Page 61 of Immortal Sentry

What would Kerric do then? Stay and serve King Eron as he had King Lothan, or would he leave, seeking out his mother’s family or his father’s?

Time enough to worry about the future later.

Kerric resumed his mission, knowing which passageways Crau traveled in the night. Knew he’d be alone—the perfect time to take advantage.

He straightened his tunic. It was time to meet the enemy as a captain of the king’s guard, a soldier to be proud of, and best the man who’d taught him to fight. Who’d once been like a father.

Lies. All lies. Crau merely created a tool to be used, nothing more.

Kerric kept to the shadows, taking advantage of Crau's not expecting him. This was a huge mistake for Crau. For while Kerric had been learning the lessons Crau intended, he’d also learned subterfuge during his waiting.

Crau’s boot heels clacked against the stone a few paces ahead. Kerric timed his own footfalls to minimize damage should he make a sound.

The clacking stopped suddenly. Kerric peered around the corner. King Selin stood in the middle of the passageway, blocking Crau’s way. Selin’s appearance hadn’t improved with age. While he might once have been a dashing figure for youngmaidens to swoon over, the cruel twist of his mouth, haughty demeanor, and vile reputation took away from any positive attributes—if he’d ever truly possessed any beyond looks and noble birth.

“Is everything ready?” Crau asked.

“It is. I’ve arranged for Bain to meet me in the gardens before the ball, telling him I have information about a traitor.” Selin chuckled, rubbing his hands together gleefully. “You know how he cannot resist intrigue.”

“What about Queen Lessa?”

Selin made a derisive snort. “One of her lady’s maids will slip a potion into her drink. She’ll sleep deeply, with no memory of what happened.”

Smugness came through in Crau’s words. “Imagine her surprise when she wakes covered in blood, holding the knife that killed her great uncle. With one act, we remove several obstacles to our plans. Her maid will bear witness, and then she’ll be encouraged to attend the ball as though nothing happened. Our thief will kill her. Afterward, the maid will come forward with the proof of the queen’s murderous act.”

“While I regret the pain her death and the scandal will cause my sons, everyone will believe she sought vengeance for her family. She’s sworn to often enough.” Selin spoke dispassionately. Had Lessa ever mattered to him at all?

Kerric no longer worried about making Crau’s son an orphan.

Bain had no direct heirs, but Selin no doubt planned to make a claim to the throne for his son, doubling his kingdom.

However, what was in it for Crau? Did he plan to incriminate Selin in Lessa’s plot? Or would he take a more direct approach and then claim Queen Lessa killed her husbandandKing Bain? But then what? Crau couldn’t claim the throne.

Crau and Selin knew nothing of Eron’s presence beyond being a mere thief. That would be their undoing. Even if theysucceeded with their clumsy plot, neither of them would ever be king of Hisar, even if they accused Lessa of killing King Bain to put her son on the throne. Unless Crau proved Eron’s involvement, for which he’d have to be aware of Eron’s existence to do.

Thoughts of vengeance fled. Others would be involved. These two men wouldn’t dirty their hands, and killing Crau might not end the plot. Kerric’s mother once explained that simply trimming a weed didn’t stop its growth. The only way to destroy an intruder in the herb garden was to uproot it and ensure it died without the opportunity to dig its way into the soil again.

Two sets of footsteps faded away, the men continuing their walk.

Kerric returned the way he came. He must get to the prince and the queen to warn them of Crau’s plans.

Miisov stepped from a side corridor. Had he been here all the while? Was he in on Crau’s plot? Kerric had always been leery of the royal mage. Of mages in general, actually.

“You heard,” Miisov said, a statement, not a question.

“I did.” Kerric cooly assessed Miisov, a man he might never come to trust. However, if Miisov helped restore Hisar to its former glory, King Lothan’s heir to the throne, he’d earn some measure of loyalty.

Miisov shifted his gaze to where Kerric rested his hand on his sword hilt without comment. Instead, he asked, “What do you plan to do about it?”

“I… I don’t know. We’ll set the wheels into motion the night of the ball, which is also likely when Bain expects Queen Lessa and her sons to die at Eron’s hands.” Kerric shook his head. “Nobility, always with their plotting. My head would ache trying to untangle all the treachery.”

“As mine often does.” Miisov motioned for Kerric to follow him. “Lessa and Eron are safe for now. I’ve warded their rooms.”

“Whatever we do must happen soon.”

“Have the soldiers Lessa spoken of arrived?”

“It appears so. I spotted campfires behind the hilltops.” One advantage of Kerric’s lofty perch was ample time to study the landscape.

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