Page 56 of Fall of the Ember Throne (Crown and Crest 3)

Immediately, the three knights look up from their game of cards. Barret sits with Denny and Alfred between the two doors, keeping an eye on both Lawrence and me.

“What are you doing out of bed?” Denny asks, stifling a yawn.

They must be taking shifts. Miguel and Xander are likely resting.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I say, wishing my brother wasn’t here. “I’m a little achy from the ride, and I thought a warm bath might help. I was hoping to visit the bathhouse.”

Denny gives me a skeptical look, knowing the gentle ride didn’t affect me in the slightest. But Barret, innocent knight that he is, immediately nods. “I’ll take you.”

Xander gestures toward my door and tells him, “We’ll keep an eye on the room.”

“Don’t be long,” Denny says to me. “If you’re gone more than an hour, we’ll be forced to wake His Majesty and come look for you.”

If I’m gone for more than an hour, I hope they form a search party to recover my body.

The estate is quiet and still in the wee hours of the morning. Neither Barret nor I speak until we’re in front of the separate building that houses the manor’s bathing facilities.

Barret looks unsure as we stand in front of the women’s entrance. “I can’t let you go inside without checking things over.”

But going into the women’s bathing chamber is obviously the very last thing he wants to do.

“Perhaps we’ll announce ourselves at the door?” I suggest. “If someone is bathing, they’ll let us know. If no one answers, then you can search the room.”

Still looking less than eager, the knight nods.

Steam wafts out of the room when I open the door, lightly scented with expensive, lightly floral neroli oil. “Hello?” I call. “Is anyone in here?”

When no one answers, Barret and I step inside.

The oil-burning lamps have been dimmed for nighttime, and the small bathing pool in the middle of the room is perfectly still. Quickly, Barret walks through the room, checking the two separate changing rooms before he’s satisfied it’s safe to leave me.

“Don’t be too long,” he warns. “I’d rather not get on your brother’s bad side.”

“I promise I’ll be finished before the hour is up.”

Hopefully.

As soon as he steps outside, I scurry into one of the changing rooms and climb atop the wooden bench. It only takes a few seconds to swing open the small window, though it’s far more of a struggle than I expect to crawl out. The dressing gown makes it challenging to climb, and I end up stuck halfway out the window, my rump and legs flailing helplessly while I stretch for the ground. Suddenly, I slide forward…anddown.

I try to catch myself with my outstretched hands, but I end up falling to the ground with a quiet thump and a murmured “oof.” I freeze, worried Barret might have heard from the other side of the building. Thankfully, the night remains quiet.

Dusting off, I push up to my feet and then quickly dart to the nearby brush. If I remember correctly, the lake is just beyond this copse of cottontuft trees. Lower in elevation here, and further south, the trees and bushes are fully leafed out, hiding me with their foliage. Moments later, I see the moonlight glinting off the surface of the water through the thick limbs.

I brush my fingers over my hip, realizing I didn’t think to bring a dagger. I was so concerned with escaping, I didn’t even bother to arm myself.

I pause in the shadows just before the trees make way to grass, scanning the shoreline as I look for a dark figure. A breeze blows through the cottontufts, and goosebumps prickle my arms.

It feels ominous.

For several seconds, the wind moves through the grass like ocean waves, and then the night goes eerily still. The cool lake water laps at the nearby shore, and though I can’t make them out, frogs croak from their watery perches.

I don’t see anyone, and this doesn’t feel right. I should turn back.

But what if Henrik is waiting for me?

What if it’snotHenrik?

No, I can’t risk it. Lawrence would be livid, and what is the point of getting myself killed? There will be another chance to meet with Henrik. I have to believe that.

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