Page 12 of Kingdom of Today
My eyes widened as a plant in my memory garden flowered with a reminder. Earlier, in Heta’s Realms and Travel class, I’d experienced that amazingly sweet sensation that had dissolved my foreboding, making me feel as if a long-lost friend waited nearby.
“Judging by your expression,” Domino said, a little smug, “I won the bet.”
Who was the Soalian? Imustknow.
The librarian glanced behind him, as if someone was speaking to him. Maybe they were. The corners of his mouth turned down. When next he faced me, he projected anger. “You were questioned by Mr. Vyle?”
I went statue still, though my heart kicked into a race. Uh-oh. Had I already made a mistake? “I was,” I admitted. “It went well.” Kind of. Mostly. “Maybe.”
“No, Arden. I assure you, it did not go well.” Domino stepped into my personal space, hijacking my next thought. “Mr. Vyle isn’t just the emperor’s right-hand man. He’s the royal executioner.”
Oh. Oh no. I gulped.
“If Mr. Vyle is here, it means the emperor, and Astan, already suspects that someone in authority is a traitor. Considering how heavily you’re being guarded, we must conclude that someone is Cyrus.”
“Well, that little gem was obvious before the interrogation,” I said, going on the defensive.
“Ah. But did you know Cyrus’s execution is already scheduled?” Domino dropped the bomb and vanished a second later.
I could only stand there, spinning out, as my guards returned to their posts, and the door to my cell opened.
Fighting for my next breath, I closed my eyes and forced myself inward. Okay. All right. This wasn’t insurmountable. So I hadn’t known anything about a scheduled execution. Now I did. I could get the heatoff Cyrus before anyone struck. If the high prince outed me as a Soalian, all suspicion toward him would be erased in an instant and total blame would fall on my head. I could escape to the Rock, aiding our team from the sidelines, and the future king would be cleared of all wrongdoing.
Or he would look foolish for trusting me.
Ugh. There must be another way.
Quaking, I scrubbed a hand over my face. Rather than cave to fear, my usual inclination, I forced myself to inhale a slow, measured breath and concentrate on the only action available to me right now: get a message to Cyrus.
Chapter Four
Pursue wisdom and stand unashamed, forever bound to truth.
—The Book of Soal2.16.2.15
Determined, I secured my piece of the Rock in my new desk safe. The recognized lock code? A long series of numbers Soal had given me, once used by Tagin. That done, I sank into my comfy chair, mentally drafting a message to Cyrus to outline everything I’d learned. But before typing a single word, I erased it all with a frustrated shake of my head. As he’d warned earlier, our messages would be scrutinized—read, reread, and dissected by die-hard CUREDians. Astanians? Whatever. I had to be careful not to raise any alarms while still informing Cyrus about the threat to his life.
Taking a deep breath, I began to type.
Dear High Prince Dolion,
I received your gift. Thank you. ICannotwait until we’re together again. I’m certain my thoughts will surprise you. Also, you’ll be happy to learn I followed your orders.
Yours,
Lady-in-training Arden Roosa
I hoped 1) my formality portrayed the seriousness and urgency of the situation; 2) he understood I desired to meet with him face-to-face as soon as possible; and 3) I reminded him how much I cared.
His response came quickly, words flashing over the screen.
I’ll arrange a meeting.
I closed my eyes for a moment, relieved, then prepared to shoot him another message.
“Officer on deck,” a voice called.
Groaning, I leaped to my feet. What now?
