Page 62 of The Sundered Blade

Pressing another kiss to the back of Karreya’s hand, he moved on through the gate and into the streets beyond, a grim expression quickly overtaking the feigned smile. But despite his mood, it soon became clear that Niell was intimately familiar with the city, as he led them through little-used alleyways and shortcuts where few others seemed to linger.

“You did not spend all your time in ballrooms and salons,” Karreya noted thoughtfully. “How is it that a prince is so comfortable navigating the alleys and byways of the city?”

“Part of establishing myself as an utter reprobate was running away as often as possible and spending my time with the sort of people my father was sure to disapprove of,” Niell admitted. “And it came with the added benefit of building a network of allies and informants along the way.”

Karreya snorted. “It perplexes me that you are yet so surprised that others expect you to be king.”

“I didn’t do it to be popular,” Niell replied grimly. “Or to garner the support of the children of the nobility. I assure you, that was an entirely unintentional outcome.”

Because he had been taught from his youth to view himself as shameful. Expendable. A secret to be hidden or a scandal to be hushed up. But he was so much more than that, if only he could learn to see his own worth.

They spent much of the day dodging guard patrols and searching for Niell’s allies, while troops of soldiers continued to march through the city on their way north. The mood was heavy and grim, and as the dark clouds to the south grew ever closer, Karreya found her own sense of danger growing with them.

She’d learned not to ignore her instincts, and now they were screaming at her that some unforeseen threat lurked just beyond her sight, just out of reach. But until it showed itself, there was nothing she could do—only follow Niell as their wandering finally ended just before dark, in an alleyway near the palace wall.

Niell looked around carefully for watching eyes before he led the way through the unmarked door into an abandoned house, where the entry hallway ended in a blank wall. Turning to the right, he tapped on the bricks until one gave way, and the blank wall opened to reveal a narrow stair.

He grinned at Karreya’s expression and bowed as he gestured her forward. “Leads under the palace walls,” he said. “I didn’t build it, but I suspect someone very like me must have done so. Drove my… Drove the king positively mad when I kept disappearing and he could never figure out how.”

Karreya made her way down the stairs into the darkness, which was soon illuminated by the soft glow of Niell’s magic. At the base of the stairs, a tunnel stretched off into the distance, with a smooth dirt floor and walls of rough stone. And after only a minute or two of walking, the tunnel ended—in another set of stairs leading upwards.

Niell moved past her with the light and took the stairs two at a time. When he reached the top, he tucked the enchantment away before releasing the door catch and easing it open an inch at a time.

Karreya listened carefully for the sounds of weapons, footsteps, or even breathing, but heard nothing except for some cheerfully chirping insect beyond the door.

“It’s late enough that no gardeners will be about,” Niell said. “Stay close and we’ll be safe in a few moments.”

And then he simply walked out into the twilight garden, slid his hands into his pockets and strolled along as if he had not a concern in the world.

After taking a moment to swear at him under her breath, Karreya followed, tucked her hand beneath his arm, and glared up at him.

“You seem very certain you will not be caught, Abreian.”

“No one comes to this part of the garden during the day, let alone at night,” he assured her. “And if they do, we are far less likely to be noticed if we look like we belong. From a distance, with you in that dress, we might easily appear to be any pair of courtiers enjoying a romantic moonlit walk.”

Karreya was shocked by the surge of longing that swelled up at the thought. There had never been a place in her life for romance, but here, now, with Niell… She felt something very like regret. If only they could be those two nameless courtiers, tucked away in a corner of the garden, enjoying one another’s company with no darker purpose, no twisted family connections keeping them apart.

Her thoughts kept her silent long enough that Niell turned to look down at her, a question in his eyes.

“I only hope you are correct,” she said stiffly, unwilling to share the ridiculous turn of her thoughts. “I have no taste for stabbing innocent gardeners who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“And I would never ask you to do such a thing,” Niell reminded her earnestly, his expression turned intent and serious. “From here on out, at least allow me to attempt words before you apply a blade.”

She was about to answer, but they stopped abruptly before ducking past the branches of an ancient yew tree. In the cool shade beyond was a folly, with an arched doorway that opened on silent hinges and closed behind them with a nearly inaudible click.

The space within was small and circular, with stone benches lining the perimeter. It was empty but for the marble statue of a woman in a cloak, who looked back over her shoulder as if in fear.

“Welcome,” Niell said, “to my home.” He did not sound like a man who’d just come home—he sounded weary and heartsore. “I cannot tell you how desperately I wish that I could have brought you here under better circumstances.”

“Under different circumstances, we might never have met at all,” Karreya said, eyeing the statue closely. “And that… that is not a thing I would choose to give up.”

Niell glanced down at her, surprise written on his drawn, tired features. “I would say the same,” he told her. “But that does not mean I cannot wish that life had been different for both of us.”

There had been no place for wishing in the Enclave. Indeed, wishing and dreams had always seemed somewhat foolish to Karreya. But here in this strange little corner of the world, where it was only her and Niell… Karreya could find it in her heart not only to long, but to dream. To wonder what might have been, had the world not been shaped by the greed and cruelty of her grandmother.

“And what would you have wished for, Niell?” In that bare, silent room, where it was only the two of them, she suddenly felt bold enough to ask.

He let out a long, deep breath, then reached out and took her hand. She did not resist.

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