Page 86 of Kingdom of Locks

“That’s not what I’m doing,” Amell insisted. He drew a breath, trying to project calm. He just had to get Aurelia out of that tower, and then everything would make sense to everyone. “Very well, Father. If you want me to take the message, I can. But first I think I’d best return to the prison, inform the warden of my intended departure.”

“For the last time, Amell,sit down,” his father growled. “Any messenger can fulfill that function. You are not going anywhere.”

So Amell was forced to sit, his leg bouncing frantically, his mind even more so, while his father composed a tortuously slow response to King Justin’s letter. Queen Pietra and Tora seemed very interested in the process, interjecting with suggestions, and arguing over wording. But Amell couldn’t focus on any of it.

All he could think about was Aurelia. Aurelia weak and fading, in danger because of him, because he’d kissed her. Aurelia the victim of Cyfrin’s repulsive schemes. Aurelia a princess, sister to Albury’s intimidating king.

No wonder the enchanter thought he would gain from marrying her! He would rise drastically in status from the union. But Amell would never let that happen. Even if she hadn’t kissed him, even if she had no interest in him whatsoever, he would never allow Cyfrin to carry out his plans. He realized his hands had balled into fists in his lap, and he smoothed them out.

Pushing all those other considerations to the side, Amell wasn’t sure how to feel about this revelation of Aurelia’s identity. It would make her eligible in his mother’s eyes. That much was certain, even without the court training. She’d actually been toying with the idea of their marriage when Amell was still a baby! But how would it affect Aurelia’s feelings?

Amell was ashamed to discover that some part of him had been overconfident, sure of his success with Aurelia once she was out of the tower. Because as far as he’d known, she had no one else, and he was, well…the words made him wince even in the privacy of his head. But however conceited it made him sound, it was still the truth that he was the most sought-after young man in Fernedell.

What a vain fool he’d been.

Aurelia was a princess, from one of the proudest houses in Solstice. Amell knew her brother thought him a frivolous fool, although King Justin had never been so vulgar as to say so to his face. And Aurelia would find that she had all the options in the continent when it came to choosing a husband. Surely it couldn’t hurt that Amell was a prince, but it was no guarantee.

By the time Amell was finally released, having been forced to endure a luncheon, it was past one o’clock in the afternoon. Furn had been gone for almost three hours. For all Amell knew, the guard was already on his way back to Fernford with Aurelia. Although even if Bartholomew’s artifact had worked, it was hard to imagine Aurelia would be willing to just leave the area, with Abigail still trapped in the tower.

Either way, Amell had no intention of sitting around, waiting to find out. He hadn’t told his father that he’d sent Furn on an errand, allowing the king to believe that the guard was standing by, ready to accompany Amell on a journey to Albury. But when the prince rode out of the city a short while later, his father’s letter tucked into a pocket, his destination was most definitely within Fernedell. By the time his father realized Amell had taken off on his own, he hoped to be out of reach.

The road was busier than he was used to, due to a large seasonal market being held in the capital. In frustration, Amell directed his horse off the main road, choosing a narrower and less used route. He knew that in doing so he ran the risk of missing Furn in passing. But he thought it unlikely that his guard had made a clean departure from the tower. Chances were high that they were all still in the clearing, arguing about who would use the artifact.

Either way, Amell should be there well before sunset. And if the worst came to it, and neither of them could get out, well…Amell touched the hilt of his sword reassuringly as he rode. Cyfrin would find himself confronted with an unexpected visitor when sunset came.

Chapter Eighteen

“How are you feeling, Aurelia?”

“I’m all right,” Aurelia answered her mother. It was true. She still felt weak, but it hadn’t gotten any worse. A little better, even, from sitting in stillness all morning. “I really don’t think I’m dying. I guess Cyfrin was right.”

“Words no one should ever say,” the other woman responded dryly. “But I know what you mean. I’ve read in his notes about the animals he used as vessels. They all died instantly upon his magic being extracted. The fact that you didn’t is a good sign.”

“A very good sign,” Aurelia agreed, unable to help laughing a little. She looked at the small patch of sky she could see out the window. “It must be about noon. Amell could be back any minute, if he made good time.”

Her mother stood, moving to the window and surveying the clearing. Aurelia couldn’t see the ground, but her mother’s sharp intake of breath told her that something was happening.

“What is it? Is he here?”

The other woman shook her head. “It’s someone else. But that’s the prince’s cloak he’s wearing, I’m almost certain.”

“What?” Aurelia pulled herself out of her chair. Had something happened to Amell?

“Uh…hello?” The unfamiliar voice carried faintly up to their tower room. Aurelia reached the window to see a tall man, several years older than Amell, staring up at them in astonishment. He was indeed wearing Amell’s cloak, but underneath it he appeared to be in some kind of uniform.

“Who are you?” Mama Gail—or rather Imelda—demanded. “How did you get here?”

The man bowed. “My name is Sir Furnis, ma’am. And I was sent by Prince Amell to…well, I don’t know exactly what I’m supposed to do, to be honest.”

“Furn!” Aurelia cried. “We’ve heard all about you. Where’s Amell?”

The guard blinked, apparently taken aback by the information that his reputation had gone before him. “He was detained in the capital, miss,” he said. “It was unavoidable, but he seemed quite frantic that no time be lost. He wasn’t able to explain the situation—I admit I had no idea what I would find here—but he sent me with this.” Sir Furnis held something up, and squinting at it, Aurelia realized it was a small ring.

“What is it?” she asked doubtfully.

“According to the enchanter who gave it to me,” the guard explained, speaking carefully as though reciting something from memory, “it’s an artifact to counteract restraining magic.”

Aurelia drew in a sharp breath, exchanging an excited look with her mother.

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