Page 63 of Lake of Sorrow

Targon grunted, not appearing moved by her dedication, and flicked a glance down her body. “You’re hot enough that he’d probably want you, beast-anrokk regardless.”

Kaylina gritted her teeth. The captain might care for Vlerion, but she was positive he saw her as nothing more than a tool.

Something outside the window drew Targon’s gaze, and he frowned.

“Who’s bringing carriages to ranger headquarters this late at night?”

Kaylina wanted to look, but it was the only window on that wall, and she didn’t want to stand that close to Targon, not after his comments proving he’d noticed her body. More than once. She didn’t trust him one iota and might be a fool for wanting anything to do with the rangers. It was the taybarri that she wanted to be around. And Vlerion.

“Shit.” Targon backed away and scowled at her. “It’s the Castle Guard with a squadron from the Kingdom Guard. This has to be about you. Someone must have seen you riding through the city with Jankarr and reported it.”

Kaylina forgot her aversion to the captain and lunged close to the window to look out. Two carriages painted in the royal colors had stopped in the courtyard, and two wagons full of armored men were entering after them.

Targon gripped her arm and pulled her away from the window.

“If I were smart,” he said, not letting her go, “I would tie you up and say we’d captured you and were about to take you to the royal castle.”

Kaylina tried to pull away, but his grip might as well have been an iron shackle. It didn’t budge.

She searched his eyes by the lamplight and refrained from sharing an opinion on his intelligence. Long seconds passed. He had to be contemplating her fate—or maybe risks to his career if she was found unfettered here.

“Is that what you’re going to do?” Kaylina finally asked.

“After you saved Jankarr and fought at Vlerion’s side to save the king and queen? No. But I need you to get out of here before your presence condemns me.”

Men called out in the courtyard, orders to search the compound wafting through the window.

“I don’t suppose you have a secret exit?” she asked.

“Of course I have a secret exit.” Targon pulled her behind the desk, pushed the bookcase sideways—it slid easily on well-oiled hinges—and revealed a dark cubby. “Take the stairs down two levels, follow the hall at the bottom to a dead end, and there’s a switch on the eighth brick from the ground on the left side. Head out into the sewers until you find an access point up into the city. From there, you’d better work on clearing your name. You’re not going to have the luxury of lifting any curses until you can walk freely about the city.”

Targon pushed her toward the secret exit, but Kaylina planted her hands on the doorframe to stop herself. “I need Frayvar. He’s in the infirmary.”

“There aren’t any secret exits from there, and you can’t get over there without going through the courtyard.” Targon put a hand on her back.

“I can’t leave him here alone to be caught.”

Footfalls sounded in the hallway. “Captain Targon?” someone hollered.

“That’s not one of my men.” He pushed her into the dark nook.

Kaylina’s foot almost slipped off the top of the landing. The stairs were too dim to see.

She spun back toward him. “I can’t?—”

“I’ll try to keep them from finding him and taking him.” Targon held his palm up, as if she were a dog he was commanding to stay.

Kaylina wanted to spring out of the nook, to find a way to her brother.

“If you’re caught, it’ll make Vlerion crazy.” Targon gave her a significant look. “More than crazy.”

Damn it, he was right.

Her shoulders slumped, and she didn’t stop Targon when he slid the bookcase shut, plunging her into darkness.

17

Nothing is so fascinating as listening to others ponder your fate.

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