Page 33 of The Chef

“Isn’t Sergeant Ralph the one who beat Braxton at that tournament last year? He’s incredibly skilled,” Ayer asked.

Fen nodded. “He’s the best of my elite royal guards. When Captain Plairis retires within the next few years and his second takes the captain role, I’m going to recommend Ralph to fill her spot. Although, speaking of Braxton, where did that brat run off to? I wanted to ask him about the man he sent to that border town where we thought Namin forces might be holing up.”

Ayer shrugged, but Father was the one who answered. “Something came up with the Namin prince you have stashed in my dungeons. Braxton wasn’t clear. Hopefully this means the boy is ready to talk, but he’s held out this long, so I doubt it. I’ll have Braxton report to you at the military compound if he’s found anything about that village.”

“I appreciate it,” Fen replied. He tucked into the rest of his breakfast and let the inane chatter of his family distract him. Fen wanted to be in the city, exploring the market at Char’s side, but he didn’t dare. Everyone in the military complex might know he and Char were in a relationship—which meant everyone in the country would shortly know too, since soldiers and gossip went hand in hand—but making it overt by appearing in public with Char would cement those rumors into fact. At a time when Namin was attempting to ferment unrest using Uncle Randolph’s name, physically seeing Fen with Char wouldmake Char far too tempting a target. With gritted teeth, he sat and listened to stories from Sammie—Ayer’s oldest—about her tutors and learning magic and such. The words washed over him, and Fen sat back in his chair to finish his tea. Once breakfast was over, the kids would be sent away with their nurses and tutors so the adults could take care of real business, so Fen just had to be patient for a little longer.

The door slammed open, making Fen jump and spin around, already halfway out of his chair with a hand on his sword hilt. The two palace guardsmen stationed outside the door stumbled inside, followed by two men wearing the city guard uniform. Between them, they held up a battered woman, the left side of her face so swollen and purple it took Fen a second to recognize Sherri.

“Ambush, Commander,” she forced out, each word accompanied by a hiss of pain. “Kidnapped Chef and Sergeant.”

Fen was on his feet, his mind buzzing and his hands shaking. His mouth moved, but no words came out.

“How?” Ayer asked, suddenly appearing at Fen’s side.

“It was fast,” one of the city guards explained. Shairon brought over a chair and they gently sat Sherri down, and she hissed in a way that said she had some broken ribs. “In and out in less than three minutes. They attacked, a group separated your soldier here from the rest,” he said with a wave at Sherri. “Don’t know how they got the other one, but he fought like a demon and then suddenly went down. The group bundled up your chef and soldier and vanished down an alley as we were running to provide support. We pursued, but they were gone. They left behind their wounded and dead, though, so we’ll know more as soon as we finish searching the bodies and conducting interrogations.”

“And the kids?” Fen heard his voice ask as if from a great distance.

“Got away,” Sherri hissed out.

“Damned good fighters, those kids,” the city guard added. “But the second they saw the chef was taken, they ran off too.”

At least threatening to harm the kids couldn’t be used to force Char into compliance, a dry, clinical, and calculating part of Fen’s brain supplied. Of course, that could explain why they took Ralph too, rather than leaving him like they had their own wounded—because Ralph would have to be wounded, but not dead, to explain how they were able to take him and why they would bother.

“Two of our citizens were kidnapped in the middle of our city?” Father asked, standing. All four soldiers immediately bowed, and Sherri swayed forward in her chair before Mother gently pressed her back. “Organize a door-to-door search. I want the culprits found and our citizens rescued. Fen, take charge. Someone get this soldier to a healer.”

People went running. Fen shook his head, trying to make the buzzing stop, then nodded to his father.

“I’ll be in the city. Let me know if you hear anything,” he said. He didn’t wait for a response before hurrying out the door. He would find Char. He had to. And, hopefully, before it was too late.

Chapter Nineteen

CHAR DRIFTED BACKto consciousness slowly, feeling like his brain was swimming through syrup. He quickly realized he was sitting on a hard chair, but it took him a while for his brain to engage enough to understand the reason he was upright was because of ropes tied around his chest, holding him to the chairback. His arms were tied at the wrists behind the chair, and his ankles were tied to the chair legs.

Whatever was draped over his head vanished with a yank, and Char squinted in the sudden brightness of the overhead mage lights. Char blinked to clear his vision as someone stepped into view. The familiar dark-shrouded person from his kitchen all those mornings ago stood in front of Char, arms crossed over their chest.

“I warned you I would be back to hear your answer,” they said, voice harsh and cold. “This is a mere example of the strength we can bring to bear. Agree to our terms, and you can walk out of here right now, unharmed. Choose to be difficult, and you won’t like what might happen to you. Something similar to what we’re doing to your friend.”

They glanced up, over Char’s head, and a second later a scream echoed through the room, followed by whoever it was gasping for breath.

“Who—?” Char cut himself off because that had to be Ralph. The scream was low and masculine, definitely adult.

“Your poor guard thought he could protect you. Instead, we’ll be happy to use his pain to ensure your compliance.” They paused, looking at something else behind Char, and shrugged. “You’re in luck,” they finally said. “I’ve been called away. I will give you a few minutes to think it over. I will return very soon, so don’t fret for long.”

They walked around Char, and a moment later, hinges squeaked as a door whooshed open. It clicked closed and athunkindicated a bar was dropped to lock the door again.

Char waited, craning his neck around to try to see if the dark person was just trying to trick him. He didn’t see or hear anyone though.

“Ralph, are you okay?” Char called, unsure how loud he dared raise his voice.

“I’ve been better,” Ralph replied, his voice tight. “Can you loosen your ropes at all?”

Char wiggled his arms, trying to loosen the ropes around his wrists. All he got was rope burn for his efforts. He opened his mouth to tell Ralph, and then snapped it shut again when the clunk of the bar being removed from the door sounded. Barely two minutes had passed since the dark person had left! Couldn’t they give Char a few more minutes to wallow and panic?

Yet the voices Char heard next definitely did not belong to the stranger.

“Is it clear?” Shan hissed.

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