Page 63 of Sword of Desire
“I need you to head south to Landania. I have a group of fifty soldiers camped there.”
“Only fifty? Where are the rest?”
Hopefully hidden from Lyle. “I moved them and sent Gytha on a secret mission.”
Galvin attached his weapons belt, tightening it. “Consider it done.” He started pulling on his boots. “And you?”
Ackley had a mission of his own. “The next time I see you, Owen will be king.”
* * *
As far as plans went, this was definitely one of his dumber ones. Ackley knew he should just leave the castle and do what needed to be done to put Owen on the throne. But he couldn’t walk away. He wanted his sword back because it had sentimental value to him, and he couldn’t stand the thought of it being in Lyle’s possession. Granted, he could wait until Lyle was killed and then retrieve it, but he didn’t want to. Just the thought of Lyle having it grated on Ackley’s nerves.
He shouldn’t even call what he was about to do aplansince he didn’t know where the sword was located. All he knew was that Harley had tried killing Lyle with it. Ackley suspected Lyle had stashed it in his office. If not there, maybe his bedchamber. Starting with the office seemed the safer of the two options.
Ackley entered the castle, heading to where the offices were located on the first floor. As he crept along, he slid a dagger from his sleeve, palming it. Thirty feet, then he turned right. Fifty feet, then he made a left. Lyle’s office was supposed to be the fourth from the end. When he approached the door, he stood there, listening. No sounds came from within. Regardless, Ackley needed to proceed with caution. He went to insert his dagger into the lock when he remembered the key Harley had given him. She said it unlocked every door in the castle. Pulling it out, he slid the key into the lock and turned.
A softclickchimed. Standing off to the side, Ackley twisted the knob and opened the door. Nothing happened. He peered around the corner and into the room. A leaf floated to the floor. He rolled his eyes. This had to be the right office. Back in Penlar, Lyle had used the same archaic technique to determine if anyone had been in his rooms. He shrugged, not caring. By the time Lyle realized Ackley had stepped foot in there, he’d be long gone. He entered the office, searching for his sword.
On the bookshelf in the back of the room, he spotted a sword lying on the third shelf from the top. Moving farther into the room to get a better look, he heard the door behind him softly click shut and then a bolt slide into place. He spun toward the door. Light shone from underneath out in the hallway, illuminating the shadows of a pair of boots.
He’d stepped into a trap.
He sprinted toward his sword only to discover it was an empty sheath. He cursed, pulling on his mental armor and preparing to fight. With a dagger in one hand and a short sword in the other, he surveyed his surroundings. There were three windows to his left, so he moved away from them, not wanting to be shot by an arrow. Sidling up to the bookshelves, he slid along them, moving closer to the glass, wanting to know if soldiers were approaching from outside. He didn’t see anyone.
Ackley felt something across the room though he didn’t see anyone. He sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm himself as he prepared to fight. Fifteen feet by twenty feet. The ceiling four feet above him. He quickly took note of each item that he could use as a weapon.
The bookshelf directly across from him opened like a door. It had to lead either to a hidden room or serve as an entrance to the secret passageways. Ackley widened his stance, preparing to face whoever was coming for him.
Footsteps sounded as a shadow emerged from the dark opening. The shadow hardened, revealing the outline of a man. He stopped before the desk, and the moonlight shone on a man with broad shoulders, blond hair, and a sword in hand.
“Looking for this?” Lyle asked, lifting the sword.
Ackley immediately recognized it as Sword of Rage. Instead of diving for the weapon like he wanted to, he remained rooted in place, observing his opponent.
“It’s a beauty if you like used things. But you can’t have it. It’s mine.” He tilted the sword, as if admiring it.
Ackley wanted to smash his fist into Lyle’s face, making his nose bleed. Ackley wasn’t an idiot and didn’t believe for one second Lyle was referring to the sword. “I assume you’re talking about Harley?”
“I am.” He lowered the sword and focused on Ackley.
“Of course, I can’t have her.” Not because she was married to Lyle, but because she was her own person and not an item to be owned. A man like Lyle would never understand that.
The false king moved to the side of the desk, closer to Ackley.
If Ackley also moved to maintain a safe distance and keep the desk between them, it would put him directly in front of a window. Not wanting that, he remained in place, knowing he would have to fight.
“You’re delusional if you think she loves you,” Lyle said.
The funny thing was, Ackley didn’t think Harley loved him, he knew she did. Instead of responding, he smiled.
Lyle’s upper lip curled in disgust.
Ackley shrugged. “I don’t know who you think I am or why you’re implying I have anything to do with Harley.”
“Like you, I am not a fool and would appreciate you not treating me like one.” Lyle readjusted his hand on the grip.
Ackley shrugged. If he threw his dagger quick enough, he could impale it into Lyle’s neck, killing him. He twisted his fingers, getting ready to throw it. “Then besides sleeping with your wife, I assume you know I killed your father.” He was about to throw the dagger when Lyle shifted.
