Page 96 of Rise of the Phoenix King (Crown and Crest 4)

“Good to know my place,” I say wryly.

An urgent knock sounds at the door, making me jump. Miguel rushes inside without waiting for an answer. “Several fires have been set in the city, sire.”

Lawrence is on his feet in an instant. “Fires?”

“It appears to be arson. The guards are working to extinguish them, but there are so many…”

“We can’t leave the people trapped inside the walls,” Audra says, horrified.

“But we can’t open the gates,” Xander argues, entering the room and joining the conversation.

Lawrence groans, dropping his face into his hands. “Where are the fires?”

“They’re isolated in the western part of the city right now.”

“Evacuate the people to the east, and whatever you do, find and arrest the arsonist.”

“I’m sure the guards are doing their best—”

Lawrence interrupts sharply, “Find him. Arrest him. Throw him in the dungeon where there’s nothing to burn.”

I exchange a look with Audra, both of us wondering if Lawrence has reached his breaking point. We follow him into the hall, unsure what else to do.

“Your Majesty!” a guard hollers, jogging toward us. His face is red, and his eyes are wild and panicked.

“I’ve already heard about the fires,” Lawrence says.

“Several covens of necromancers are attacking people in the streets.”

Lawrence stops dead in his tracks. Slowly, he repeats, “Covens of necromancers?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What are my guards doing?” he nearly snarls.

“They’re fighting them, sire.”

“Good.” He turns on his heel and heads back to his suite of rooms. “That’s good.”

“Lawrence?” Audra calls. “Where are you going?”

Instead of answering, he closes the door. We stand in the hall, dumbfounded. I turn to my brother. “What do we do?”

“Protect the king,” he says, as a good sealed knight should. His eyes slide to Audra. “And his queen-to-be.”

“But what doIdo?” I ask, feeling useless.

Denny studies me, and then he nods to himself. “Get your bow.”

Before I can respond, Lawrence opens the door and strides out, dressed in leather armor, carrying his sword.

“Your Majesty!” Miguel exclaims, eyeing our king.

Lawrence ignores him.

“Lawrence,” Miguel says this time. “You can’t go out there.”

“I’m at a crossroads in my life.” Turning back, he finally acknowledges his knight. “What kind of king do I want to be? One who hides in his castle while his people are under attack? Or one who will risk death and fight with my men?”

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