Page 122 of Shadows and Roses

Damon continued talking with little encouragement and no expectation of their contributions. His voice was as easy to listen to as when he'd made up or embellished stories too many years ago. Eventually, his stories had turned into political talks, but with the same rhythm and weave in his words, the same fascination he evoked in his listeners. It probably hadn't taken much effort to win over the rebels.

Castien imagined he would have followed Damon if his life had been different. Or at the end of his bond, when he visited the Silver Briars, he'd be drawn into his friend's story like all the others. Perhaps he'd be a captain, guiding these ragged people of all ages and backgrounds through the gates, lazily saluting Damon on his way into the palace for the first time.

The next few moments made no sense while his thoughts followed an older man walking through the gates.

That man had been taking normal steps one second, then his entire body jerked andslowly fell to the ground, feathers sprouting from his back. Sharp whistles flew through the air. Dull thunks surrounded him.

Castien was still staring at the arrow when Jerome shouted, "Archers! Archers in the trees! Get to cover, now!" The captain took a quick step in front of Castien as he gave his commands. Another dull thump. Jerome’s shoulder jerked—an arrow sprouted from his arm. He grunted and shoved Castien toward the walls. "Move!"

Stumbling blindly, Castien almost tripped over the old man’s twisted body. He started to bend over and help the man, then his mind finally caught up, and he scrambled to the safety of the walls.

His thoughts were still catching up with his rapidly beating heart when they managed to duck inside the walls, arrows barely missing them.

Jerome snapped off the arrow in his shoulder. He drew a dagger and shoved the handle into Castien's hands. "Find the Queen, tell her we're under attack. Don't let her out of your sight." He ran toward the wall, shouting commands at confused guards as he went.

Find the Queen. He could do that. The gates were closing now and the arrows had stopped.

He took a step away from the wall, then remembered Damon. A frantic glance found his friend, unharmed, calming the new recruits. Damon chose that moment to look around as well, waving to Castien.

"I'm going to find the Queen!" Castien shouted, turning toward the palace after receiving a confirming nod.

Bells began to ring. Three quick rings for a warning but not yet urgent. The Queen would be waiting for a messenger.

When he barged through the doors of the Queen’s Wing, she was surrounded by soldiers. They cleared a path for him. Vern and a few others stood beside her.

He swallowed his regrets, breath coming too fast to waste time. "My Queen," he panted, "we're under attack. Jerome's been shot."

Her emerald ice flickered. "Steward, manage the court. Thakris, alert Trishve. Is Jerome alive?"

"Yes. I’m sorry — yes, he's fine, he sent me to find you. He was going up the wall to help." What else had he forgotten to mention?

She nodded, directing a few servants to gather healers, and commanding a contingent of the palace guard to the nobles’ apartments. Vern and Thakris had already left. By the time she was finished, only a half dozen soldiers stood at attention around her.

She glanced over her retinue. "I'm sure they won't let me out of this wing. Please see to the children, Escort Castien. I’ll be in the General's study."

"The captain commanded me not to leave your side." While he wanted to take the way out, he had no interest in irritating Jerome.

With a curt nod, she strode down the hall. Castien fell in step behind the guards. He felt like he should do more—find weapons, armor, perhaps he should help the healers. What did a courtesan know about protecting the Queen?

The room they entered had a large table with a map and various markers. Anais headed straight for a wall of weapons, buckling on leather armor, a few daggers, and a sword. She passed a sword down the line of guards to Castien. Then she marched to the table.

"How many were there?"

She was talking to him. Castien shook his head. "I don’t know. They were in the trees, archers. That’s all I saw—the arrows." And the dead man.

She nodded. "Did all the rebels make itthrough the gates?"

He gritted his teeth. "I don’t know."

A pause. "Did Octavius teach you strategy?"

"No."

"Come." She gestured without looking.

The guards had dispersed to the door and the window. Castien stepped stiffly to her side.

"Here." A claw pointed at a cluster of islands to the west. "Akerami lifted their blockade on our shores. Their exorbitant taxes remain, but it means they’re backing down." The claw flicked to the east. "Shoni’i is quiet. While a direct attack on the palace is their style, I’d expect an entire army cutting a straight path through the countryside first." North. "Delia, I’m not so certain, but Magdus hasn’t complained that his new fort was retaken. They like fire, though. No fire arrows, I assume?"

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