I doubt he’s still there now. He’s usually in the station during the morning and early afternoon.”
“That’s fair. We are also in need of accommodations—”
The rest of the comments were drowned out by the radio that had been playing in the store. It had been something old and bouncy that Caelan had managed to tune out, but a woman’s voice came on at the end of the song, and his world shattered.
“We are still waiting to hear new updates out of the Erya capital city, but multiple sources have confirmed that the Empire has staged a vicious attack that has left hundreds dead in the royal towers.”
“What!” Caelan’s heart stopped and he jerked around, trying to focus on the person who was speaking, but her wretched voice was everywhere.
“Oh, no!” the woman whispered.
“Turn it up!” Caelan snarled, pointing at her. The woman fumbled behind the counter and turned the volume up on the radio that was being piped through hidden speakers. The increased volume didn’t improve the news.
“Reports from the Empire have stated that both Queen Amara Talos as well as her son, Crown Prince Caelan Talos have been killed in the attack. We are still awaiting official confirmation, but the Empire has allegedly laid claim to the Godstone.”
“No,” Caelan managed to choke out. The world swayed under his feet and he stumbled, trying to stay upright when everything was tilting. His mother was dead? How…how was that even possible? Fear, anger, rage, disbelief all swam up to strangle him. He could barely breathe. This was all wrong. It had to be wrong. It was a trick. A ruse to draw him out. They were lying. The reporter was lying.
A strong hand grabbed his arm, holding him up when his knees refused to work.
“Take him out of here!” Rayne snapped, pointing toward the door.
Caelan was vaguely aware of Eno pulling him upright and half carrying him out to the street. In the fresh air, he managed to get control of his body again and he jerked away from Eno, walking down the street. Rage jumped into the driver’s seat, shoving aside the momentary pain and suffocating sense of loss. He turned into a narrow alley between the diner and gas station. From inside the diner, he could hear the same news report playing, but he didn’t dare look at the people.
It was only when he reached the edge of the town and was staring at the vast field that divided the town from the Ordas that he stopped. Facing Erya and his home.
Mother.
Was it true? But how could it be true? How could the Empire have any weapon powerful enough to defeat his mother? Queen Amara was the keeper of the fucking Godstone. It was supposed to give her near limitless power.
“How?” he shouted. Spinning around, he found Eno scowling at the ground while Drayce was staring at him with glistening emerald eyes, seeming so lost and terrified. “How could this have possibly happened? How did we not know that the Empire was right there? And where the hell was Hagen? Wasn’t he supposed to be protecting my mother? Shouldn’t he have gotten her out of there before the Empire could kill her?” His shouts had been reduced to a choked sound at the last two words.
It didn’t make any sense.
It had to be a lie.
An Empire lie.
Caelan grabbed his phone from his pocket and held it up. One slim, shaky bar. It wasn’t much, but it had to be enough. He automatically dialed the number for Hagen’s phone. His mother refused to carry a cell phone. But the number went directly to voice mail. He tried just out of stubborn determination, but voice mail again. Snarling, he switched to his mother’s assistant. He was rarely out of view of the queen. He would have the answer. He would know the truth.
