Page 3 of Kingdom of Locks

“Good,” said Imelda firmly. “I’m getting you some more.” She stepped back up onto the log.

“What is this place?” Racquel asked, frowning up at the wall. “I didn’t realize there were any estates this close to the Summer Castle.”

“Probably because there aren’t anymore,” grunted Imelda, stretching up to reach more honeysuckle halfway up the wall. “Judging by how overrun it is, I’m guessing it hasn’t been a functioning estate for years.”

Her questing fingers had just closed around a new lot of honeysuckle when a loud crack made both women jump. Alarmed, Racquel spun around to see the vines growing over a nearby patch of wall shake and then part, as someone forced open an overgrown gate from behind them.

“Thieves!” The angry cry preceded the young man who strode out into the clearing. His gaze fixated on Imelda, who had barely managed to keep her footing on the log at his abrupt appearance. “What gives you the right to come here and steal my flora, you little rodent?”

“That’s enough,” said Racquel, her anger rising at hearing her friend spoken to in such a way. “She was picking them for me.”

“And what givesyouthe right?” he sneered, turning his attention to Racquel.

He received his answer without her having to say a word. Her guards had obviously seen his arrival, and Racquel felt them converging behind her, silent menace in their posture.

The newcomer’s gaze passed from the guards to Racquel’s face, and sudden understanding hit. “You’re the queen!” he gasped.

“That’s right,” chimed in Imelda, hopping down from the log at last. “So show a little respect.”

The man barely glanced at her as he responded, his voice cold. “Respect for thieves, come to steal from my garden? Not likely.”

Imelda drew in a sharp breath. “What nonsense! How were we to know the estate was inhabited? You should take better care of your property. Besides, the honeysuckle is on the outside of the wall,andit’s little better than a weed!”

“A weed?” scoffed their accuser. “You clearly know nothing of magic. Honeysuckle is a valuable plant, useful for many kinds of enchantments.”

At the mention of magic, Racquel’s guards had fallen into formation around her, and she had to lean around one of them to watch the ongoing confrontation. One of the guards, she was glad to see, was keeping Imelda’s daughter safely back from the action.

“An enchanter, are you?” said Imelda, with disfavor. “Then you have even less excuse for your rudeness.”

“Just as a queen has even less excuse for stealing,” he said coldly, his eyes on Racquel.

She stared back in growing anger, his sheer audacity momentarily robbing her of speech. She wasn’t normally vain about the position that brought her mostly pain, but it was a little much for this stranger—barely twenty years old, by the look of him—to speak so to his queen.

“I will pay you for your honeysuckle, if that’s what you desire,” she said icily, drawing on her court training as she raised one sculpted eyebrow. “But I won’t tolerate your rudeness a moment longer.”

The enchanter wasn’t listening to her. His eyes were fixed on her bulging stomach, understanding suddenly dawning.

“You’re expecting,” he declared, as if he’d made an impressive discovery. “Is that why you wanted the honeysuckle?” A gleam of interest shot into his eyes. “Some enchanters think that denotes susceptibility to magic in the child.” He shook his head slightly. “An old wives’ tale, most likely, but no matter. Either way, a baby is just what I need.” He met her eyes at last, his own shining in triumph. “I’ll take the baby as payment for your theft.”

Racquel barely heard Imelda’s angry gasp, her senses swimming in her own shock and alarm. “How dare you?” she demanded, her hand flying protectively to her stomach.

“You said you’d pay me,” the enchanter replied, his voice hard and angry.

“In coin!” Racquel said coldly.

“I don’t want your gold,” the man retorted, his tone dismissive. “I want the baby.” He rubbed his hands together. “A prince or princess of Albury…quite apart from the vessel, the political uses could be invaluable.”

“You’re mad,” said Racquel blankly, taking a step back. But even as she said the words, a sick unease gripped her. The calculating gleam in his eyes wasn’t consistent with madness. He was utterly unreasonable, but she was fairly sure his mind was sound. Which made his calm demands all the more terrifying.

“That’s enough,” said one of her guards, stepping forward with his weapon raised suggestively. “Move back from the queen, or we will remove you.”

“You all heard her!” the enchanter said angrily. “She said she’d pay me! And I’ve named my price. The child for the honeysuckle. That baby is mine by right, and I will claim it.”

“You were warned,” growled the guard. He raised his spear and took a step toward the man. But before he could lay a hand on him, there was a bang, and thick smoke suddenly filled the air.

Everyone in the group lifted their arms over their faces, coughing as the smoke began to dissipate. When Racquel could again see the clearing, there was no sign of the enchanter. With a frantic gesture, she felt her stomach, half afraid that the baby would somehow be gone.

But of course her passenger was still there, even giving a reassuring kick under Racquel’s hand.

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