Page 20 of Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest 4)

“And you only thought to tell usnow?” I demand.

Caldwell rubs the back of his neck, giving Ayan a surreptitious look. “It was a matter of loyalty, Lady Clover. You understand, I’m sure. But seeing as how our new duke is friendly with—”

“Enough,” Ayan snaps. “It doesn’t matter why you didn’t talk until now. We need to knowwhopaid you to transport them.”

Caldwell shakes his head, extending his hands, his hat flopping as it untwists midair. “We were told the orders were coming from the duke’s family, but—”

“That’s impossible,” Audra says sharply, seething as she rises and presses her hands to the table. “My mother wouldnever.”

“I know that,” Lawrence assures her in a calm tone. “Your family has proven loyal. One random golem isn’t going to change that.”

Caldwell clears his throat. “What about a hundred?”

“A hundred?” I demand, horrified at the thought. “Ahundred?”

“I had ten on my ship,” Caldwell says warily. “And there’s been at least ten other ships loaded with them as well.”

I look back at the golem, never having seen one in pristine condition before. The packing straw has been pulled away, leaving it lying in the long wooden crate like a patient upon a physician’s table. It’s a terrifying work of art, created to look like a man but covered in golden metal instead of skin, with crafted joints that fit together. It even has hands with knuckled fingers, but it’s thicker than either human or elf. It must weigh as much as five men.

This one is lifeless, at least for now. Like any other Vallen innovation that operates independent of its creator, it requires energy crystals to run.

“These aren’t the golems I saw in Revalane,” Ayan says quietly, stepping up next to me and studying the metal soldier. “Augmirian had an entire warehouse full—a metal army. But they were talvernum, and this appears to be some sort of alloy.”

“No matter, they are most certainly golems,” Lawrence says. “And I have no doubt they can be controlled by magic.”

“Let’s find out.” Ayan presses his hand to the golem’s chest, shaking his head in frustration when nothing happens. He’s been trying to break his mind ward, but so far, he can still only access his magic when he’s angry.

“Still not working?” Lawrence asks. He jerks his chin at me. “Clover, punch him and see if it helps.”

“Tempting offer.” Ayan’s mouth quirks to the side in a smirk. “But I doubt sparring with Clover will have the desired effect.”

Taking offense, Henrik tenses beside me. I merely roll my eyes, used to the elf’s meaningless flirting.

Ignoring her cousin, Audra joins us by the crate, turning her eyes on Lawrence as if asking permission. He gives her a curt nod.

She places her hand on the metal soldier’s chest, directly feeding him magic in lieu of an energy crystal. As she explores his enchantment, his fingers respond, and then his hand. It hovers above him, the inanimate object unaware of the unease he’s causing.

As soon as Audra withdraws, his hand falls back, and he goes lifeless once more.

Audra gives it a thoughtful look. “It’s been spelled with a complicated battle enchantment.

“So much for hoping he was an ugly garden ornament,” Ayan says, cutting through the tense silence.

“It has to be Augmirian’s men.” Audra puts space between herself and the Vallen weapon. “They must be acting on their own, hoping to get revenge now that the cursed necklaces have been destroyed and the noblewomen are no longer at risk.”

“But what’s their plan?” Henrik asks. “Even a golem army needs a leader.”

“Where were you instructed to bring the shipments?” Lawrence asks Caldwell.

“Heistone. But I came up through Forsten to avoid detection.”

“Wait.” Ayan raises his finger in the air, thinking. “They’re bringing them through the main port? How are they getting past the port guards?”

“They certainly checked in Forsten,” Caldwell grumbles. “They almost threw me behind bars when they saw what I was transporting.”

“How did you avoid it?” I ask.

“How do you think?” he answers gruffly. “I told them I was working for the king, and that me and my cargo required a proper escort to Cabaranth. They hemmed and hawed a bit, but they finally agreed after they inspected the golems. If I’d had energy crystals on me, I’d likely be strung up in some prison.”

---