Page 84 of Kingdom of Locks

“Did you not hear me say it was urgent?”

The king’s voice was unyielding, and Amell couldn’t bear to waste such precious time arguing.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t, Father,” he said curtly. He turned back to his guard, who was hovering, watching the two royals uncertainly. “Furn, fresh horses, please.”

“I tolerate a great deal from you, Amell,” said the king, anger under the calm words. “But I won’t tolerate open defiance in the castle courtyard.”

Amell glanced around, seeing that they had indeed gathered several onlookers. Frustration rose to boiling point within him. Why did his father have to take a stand on this issue now of all times?

When he still failed to give in, the king turned to his son’s guard. “Sir Furnis, Prince Amell will not be needing a fresh horse this afternoon. I trustyouare not minded to defy your king?”

Amell saw the horror behind Furn’s suddenly frozen expression, and the sight undid him. It would be unforgivable to put Furn in the position of either defying him or defying his father. He couldn’t do that to his friend.

“Very well, Father,” he said stiffly. “I’ll join you.”

The king searched his son’s eyes for a long moment, then gave a curt nod before mounting the steps back into the castle.

Amell turned to his two companions the moment his father disappeared. He told himself not to panic. Aurelia had said she was only weary, and she hadn’t seemed to get worse in the time he’d been there. And there were many hours still to go before sunset. He would just have to complete whatever his father wanted from him quickly. Still, he didn’t intend to take any chances.

“Bartholomew, give the artifact to Sir Furnis and explain what it is, and its…limitations. Furn.” He slipped his cloak off and threw it at his friend, who barely caught it in time to avoid his face being enveloped. “Go back to the grove, the trees I like to explore. You know the place. I’ll follow as soon as I can, but I don’t know how long that will be, and we can’t afford to wait. Take the artifact Bartholomew will give you, and make sure you’re wearing this cloak. I’ll just have to trust you to figure out the rest.” He met his friend’s eyes seriously. “I’m always asking too much of you, my friend, but please…don’t fail me this time.”

“I won’t, Your Highness,” Furn assured him, looking lost but determined.

With a grateful nod, Amell turned and took the steps up to the castle two at a time. He found the king in his study, Amell’s mother and sister already gathered.

“What is it?” Amell asked without ceremony, the moment he’d burst through the door. “What was so urgent?”

“Amell!” scolded the queen, aghast. “That’s no way to speak to your father.”

“I was in the middle of something, Father,” Amell pleaded, his eyes flicking to the letter in the king’s hand. “What’s the urgent missive? If it’s another anonymous tip about the location of escaped prisoners, I don’t see what you need me for. The last ones turned out to be genuine, and the soldiers rounded the prisoners up without any help from me.”

“Sit down, Amell,” said his father calmly. “And stop making a spectacle of yourself.”

Breathing hard, Amell looked from his father to the two women already seated. His mother still looked a little shocked, and even Tora was watching him with astonishment. Drawing a deep breath, Amell lowered himself into a chair. His thoughts flew to Furn. Had he acquired the artifact yet? Was he leaving for the prison? Surely he’d know where to go. He’d followed Amell to the clump of trees enough times.

“As a matter of fact,” the king continued, when satisfied Amell wasn’t going to interrupt, “I did receive further anonymous tips, yesterday evening. The prisoners in question have already been rounded up. Only nine now remain at large.”

“That’s great, Father,” said Amell, half rising from his seat.

“However.” The king’s unyielding voice sent Amell back onto his chair. “That is not the missive I referred to. I have received a message of some delicacy from King Justin of Albury. And as it is in essence a family matter as well as a state matter of potentially great importance, I wished for you all to hear it immediately.”

Amell raised an eyebrow, his interest caught at last. It was rare for Albury’s monarch to reach out to his fellow sovereigns. Amell’s first thought was that it related to the theory they’d all discussed at Basil’s wedding, of an organized group behind the various attacks against royals. But that didn’t quite tally with what his father had said.

“A family matter?” Amell repeated. “Has Queen Felicity had the baby?”

The king shook his head. “Not yet, as far as I’m aware. This matter relates to King Justin’s sister.” He scanned the thick parchment in his hand, and now that he was paying attention, Amell could see the Alburian royal crest on the outside of it. “Although, by a peculiar chance, it relates to Queen Felicity’s family as well.”

“What does it say, Father?” Tora asked, a touch of Amell’s own impatience in her voice.

King Bern cleared his throat. “Do you all remember that King Justin had a younger sister, who died in an accident as an infant?”

The queen nodded, but both of her children frowned in thought.

“I don’t think I knew that,” Amell said.

“I remember hearing something to that effect,” said Tora. “I don’t actually remember when it happened, though.”

Queen Pietra nodded. “Neither of you would remember. Amell, you were only one at the time, so Tora, you must have been three.”

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