Page 142 of An Archer's Redemption

The staff slipped from my weakened grasp and fell into the opening of the Well.

The river writhed, and a wave billowed forth.

There was nowhere to hide.

There was no spell or power to protect from the current’s ire.

I fell from its grasp and plunged beneath its foaming waves.

I heard Declan cry out as he dove toward the Well.

He leaped above the opening and threw out his hands to pull me to safety, but magic would not be robbed of its price.

Declan’s emerald eyes were the last things I saw as I slipped from his grip and vanished beneath the surface.

Chapter 61

Keelan

Liam grabbed Seth by the shoulders, spun him around and straightened the clasp on his cloak. The silver buckle fashioned in the shape of a maple leaf nearly leaped off the deep emerald of his doublet.

“Will you two knock it off?” I said, biting back a laugh at how many times one or the other of the pair had fiddled with clothing or buttons or clasps. It made sense that Seth might feel a bit out of place in his courtly attire. He claimed it was the first time he’d worn anything other than his Children’s robes in years. The fabric likely made the skin of his neck itch.

My hand moved to loosen my own annoying collar at the thought.

Liam peered over Seth’s shoulder at me. “You might be bedding Her Majesty, but we lowly commoners are entering the royal presence for the first time. Just look at those doors. They shine brighter than the sunrise over the ocean.”

I glanced at the doors I’d walked through a hundred times and realized they did, indeed, reflect almost as clearly as a mirror.

“Liam, relax,” I said, more amused than annoyed.

“That’s easy for you to say. You are a famous Guardsman used to swimming in deep ponds. We’re just—”

The sudden appearance of a royal page stilled Liam’s tongue. The boy offered a precise quarter bow, then locked eyes with me. “Lieutenant Rea, Her Majesty will receive your guests now.”

I chuckled as Liam’s sharp intake nearly cracked the page’s perfect shell.

When the doors swung open, the page stepped in and announced, “Lieutenant of the Guard of the Melucian Empire, Keelan Rea, and his guests, Liam, son of Hershel, of Oliver, and Seth, a Priest of the Order of the One.”

“Former Priest,” Seth corrected.

“Former Priest,” the page bellowed.

Members of the Privy Council and minor nobles lined either side of the grand aisle. Jess sat on her throne, her most elaborate crown gleaming in the sunlight that streamed through windows whose curtains had been tied back. Prisms danced from large diamonds, scattering their colorful hues throughout the chamber.

Her face was stone, her mouth a thin, unreadable line.

I had to suppress a grin as Liam swallowed hard behind me as I led us forward.

We stopped at the first inlaid mark, a golden diamond with rays radiating in every direction.

I bowed, then continued five strides to the second mark. No one gasped or cried out. I took that as a sign my companions properly offered their respects.

When the three of us stood lined up before the throne, Jess, her back perfectly straight and chin high, asked, “Guardsman Rea, for what purpose do you seek audience?”

I bowed again, as was the custom.

“Your Majesty, if it pleases the Queen, I should like to introduce her to citizens of Oliver who assisted with my investigation, one of which, I believe, will be of special interest to Her Majesty.”

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