Page 25 of Stars May Fall

Aknock sounded at the private servant door to my room. Four quick taps. I locked the main door before opening the second narrow door that blended in perfectly with the whitewashed wooden panels.

Noah bowed as he entered, holding his cap in his hands. As the servant who oversaw the procurement of food for the kitchens, he was in the perfect position to bring me information from both inside and outside the castle. We had been working together for three years and had quite the network between the unofficial gossip and people who deliberately passed on information for a few coppers. It was amazing how much of what people tried to keep quiet was noticed by passersby.

I indicated the chair for Noah and sat down opposite him, rummaging in my purse for coins that he could pass on to those who were owed.

“Any more sightings of halfsouls?”

He shook his head. “I have a team of street urchins looking for them nightly downtown. Since that night when they were all over the place, nothing.”

I nodded. I should be pleased, but part of me felt restless. If the threat was truly over, I would miss the excitement of runningaround the streets in the dark with my crossbow, something I’d been doing for the last four months when I’d first heard about the halfsouls. I’d only decided to investigate since nobody else seemed to know about them. There wasn’t any point shadowing Kasten anymore either, since he was clearly not behind them, and besides, he had confiscated my tracking device. I’d become used to saving lives. Now I wanted to feel like I was still doing something—anything that made a difference.

I passed him the coins. “And Lord Lyrason?”

“He hasn’t left his mansion all week, though he received a letter from the king this morning. It may be a summons.”

A summons? What was Father planning? To question and sentence him personally? I might have to resort to asking Venerick if Father had asked him to prepare a court case to try him for his crimes.

“Any information on Tyler Gregane?” I had never seen or heard of the man before he had turned up at Kasten’s doorstep to help Sophie.

“All we know so far was that he studied for three years at Ilustran University, where all kryalchemists in Fenland study, about twenty years ago. He seems to have no family and no connections. But I’ll keep digging subtly. It’s hard to ask many questions where Lord Lyrason’s people are concerned. He has too many people in his own pocket.”

I sat back and drummed my fingers against the armrest. How far did Lyrason’s corruption go? How had it taken me so long to realize what sort of a man he was? “You’ve confirmed Sir Halfield and his son, George, are truly out of the city?”

He inclined his head. “Yes, Your Highness. All their property in Adenburg has been sold as well. A lot of the nobility are very happy to see that man gone. It has won the king favor from many of the minor families.”

“And anything of note with Lord Venerick?”

He shook his head. “No, Your Highness. He spends long hours in his study and frequently orders tea from the kitchens. He had a meeting with Duke James yesterday. The servant who served them refreshments said they were playing a board game.”

If Noah thought it was strange that I asked for information on my betrothed, he didn’t show it. I was intrigued to know of his activities so I could see if he was a threat to my own.

“Anything else? Any irregularities with the city guard patrol? Any interesting rumors?”

He sighed, passing his cap from hand to hand. “Not much. Most of the gossip surrounds General Kasten. Many people want the king to get rid of him once and for all, especially those in the palace. Opinions in the city are more mixed. Some people speak as if they would follow him through death itself. I’ve heard nothing about the Red Men since their core people disappeared. You said the General informed you they were turned into halfsouls. The remaining people were fringe members who have disbanded. A new organization seems to be forming in their place. Much larger, but completely disorganized. They’re dissatisfied with the city guard and the government. They have no name or clear aim that I have gathered. One of my friends went to one of their meetings. He came back all enthused from the rhetoric but told me nothing of substance.”

I pursed my lips. This could certainly be a problem. I suspected Kasten’s actions against Lord Lyrason had done a lot to fuel this group, but I could hardly lay the blame for them at his feet. If only Duke James had been doing a fairer job at patrolling the streets rather than always prioritizing the richer areas where there was less crime to start with…

I wondered how much Lord Venerick knew about all of this. Due to running the city’s justice system, he had to work closely with Duke James. Did he realize that the head of the city guard was corrupt? Venerick either had to be foolishly ignorant andtrusting, or corrupt himself to let it slide. I wasn’t sure which trait I preferred.

But I consciously tried not to be too scathing or pessimistic when I thought about him. As far as court members went, I could do a lot worse than being betrothed to Venerick. He was busy, which gave both of us space for privacy, and he had certainly been kind toward me. He was closer to me in age than Lyrason and so far appeared to be far less cruel and immoral. I’d had a lucky escape getting out of that man’s clutches.

I handed Noah an extra coin. “Thank you. Let me know if anything more happens. Keep watching Lord Lyrason’s manor.”

He stood as a knock came on the door. “One moment,” I called. I guided Noah out the hidden servant’s passage before smoothing my skirts and unlocking the door.

Hetty, my maid, bobbed a curtsy. “Your Highness, the king summons you at once.”

At last. A jolt of nerves and anticipation made me go to the mirror to check my appearance and practice my determined expression. I clipped back the loose curls from around my face so I looked older and more formal.

Father had never been this angry with me before. He hadn’t spoken to me for a week, and every time we were in the same room, he would glare at me if I so much as sneezed. Finally, he was willing to talk about what had happened. He must have felt that he had left me stewing long enough.

I set off down the corridor, Hetty hovering a few steps behind. The situation was infuriating. I had helped uncover Lyrason’s crimes along with the situation between Sir Halfield and General Kasten. I had preempted Kasten’s actions and liaised successfully between Kasten and Lyrason and so helped avoid civil war. Father should be pinning a medal on my sash.

I’d always known he would be angry if he found out I had been leaving the palace at night with no guards to track downdangerous creatures. Really angry. Not to mention that I’d also been tracking Kasten, after Father had warned me about him countless times. Yes, I’d taken risks, but I wasn’t the heir to the throne, so my life wasn’tthatvaluable, and the risks had paid off. I’d kept myself safe and uncovered a risk to the whole of Fenland—a risk I’d then dealt with efficiently and effectively.

Mother said Father was angry because I had scared him by risking my life and then disobeyed his orders by not leaving Lyrason’s mansion at once. But surely the end result justified all of that.

Punishing me without recognition just wasn’t fair.

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