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The three guards exited the room and the leader held his arm open toward the door as I exited.
I took a slow breath in as we marched through the hallway. No one was in sight. Not a soul. We walked through endless corridors, more that I’d never been in than those I had been. I’d never find my way back if it were me alone.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to get a sense of where we were heading. Down, to one side of the castle over to the other—I wasn’t sure.
Finally, we stopped outside of a wooden door. Once opened, it revealed a table with two chairs and a bench along the far side of the wall. The room was stone, and I felt a cool draft before I even entered.
I shivered but moved forward, making my way to the chair I was led to without a peep.
I sat down and smiled up at the lead guard, putting effort into being pleasant. I hadn’t heard any of them say anything, much less a name that I could address them by.
I closed my eyes and suddenly the room was a memory, one that reminded me of a few conversations with police officers back in DC. Never quite this dingy, but I’d gotten into the wrong crowd in my foster home prior to Darryl’s. I’d been innocent, but that hadn’t stopped them from questioning me until they had nothing left.
I opened my eyes again, staring at the guards and wondering how long this interrogation would last. Or interview. Interview sounded nicer than interrogation. Ms. Trapsbury had said they just wanted to ask their questions and move on.
“Cora, right?” the leader said.
I tried to smile again. “Yes, sir. I don’t believe I have the pleasure of your name though.”
“You were in attendance at the council meeting with Prince Noah yesterday, is that correct?” He ignored my obvious request.
His question hit too close to danger right off the bat and I immediately changed my mind. This was to be an interrogation after all.
Bring it on.
I didn’t answer and instead kept my gaze trained on the guard whose lip turned up ever so slightly, like he was hoping I’d make things hard.
Don’t react.
“What exactly did you hear while you were at that meeting with the prince?”
I lifted my chin higher, following the guard as he rose from the chair in some power move. “My apologies, but I’m under direct orders from the prince that the meeting was a private matter and not to be discussed.”
The guard nodded. “You passed the first test, Ms. Cora.”
Careful, I thought. This is too convenient. I remained stoic, gaze focused on the guard speaking and nothing else.
“Prince Noah will be pleased that his trust was placed in someone worthy.” He flipped his chair around, sitting over top of it like he was some cool cop from an old ’80s movie. “Now, we”—he raised his hand to indicate the guards in the room—“are with Prince Noah and desperate to help find the reported spy. What did you hear in the meeting that you think may help us?”
His shoulders were tense. As relaxed as he was trying to be, this guard wasn’t. And I didn’t know why. But it wasn’t making much sense that a royal guard would be worked up about information discussed at a council meeting.
When I didn’t answer, he pressed harder this time. “If you’re not comfortable with all the details, of course that’s fine. We’re on your side, and we just want to find the spy and return the castle to safety. That’s what’s best for everyone, do you understand?”
Out of the corner of my eye I saw one of the guards grasp a sword in his belt, readying it to be pulled. The room was not at ease. Last time I was in this situation, I’d been the nervous one. The officers questioning me were calm as could be.
Not these guards though.
Perhaps there was a spy after all. But what if the spy wasn’t a servant? Why wouldn’t the guards give me their names, and why would the council meeting be brought up at all when they were known to be secret meetings?
Something was very wrong.
The guard in front of me leaned over the table, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists together in front of him. Regardless of his fake smile and calm face, his other features gave him away much too easily. I was on the brink of a dangerous situation here.
“I’m not comfortable answering that question,” I said, praying my voice would remain steady.
The guard’s right eye twitched and his tongue ran over his teeth. “It’s very interesting. I read your file, Ms. Fray. You’re a feeder sent directly to the castle with no prior experience here in Faerie. Plucked magically from the human world and dropped right into the palace at the exact time a rumor circulates of a spy.” The guard rose and began circling the desk.
Another guard’s hand went to his weapon, and though none had drawn their blades, the intent was evident. Intimidation.
