Page 30 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

Deep sorrow touched his eyes. “About the same, isn’t it?” He shook his head and looked away. “We never found his body, so we assumed the worst. A young boy with a distinctive mark like this would have been easy enough to identify, especially with the entire city-state searching for him.”

From the grief etched in his features, the loss still hit him hard, even though twenty-something cycles had passed. He must have treasured his nephew very much. Time and prayers to The Four had not produced another for their family.

“I’m exhausted,” Elin exclaimed with a sigh.

No doubt, since she’d danced the night away. Had she even bothered to eat?

“Any interesting partners?” I asked. She’d had no lack of them, and with her innocent demeanor they might be more loose-tongued with her than with the rest of us.

Elin tilted her head to the side. “A few guards. They were all gentlemen though. I wouldn’t dance with those drunken ruffians.”

A pity. The drunken ones might have let something interesting slip. Perhaps I should have danced after all.

Shouts erupted two tables down. Two men locked arms and tried to wrestle each other to the ground, knocking a chair over amid their scuffle.

Elin winced as the game grew raucous. “I think I’m going to go to bed.”

“I’ll let you know how my duel turns out,” Gabriel promised with a wink. That brought the hint of a smile back to her lips.

“I’ll go with you. I’m about done with this anyway.” Understatement. I’d been done with this for a while. Curfew had been extended for this night only; however, watching others get drunk and forget where they were didn’t hold much appeal.

We headed for the doors, dodging dancers and drunks. I no longer spied Lucien amid the crowd. One more trial I’d hoped to avoid. The guards who normally accompanied me were absent tonight as well.

Another test, Lucien?

I barely held back a sigh.Probably.

I warred between going straight to his quarters or walking with Elin. A guard I didn’t recognize slunk back toward the dining area. His eyes roved all over her before a sharp whistle screeched through the air.

“Disgusting,” I murmured in his wake. Elin’s frown and pursed lips matched my own. “I’ll walk with you.”

“Is that alright?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t think anyone is sober enough to notice or care.”

Mounted torches beckoned us down the grey, stone hallway, shedding light on the lack of routine guard patrols. Perhaps on my way back to Lucien’s quarters, I could make a few detours. If they were going to slack on their patrols, I’d make them pay.

One turn of the hallway from her room, another set of whistles and laughter stopped us in our tracks. Fine hairs rose along my arm as I twisted around to find three men headed our way. The crimson and grey of their outfits marked them for castle guards, but the glassy look in their eyes, stumble of their steps, and unkempt appearance told me more about them than anything.

“You ladies lookin’ for some company?” the tallest one asked, a slur to his voice.

“No, thank you,” I replied, voice firm and edged. My back stiffened as I notched my chin higher.

“Ilya…” Elin’s voice quivered as I ushered her behind me.

The men slunk closer. “Come on. The party’s not over yet.”

“It is for us.” Where were the guards who always patrolled these halls?

“Go,” I whispered to Elin. “Get in your room and lock it.”

“What about you?” Elin’s gaze flitted between me and the men inching their way in our direction, one stumble after another.

“I’ll be fine.” I swallowed the tightness in my throat. Probably a lie, but better one victim than two. “Go. Now!” I commanded with a shove. Elin finally relented, hurrying down the hallway. My heart hammered in my chest. In moments the men would be upon us.

“Where she going?” one man groaned.

“Our emperor’s holdin’ out on us. Keepin’ the beauties locked away.” His attention slid past me to Elin’s retreating form.

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