Page 88 of The King's Sword
“When you’re ready, just come out,” Evander said. “A guard will be posted here, and she will show you to the receiving room.”
Sabine nodded and closed the door.
A familiar trunk sat in the middle of the room. She rushed over and threw the lid open, revealing a couple of her dresses from Bakley along with a handful of books and a blanket from home. Her brother must have brought these things with him. Smelling the familiar scent of her castle in Bakley, she closed her eyes and imagined she was there. She could almost feel the stone floor beneath her bare feet, hear the cracking fire in the hearth, and smell the warm embrace of her mother.
She opened her eyes, not wanting to get lost in memories of the past. It was time to face the future. Since there was a wash basin in the room, she decided to wash her face and fix her hair before meeting her brother. The dress she wore would suffice. Once she was presentable, she exited her room and found a guard standing there just as Evander said.
The female guard led Sabine downstairs where she spotted her brother sitting on a sofa beside Evander.
“Brother,” she said.
He stood and turned to face her. She had to stop herself from running to him. When she did reach him, she pulled him in for a hug, holding on tightly.
“It’s good to see you,” he said.
She released him. “You look well.” He was dressed in a tunic bearing the Bakley royal family’s colors and he wore his crown—something he rarely did. Which reinforced they were all playing their parts respectively, and this was a diplomatic meeting.
“Come,” Evander said, gesturing to a door on the far wall. “I have a private room prepared where the three of us can speak.” He led them into an adjacent room containing a small round table and chairs. “Have a seat.” He instructed the guards who’d been in the receiving room to move closer to the stairway, giving them a buffer so hopefully no one would overhear their conversation. He closed the door, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.
Sabine reached out, gripping her brother’s forearm. “How are things at home?”
“Everyone is well,” Otto replied, twisting the ring on his finger, not quite meeting her eyes.
“What’s the matter?” she asked, withdrawing her hand.
Otto glanced at Evander before he said, “Father is upset with your behavior.”
She hadn’t expected that. “Whatever for?”
“Leaving Lynk, acting independently, not consulting your husband. The list is quite long.” He scratched his chin.
Shock rolled through her. She assumed her parents would be proud of her. “I’ve been acting in Bakley’s best interest.” Anger replaced the shock. “And mine.”
“I know,” Otto said. “You don’t need to convince me.”
Sabine leaned back in her chair, staring at her brother. “Has there been any news about the kidnapped children?”
“Funny you should bring that up,” Otto mumbled.
“I don’t see how it’s funny.”
Otto glanced at Evander. “The children have been found.”
Relief filled her. “Have they been returned to their families?” She wondered who found them and how they managed to get them out of Lynk and back to Bakley.
“No, not yet.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “I am on my way to retrieve them.”
“And Rainer has just agreed to hand them over?” She had a feeling she was missing something.
“Yes, because he is claiming he didn’t take them.”
She snorted. “But somehow he has them.” She folded her arms.
“Rainer is claiming he found the children.” He cleared his throat. “In Avoni.” He glanced at Evander again.
Sabine sat there, replaying Otto’s words over and over in her mind. She must have misheard him. “What did you say?”
“Rainer is saying that some of his soldiers spotted boats in Skyfall River. They thought something suspicious was going on, so they boarded and found the missing children. The boats were manned by Avoni sailors.” Otto turned to Evander. “Care to explain?”
