Page 11 of An Archer's Reckoning

A short, thin girl with her rusty-brown hair tied in uneven knots brought me a basket of biscuits and a plate of eggs. She scurried away, promising bacon and tea. As soon as she was out of earshot, the Sheriff leaned forward and continued the conversation my arrival had interrupted.

“I have two different agents reporting the same thing. Queen Isabel was at the center of the ceremony that came far too close to killing Jess.”

Captain Proctor scowled and crossed his corded arms.

Sheriff Wilfred snapped at the hulking guard’s scowl. “Fine, Her Majesty,Queen Jessia. Can we please worry about courtly titles later and stick to what’s most important right now?”

“You aren’t the only one who needs sleep. We’ll need to tread carefully here,”Atikus whispered in my mind.

“I never saw who was behind the mask, but Jess—er,Queen Jessiawas adamant that it was her mother. She was convinced the person wore her mother’s ring,” I said, tossing a bite of biscuit into my mouth.

I groaned as I swallowed. There was something sweeter in the bread here than in Melucia—and the crust was thinner, somehow crunchier, while the middle remained soft and fluffy.

Atikus winked.“Told you.”

“Gentlemen, please!” Captain Proctor slammed a hand against the table.

Wilfred ignored us. “I fear Jess may still be in danger. Based on what my agents are reporting, Isabel plans to seize power, and that means the throne. She’s not even hiding her intentions, talking openly about crossing the lake and taking command. The only way to do that is to eliminate Jess.”

“But that still wouldn’t put Isabel on the throne, would it? Isn’t there another child in the royal family?” I asked.

Wilfred nodded. “Yes, Prince Kendall, but he’s far too young to rule. Isabel would claim regency and seize power in his name. The Conclave could stop her and elect another regent, but who knows how the lords would vote? Isabel has spent years building influence among the nobles.”

Proctor’s voice came out as a restless beast’s growl. “Let’s not forget,Jessia is Queen. If we keep her alive, none of this matters. Her safety has to be our highest priority.”

I didn’t understand why I was part of this conversation. Atikus and I were strangers,Meluciancitizens. The Kingdomwas “conducting war games” on our border, if that was to be believed.

“I know I came into this conversation late, but would someone please explain what two Melucians have to do with any of this? We wish her no harm, but the Queen’s safety isyourconcern, not ours,” I said, pointing a fork in the Royal Guard’s direction.

“I don’t think they know who to trust. Isabel’s influence is everywhere, even within the Royal Guard,”Atikus said.

“. . . and that’s why we need your help.” Wilfred took a long sip of his coffee. He’d been talking while Atikus whispered in my head.

I didn’t have the Gift of Telepathy and couldn’t reply to Atikus, so I decided to stay quiet and wait for the two Kingdom men to finish.

Apparently, they had the same idea.

No one spoke for a long, awkward moment. It stretched so long the serving girl finally broke the silence, slapping a large platter of roughly cut bacon on the table, splattering grease onto my hands.

“I’m so sorry, m’lord,” she squeaked, then ran back to the kitchen for my forgotten coffee.

I wiped my hand with a napkin, then took a piece of bacon and stuffed it into my mouth, chewing as slowly as I could while staring at the Sheriff. I’d interrogated enough men to know how to win a staring contest.

Wilfred finally surrendered. “Gentlemen, I know how strange this must be, two of the principal Kingdom officials talking with two Melucians about the security of the Crown.”

Atikus grunted. “Strange? That isoneword for it.”

Wilfred’s smiled didn’t reach his eyes. “Strange or not, here we are. If we lose Jess, our nation will fall to Isabel. She puts on a show of restraint, but those of us close to the family know better.She’s power hungry. She always has been. The Council won’t be able to constrain her impulse for conquest—and possibly war.”

My coffee finally arrived. When the serving girl disappeared again, I leaned forward. “Sheriff, no offense, but I still don’t understand what this has to do with us. I’ve seen your Royal Guard. They’re quite capable. Atikus and I need to get back to our own country before—well, we just need to get home. We’ve seen the soldiers at the border. We know what’s coming, with Isabel on the throne or someone else.”

Proctor cleared his throat. It didn’t clear a single bit of gravel. “I’ve guarded the monarch my entire life. My only duty is the safety of the Crown. I cannot assure you Jess will be safe, even within our protection. Isabel . . . she’s wormed her way into every crack throughout our government.”

Armor clanked as the giant crossed his arms and sat back, as if that admission had drained him of the ability to speak further.

Wilfred’s whisper was urgent, almost pleading. “You saved Jess. She doesn’t know you, but she knows what you did. That bonded you in a way. She would go with you if we told her it was the only way to keep her safe.”

My hands flew in front of me as if warding off an evil spirit. “Whoa. Wait a minute. You can’t be suggesting Atikus and I take the Queen of Spires—”

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