Page 33 of The Duke and the Disciple

“Good. I think.” He frowned. “I’ll be back.”

The keys.Rahn’s first thought after waking abruptly.

Gods, she played me for a fool.His second.

He searched his apartment, but it was strictly performative, confirming what he already knew.

She’d given him the slip.

Rahn dressed in a rush. As an afterthought, hopefully an overreaction, he grabbed his sword and scabbard and fastened them onto his belt.

But when he reached for the open bolts, he didn’t know where to go next.

Drazhan was the sensible choice, but Rahn only had suppositions, not facts. Aesylt would never forgive herself if her brother went ballistic on her behalf. It would be deeply unfair and inappropriate to put Imryll in a position to either lie to her husband or betray her sister-in-law.

He needed to get a read on the situation before involving them.

Tasmin then.

Rahn slipped out of his apartment with a reasonable gait, but once he passed the guards in the hall, he bolted.

It wasa half tick of the moon before Niklaus returned. Aesylt crouched in the knobby root system of a large tree.

“You were gone a while,” she remarked. “How bad is it?”

“Bad,” he said, keeling forward to catch his breath. “But you were onto something with the root cellar. There are two guards with a partial view, and quite a few more once you exit into the keep, but... I remembered something. We don’t need to go through the halls at all once we’re inside the cellar.”

Aesylt brightened, standing. “The hoists!”

Niklaus grinned. “I remember the middle one stops in his apartment on the top floor. Only trouble is someone needs to be at the top to run the pulley. But ifIhead to his room, the way any welcomed guest would, then I can go inside and pull you up. It’s late, and they might question it, but we used to come and go at all hours. If anything, I’m overdue for a visit.”

Aesylt didn’t hesitate. “Let’s do it.”

“Adrahn Elezhar Tindahl.”Tasmin spun away and lifted a hand, her gold robe flapping, as she stormed back into her bedchamber. Her tight smile appeased the guards, and then she slammed the door to a rustle of fabrics. “How could you let this happen?”

Rahn groaned as he slid his fingers down his face. “The question deserves an answer, but findingAesylt is more pressing at the moment.”

“You have blinders on with her. You’re incapable of objectivity.” Tasmin emerged with her hair piled hastily into a ribbon, a dense cloak covering her wrinkled gown. “And I’ll be insulted if you deny it. To others, fine, but to me?”

He threw out his hands in weary surrender. “I won’t argue that. But if we don’t find her before Drazhan realizes she’s gone, then...” There was no point in finishing.

“Fine.” She fastened the leather straps on her cloak, starting at the neck. “How long has she been gone?”

Rahn stared at her in blank shame.

“No guesses whatsoever?” Tasmin blinked.

“At best, an hour.” Rahn breathed deep. “At worst... three.”

Tasmin blurted a laugh. “She could be halfway to Wulfsgate by now.”

“But that’s not where she went.” He grimaced before speaking it. “Hoarfrost.”

Tasmin’s smirk disappeared. “Rahn, if she’s there, wehavetowake Draz. This is not something you and I can handle ourselves?—”

Rahn reached for her arm. “Please. Not until we know for sure. You and your mother are the only ones I trust to keep this between us. Every other person in this keep has sworn a vow of loyalty to their steward. I could wake Teleria, but?—”

“No, don’t.” Tasmin wrenched away with a tight scowl. “For the love of the gods. Aesylt. She’s just like Imryll, you know. Obstinate. Incorrigible. I love them both, but only miracles can account for them still breathing.”

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