Page 98 of Hidden Kingdoms

“Go on then, what do you want to know?”

“Honestly, there’s too much.” My mind going blank was highly inconvenient, so I started with the question that was even irritating me with the number of times I’d asked it.

“You still don’t know why I’m here?”

“Nope. Not my job to know.”

No surprises there.

“What exactly is your job?”

“I’m a General,” she answered as we turned down a corridor, and the windows were replaced by smooth stone inlaid with golden filigree designs that stretched out ahead of us.

“You’re a General!” My brows rose as I looked over at her, eyeing the belt of wickedly sharp knives that lined the front of her uniform.

“Don’t let my feminine charm fool you. I’m deadly.” Alouette’s smile was all predator.

“Believe me. I wasn’t fooled,” I muttered.

“That’s good then, wouldn’t like to think I was losing my touch.”

“Definitely not. If you’re a General, then why are you my guard?”

“Gets boring being the big boss sometimes. I like to branch out in my line of work.”

I rolled my eyes at her again. “You mean Bastian forced you into this.”

She barked out a laugh. “Prince Blondie has no authority over me. I work for the Commander.”

That surprised me. I had the impression that Big Man had the run of the land here. Looks like that wasn’t so… maybe that could help me.

“The Commander? The one everyone shits their pants at the mention of?”

“The very same.”

“So, he sent you to be my guard.” I frowned, wondering why this Commander would be handing over his General.

“Don’t be silly.” She laughed, the gold lacing the walls beginning to weave together thicker, the flame lights casting us in a warm glow. “I volunteered.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

“You deserve to feel safe, so I figured I’d be the best one to achieve that right now.”

She was right, I did feel safe with her, and I had done since the moment she walked into that bloodied corridor, eyes passing over the body on the floor like it was nothing but a scuff on the stones. My heart swelled with gratitude at this woman who owed me nothing yet was going out of her way to help.

“Tell me about the Commander.” I was yet to meet this terrifying man, and I was more than a little intrigued.

“What would you like to know?”

“Is he really as scary as everyone makes out?”

“Scarier,” she said, widening her eyes comically at me. I nudged her with my hip, and she laughed before continuing.

“The Commander is… powerful.” I watched as she considered what to say. “Like really fucking powerful. There’s practically no one who could go up against him and win.”

“In the palace?” I asked, now glad that I hadn’t yet met him.

“No, Killer, in all the Kingdoms. I’ve seen him do things I didn’t even know anyone but the goddesses themselves would be able to do.” I could see the reverence and respect in her eyes as she spoke about him. None of what she said made much sense to me, but I remembered what Kaius had said about royalty holding more power than most others.

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