Page 39 of Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest 4)

“Any idea where he went?”

“We don’t talk much.”

I nod, turning to leave until he calls me back.

“He caters to a different crowd in the evenings, commander.” He narrows his eyes. “A suspicious lot, all of them.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“Now what?” Ayan asks when I return to our group.

“I’ll ask the constable to assign a few guards to the area to watch the shop,” I say. “If he returns, they’ll make the arrest, and we can question him then. There’s not much else we can do now.”

When we return to the castle, I spot a group in the courtyard. Lord Birchall stands in the middle, speaking with a city guard. The knight commander wears a somber expression, and he nods as he listens.

Miguel breaks off from the group when he sees us.

“Three golems were confiscated by city guards in Drebigan,” the sealed knight tells us. “It was a random gate inspection. The men have been taken to the dungeon for questioning.”

“Drebigan?” I ask. “That’s all the way in Ladora.”

Miguel nods, looking uneasy.

“How long have they been smuggling the golems in?” I ask, more to myself than the knight.

“There’s more,” Miguel says heavily. “There was another golem set loose, this time in Evervale.”

Pranmore freezes. “That’s my village.”

“Was anyone hurt?” I demand.

Miguel glances at Pranmore and then looks back at me. “An elderly elf was injured, but she’ll be all right. She warded a group of children who appeared to be the golem’s target. The guards were finally able to take it down, but without a High Vale to assist, it took hours.”

“Children?” Pranmore says, his voice thick.

A heavy weight settles in my chest. “How did they defeat the golem?”

“With the help of several of the local Woodmores’ wards containing it, they tied ropes to its limbs and yanked it apart with horses.”

Is there any way to defeat these weapons without magic?

“Did they find a message?” I ask.

“I’m not certain they looked.”

“Did they bring the golem with them?”

“The pieces of it, yes.”

“Bartholomew, track it down and pry the energy crystal from its chest. See if there’s a note there.”

“Yes, Henrik,” my squire responds sagely, glad to have a task.

“Did you find the necromancer?” Miguel asks.

I shake my head as I watch Bartholomew weave through the growing crowd of guards and soldiers. “He was long gone.”

“Lawrence is in a council meeting. I only stepped out to ensure the smuggled golems were properly secured. I’m finished now and ready to return. You three should come as well.”

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