Page 68 of Immortal Sentry

He took the stairs two at a time, then skirted in the shadows to avoid being seen until he slipped into the secret passageway to Eron’s chambers, ever watchful. He slowly opened the door to Eron’s sitting room.

A sword came at his face. Kerric deflected.

“No! Kene! He’s a friend,” Eron cried.

A tall man dressed all in black halted his attack mid-motion, swiveling his gaze back and forth between Eron and Kerric.

Queen Lessa stood to the side, dressed in a simple green tunic, breeches, and boots. Her dark braid wrapped around her head, held in place by hair clasps. He'd be sorely mistaken if Bain expected her in elegant finery at his ball. She looked so much like the warrior queens of legend, their likenesses woven into tapestries throughout the castle.

Eron stepped forward, also dressed in black—his typical highwayman garb. He wore a sheathed sword Kerric recognized as having been Dafron’s. How suitable for Eron to use his brother’s sword to avenge the family.

“Kene,” Eron said. “This is Kerric, captain of the king’s guard.”

Kene eyed Kerric up and down. “I… I remember you. You haven’t aged, but your hair is now silver.”

“Elzabai?” Looking closer, Kerric realized the man in black was indeed Miisov’s daughter, who had been gone for so long. They put their swords away and clasped each other.

Elzabai! Dafron’s love in the castle once more, where she’d sworn she’d never be again.

Kene stepped away. “Prince Eron and Princess… I mean, Queen Lessa, insist they don’t need a guard, but I say they do.”

Kerric’s heart nearly missed a beat. “Don’t need a guard?” He shot Eron a fiery glare. “We’ve come too far to risk the two of you now. Kene and I will be with you. Where is Miisov?”

Queen Lessa answered though she looked more like a highwayman than a queen. She still appeared quite regal. “He’s speaking to the commanders of the combined forces who are waiting to storm the gates.”

“Are we maintaining the same plan?”

“Yes,” Kene gave a curt nod. “The royal offspring will confront Bain and Crau at the ball. Father said he broke the curse for now. Are your men available and in place?”

“They are.”

“Good. Soldiers loyal to King Lothan are where we need them to keep the nobles in check. Once the fighting starts, they’ll be held in the great hall. If they cooperate, no one gets hurt.” Kene checked the knives at her waist, back, and boots. She wore a glowing stone around her neck. A talisman or charm of some kind? Finally, she tied on a mask and pulled up the hood on her tunic, concealing her shining hair. She extracted another glowing stone on a leather thong from her pocket, which she handed to Kerric. “You might need this.”

“Some have a reckoning coming,” Queen Lessa said, hand on an Alturan sword—smaller than what the guards used, but not less deadly.

“That they do, Your Majesty, that they do,” Kene agreed. “But first, we must ensure Bain isn’t killed in the gardens. The deed must happen at the ball so his murder can’t be blamed on Lessa.”

Eron strode across the floor and flung open the hidden doorway. Kene took a lantern from a nearby table and, sword inher other hand, led the way. Queen Lessa followed behind Kene. With loyal men replacing Crau’s at the door, no one would know Eron wasn’t inside the room.

Kerric stepped outside to address them. “Stay here until we’ve had time to get away, then report to the great hall.”

Eron stopped Kerric with a hand on his arm, then pulled him in for a kiss. “For luck.”

Kerric took another lantern and followed Eron, stopping to close the door.

Their bootheels clattered on the steps, but they’d need to muffle every sound soon. They emerged from the servants’ stairwell, moving steadily down.

They came out near the kitchens, bustling now as servants entered and exited, serving the king’s guests. They paid no attention to the armed warriors in their midst. Perhaps Miisov had worked a bit of concealment magic. Or maybe Kene had, though she’d sworn she’d never be a mage. That had been before she’d lost Dafron.

They moved from the servants’ corridors to a secondary hallway, devoid of people at this time of evening. Whether by design or chance, who could say?

Kerric’s heart rate increased as they approached the great hall. Music and laughter hung heavy in the air, a counterpoint for the horror to come.

Kene led the way to what Kerric remembered as a storeroom. There, they all donned armor and helms. At first glance, they would appear to be any of Bain’s guards if no one considered Lessa’s small stature.

Ready at last, they marched in formation out an exit used by kitchen staff, another group of soldiers on patrol. They drew near the meeting place. Four guards eyed them warily, nodded, and then marched off. Kerric, Kene, Lessa, and Eron took theirplaces, close enough to make out Bain’s arrogant bark and Crau’s superior sneer in the garden.

The crisp air stung Kerric’s nose, and fluffy snow began to fall. He reveled in the ability to feel cold when he hadn’t for so many seasons.

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