Page 65 of A Thieving Curse

Henry’s eyes narrowed, the surrounding wrinkles deepening. After a tense moment, he nodded, his gold crown glinting atop his dark brown hair. “Very well.”

Henry turned on his heel and led them inside the palace, his crimson cape snapping behind him.

Gareth didn’t pay any attention to the halls they passed through as they followed the Rethali king and prince to a richly decorated room that smelled of lavender. Henry sat on a small throne, and Tristan stood at his side. There were a few cushioned chairs, and Gareth took the one next to Mother after his parents were seated. He forced himself to be still as his restlessness increased.

“The princess?” Henry prompted. He was slightly taller than Tristan and had a more muscular frame, but a similarly square face.

Father took a deep breath. “My daughter…was lost in the mountains.” Tristan’s unreadable expression slipped into shock. Henry shifted back in his throne. “We were attacked by a manticore. We lost two men. In the chaos Raelyn’s horse bolted.” Father cleared his throat. “We found her horse…half eaten. We searched for four days, but…we did not find her.”

“I…am sorry for your loss,” Henry replied.

Tristan stopped gaping and bowed his head. “My condolences.”

“She’s not dead!” Gareth gripped the arms of his chair.

Henry blinked. “What?”

“We didn’t find her body.” He looked to Tristan. “She’s still out there, I’m sure of it. Some monster is holding her captive, and—”

“We have no evidence of that,” Father interrupted. “Gareth—”

“She just vanished without a trace,” Gareth said quickly, “somethingmusthave taken her—”

“Your dedication is…admirable,” Tristan said slowly. “But a girl alone in those mountains? She couldn’t have survived.”

Gareth surged to his feet. “Then why didn’t we find her body? There wasnothing,which has to mean she’s alive.”

“Or that there was nothing left to find,” Tristan countered. He immediately lowered his gaze, his shoulders curving in as he cast a nervous glance at his father.

Gareth shook his head, disgusted. “No. No, she’s alive, and she needs our help, and none of you arelistening!”

Father tugged on Gareth’s arm, pulling him back to his seat. “Gareth has taken Raelyn’s death—”

“She’s not dead!” Henry and Tristan gave him pitying looks, and Gareth clenched his fist, his temper rising.

“It’s been difficult for him.” Father gave him a warning glare.

“I understand,” Henry said. “This must be very hard on you all.” He strummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. “But…this leaves us with an unfulfilled treaty. How do you intend to remedy that, King Weston?”

“Remedy?” Gareth demanded, leaning forward. “Shall he just produce another daughter to sell to you?”

“Gareth!” Father hissed.

Tristan’s mouth turned down.

Henry reddened. “Perhaps the young prince should excuse himself.”

“I’m not leaving until I’m riding out with a search party to look for Raelyn.”

“How long has she been missing?” Henry asked, his focus pointedly on Father, not Gareth, and his features tense.

Gareth answered anyway. “A week. But—”

“A week?” Henry leaned back in his throne, his demeanor annoyed and dismissive. “Tristan has hunted in the mountains. I trust his assessment.”

“Prince Tristan, please.” Gareth locked eyes with Tristan as the prince lifted his head. “There was no blood, no sign of her near her horse’s carcass—”

“She’s dead,” Tristan intoned. “A week with the beasts and freezing nights? There are creatures that could have carried her body far from the pass. I’m sorry, but my father is right. In the absence of Princess Raelyn, other arrangements must be made to fulfill the terms of the treaty.”

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