Page 28 of A Song of Thieves

“Yes.”

“Our traitor,” he coolly replies. It wasn’t hard to guess whomever took her was an inside man, but at least now it’s confirmed.

“Do you remember Parker?” she asks, grabbing onto his arm.

“I do. I saw him just yesterday. He was good, from what I recall during his training. Strong, dependable, learned fast.”

Marg spits on the ground in front of her. “Bring him back alive if at all possible. I want him rotting in the dungeons for the rest of eternity for what he’s done. But don’t hesitate to kill him if it means bringing Lena back unharmed. The same goes for any other scum that were in on this.”

The captain nods in answer before turning to face the rest of us. “We are taking too long. We should be on the road by now. Get to it!” he yells.

He moves to his horse, arranging buckles and straps, checking that everything is in place before situating himself in the saddle. Everyone follows suit, the five of us mounted and positioned in a circle around the yard, awaiting the go-ahead.

“We don’t know what awaits us out there, but as far as we know,” begins the captain, “the princess was taken up the West Passageway. We imagine they have around half a day’s head start, are carrying her concealed in a wagon of some kind, and will need to pass through Fort Lowsan before possibly entering Thenstra, or less likely, to the Western Seaport or over through Jadeya. We don’t know who took her, but they are trained enough to get through a palace almost undetected.” I can sense the distress in his voice as he addresses our group.

“And what if we are wrong— what if they aren’t headed to Thenstra?” I ask.

“I have groups getting ready to head to Port Riga, Fort Kotar, and Fort Frennin just in case we are wrong,” Marg tells me. “To get anywhere else in Haythen they’d have to pass through one of those four major cities within Felshan.”

The captain looks at each of us in turn, his gaze unrelenting. “Our only hard objective is to bring back the princess alive and safe. There is no mercy for those who took her, and none will be shown if it comes to a fight. We need to be quick, silent, and efficient,” he says. He’s not wrong, but I don’t acknowledge it with a nod like the others. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me agree with him.

“We’ve been balancing on sandy foundations for longer than I care to admit,” Marg says. “Our princess— our Lena— is the promise of stability, strength, and permanence to the future of this kingdom. We need her back.” She whispers the last part as if speaking the words aloud is too much for her nerves to bear.

I may not know Princess Adalena, but I know the pain of longing for someone who is gone. My heart breaks a little as I watch this once grand lady all but beg us to find the girl.

“Any word of this gets out,” Marg continues, “and it will be the straw that breaks the horse’s back. Felshan will fall, I promise you. Our prince is dead, and our princess is missing. Our kingdom is ripe for the taking. And right now, she’s our final prayer— you’re our final prayer.” Tears form in her eyes, brimming but not spilling over.

She runs a hand over her sleeve, smoothing out any kinks. When she looks forward again her face is polished, the princess underneath shining through. “If it’s a ransom they want, I’m sure a demand will be made soon. I will stay behind. The king and queen are in no state to handle the affairs of the kingdom and a kidnapper’s potential power play for their only daughter and last remaining heir.” She pauses, steadying herself with a hand on her chest.

After a breath, she looks over at Captain Montgomery. “Go quickly and bring her back, Captain. Bring her home.”

He nods sternly. “I will.” He motions to all of us. “Our first break will be at high-day. Head out!”

I make last contact with a haggard Marg. It seems all her energy has left her as she says, “Be safe, Ari.”

“Always.” It’s all I can say before I nudge Prue into a full gallop and head down the road after the guards.

14

Princess Adalena

Acoolbreezedriftsacross my face, pulling my languid mind to consciousness. The last dregs of sleep bring only confusion as I stare up at a cloudless sky.

Why am I outside? Did no one notice and wake me, or did I drift off only moments ago? A heavy jolt sends my body down against something hard. The groan of wood against metal fills my ears as realization takes its time to dawn in my mind.

I’m moving. Is it me? Or is the ground itself moving beneath me? I try to roll over, but I’m wedged between something solid and unforgiving. As I bring my hands to shove against the object both of my palms rise in unison. A rope rests in and around both wrists, binding them tightly together.

I stare at them a moment before my senses return like a bucket of cold water has just been poured over my head. This is not home. I did not willingly climb aboard whatever is moving. I am not cozied up safe in my bed while I simply reorient myself like coming out of a curious, albeit nightmarish, dream.

I have no idea where I am.

Someone has committed treason. They have kidnapped me— have taken the princess of Felshan against her will. At least I think they did. My memory is foggy, still trying to restore itself after a heavy sleep as I try and open my eyes. But they feel so heavy. Too heavy. Perhaps I'll keep them closed a little longer.

I begin to think of my mother and father, my aunt, and even Roan. Do they know I’m gone? I don’t know that Mother’s frayed health can withstand the loss of another child— her last living heir. And Father— would he completely succumb to his grief when he learns of the disappearance of his youngest child? His last hope at redemption and joy in this life, taken from him like a day’s ration of food swiped away from a starving family. All in the same breath as the anniversary of my brother’s death.

“I think she’s stirring,” I hear a distant voice say. It sounds female.

“She’s tied up, Onah.” A deeper voice this time— definitely male. “You don’t need to babysit a girl who probably hasn’t lifted more than her own satin gloves since the day she was born. She’ll sit nice and tight, won’t you,Your Highness?” His mocking tone sends a shiver up my spine.

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