Page 103 of A Kingdom of Shadows

His eyes shift back to mine, and I can't help it. His stare, the intensity of his words from the other side of the door; it is soul aching that I must look away.

I hear the tense rawness in his voice as he says to Meriel, "Lead the way."

More orders are shouted out. Some to stay vigilant, others to protect the princesses and king from any possibility they could be next. When I finally face the courage to look in Darius's direction, he already has his back turned, a simple speck in the distance. I fiddle with the coin around my neck and press it against my heart. I'm still standing as others try to tell me I must leave, go back to my chambers, and lock the door.

Instead, I breathe heavily, frustrated and furious as I think of the king. Be it my distrust against him lately or that an innocent elf such as Golrai was tragically killed, that I march back inside the castle, intent on finding the king.

The sage walls look dark and terrifying in the dimness as I pass the halls and rooms. I'm nearing the king's study, unsure if he is in there—

"Nara!" Aias's voice stops me from behind. I turn to find him coming out of his room, confused and worried. "What is all the commotion? I heard screams—"

"Golrai," I say, unable to hide the stress in my tone. "The maid. She was found dead."

His mouth drops. "What—" He looks around as if we shouldn't gossip. He lowers his voice. "Murder?"

I nod, and he blinks, placing a hand against the wall to steady himself. "Is the killer still out there? Was it a troll's doing? Did they breach the walls?"

"There was no break in attempt," I sigh, darting my gaze elsewhere. I'm unsure whether I should tell him I believe it was the king's doing. Saying it out loud might sound stupid. And even if Aias confides in me the most, I don't want to bother him with my theories. "I think you should—" I pause as I see Thallan walking out from one of the rooms and heading straight to the king's study.

What does he think he's doing?

"Look, Aias," I say in a hurry. "I need to speak with someone before I return to my room. Please, could you go there and make sure Tibith is okay?"

He nods a few times. "Sure, of course, I'll go there now!"

I thank him, and as he leaves, I stalk toward the study, entering without as much of a knock. I'm pressing the door closed behind me as I look straight at Thallan sorting through some paperwork. The king is not here, no sconces are lit, and Thallan's attire is only a white shirt, breeches, and a green tie holding his hair back.

It's not his usual forest-rich garments.

"Does the king know you are looking through his stuff?"

Thallan's head lifts, and he looks at me, his hand still holding some of the parchment. "The king asked me to fetch work that deals with his niece."

My brow goes up. "At this hour?"

"Should I not ask you the same, considering you are here too?" He's approaching me now. All I see is a frightening glow of green eyes through the dark until some light from the glass panel windows forms a halo from behind him. He raises the sheet in his hand, and I make out the name Arlayna Fallcrown, then the words successor and queen, before he lowers it and looks at me as if waiting for the answer.

"Someone was killed," I say, crossing my arms over my chest. "I assume you must know that by now."

"Ah, yes, the maid."

"Yes, Golrai. Her head was caved in, her throat slit, and it appears the one who did it was no outsider."

He laughs unkindly. "And you suppose I am a suspect?"

Actually, it is the king I first suspected, but I would not rule out his emissary.

"I did not kill the maid." He turns away from me, strolling around as he drops the parchment back onto the desk. "What use would I have for killing someone so worthless?"

I swallow hard, despising his use of that word.

"Have you thought—" He pivots in one mocking movement "—perhaps it was one of our own guards?"

I don't have a response. None that would work well for that question.

It's merely an instinct, a gut feeling.

He sighs and shakes his head. "Why must you be so quick to judge?"

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