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Crispin flicked the map and pushed away from the table. “There is nothing to interrupt. I have no leads, no direction.” He flexed his hands. “Perhaps I should join in the search. There must be something they missed.” His gaze lingered on the forest beyond the window.
“What good would it do to put you in harm’s way?” his mother asked. Her words offered a voice of reason, countering the chaos churning like a storm in his mind.
“If I were out there, I would have found them.” His conviction faltered at the weak declaration.
“Crispin.” She rested her hand on his arm. The tension slowly drained from his body, but the underlying emotion refused to dim. “You cannot simply charge off into the thick of battle when we have no idea who our enemy is.”
He scoffed. “What would you have me do? Sit on my arse and pray for a miracle?”
“Of course not.” She regarded him with the same patience one would a temperamental child. Crispin raised a brow and waited for her to continue. “I simply wish for you to use discernment before barging headlong into a fight you are ill-equipped to win.”
“What do you suggest?” Crispin threw his hands up and strode across the room, impatience driving his feet into motion. His voice grew louder with passion. “I have every soldier and knight in the kingdom searching. There is no sign of the Balmont clan, whom I have no doubt played a role in Henry and Ruby’s disappearance. Why else would the attackers not kill Henry?”
“Do you truly believe the Balmonts would align themselves against you?” His mother sat in the chair beside the table and folded her hands in her lap.
“They disguised themselves as raiders and attacked the caravan carrying Ruby as a child. They were given instructions tokillRuby. When they realized they failed in their original mission, they fled not only the capital, but their family holding as well.” Crispin gritted his teeth, fury building like a hungry flame inside him. “Only guilt would drive them to flee with such haste.”
Her expression sobered. “Is this why you and Henry left after the wedding?”
“Aye.” He rested his hands on the mantle. “We spoke with every holding, every member of court in the land. They had vanished, which makes them more capable than I anticipated.”
“Do you truly believe they have some part of this plot?”
“I know not whom I can trust at this point,” Crispin confessed. “I fear there is no one in which I can place my faith to ensure the safety and security of not only the kingdom but those I hold dear.”
“You cannot be expected to do it all yourself, my dear.”
He pushed away from the mantle and faced her. The concern in her gaze nearly broke his resolve. “Then what am I to do? I cannot wait. There must be action. Retribution. Whoever did this must suffer my wrath.”
“Take a moment. Clear your mind.” She inhaled deeply and rested her hand against her heart. “Let us consider this logically.”
Crispin would have laughed had he not seen the sincerity in her measured breaths. Instead of imitating her, he rested his hand on his hip and waited for her to open her eyes. When she finally met his gaze, she rose to her feet and crossed to where he stood. He stilled when she placed her hand over his heart.
“If they captured Ruby and Henry, then there is a strong possibility wherever they are, they are together.”
“I have already considered this, Mother.” He frowned. “What benefit does this serve in locating them?”
“They are together, which means they are not alone. There is hope.”
“Or the bastard holding them will use one against the other to force compliance.” Crispin tore himself away from her touch and paced to the opposite side of the room.
“Have you questioned the servants?”
Crispin spun to face her. “I have asked anyone with any information to come forward.”
“And have they?” Her brow arched.
He shook his head.
“Then perhaps you should interview each one, starting with Ruby’s personal servants.” His mother crossed to the table and glanced at the map. “That young Mina is quite observant. Whoever orchestrated this knew exactly where and when to strike.”
“Are you insinuating the traitor lies within these walls?” Crispin’s blood heated at the thought.
“I believe they were privy to information one could only obtain through observing those inside the castle.” Her fingers traced the king’s road leading north from the castle. “There is a spy in our midst, my son. If we uncover them, we may find clues to lead us to the culprit.”
“A spy.” Crispin bristled at the possibility. “What fool would place a spy in our midst?”
“One who is no fool.” His mother murmured beneath her breath. She lifted her gaze to meet his. “’Tis possible this person has been in our midst since before your father—” Her voice went silent at the mention of the former king.
