Page 39 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

Only one thing lightened my mood: Ilya. And I knew just where to find her.

Chapter18

Ilya

We finally had information that might aid the rebels. At the feast a week ago, Gabriel cajoled some of the guards he’d arm-wrestled with into divulging their training on horseback in preparation for an upcoming mission. Two days ago, I trailed a particularly chatty man through the gardens and caught wind of a scouting mission to the Marsali border. They’d target that city-state next, I could feel it in my bones. If we could let the rebels know, perhaps they could warn Marsali and stop the emperor’s advance.

Lucien left for some unknown venture the day after the feast to mark the change of seasons. Once he returned, I’d see what other tidbits I could pry out of him. He’d already been gone a week. Surely, he would be back sooner than later. During the feast, Emperor Ryszard had announced that we’d be allowed to attend the festival of Vespera. It followed closely after the change of seasons and was one of my favorites of the year, with massive bonfires lit to pay homage to the Goddess and ask her blessing for a bountiful harvest before the resting season.

The festival would be our chance to get out information. We wouldn’t need to rely on a maid or someone else to sneak it out of the castle—we could do it ourselves. Gabriel had already found a merchant, one who periodically delivered goods to the castle and who he was certain sympathized with our cause.

I said one last prayer to Vespera to aid our efforts during her festival before I left the prayer room and rejoined Lucien’s guards. The same six worked in shifts of two and escorted me everywhere since he’d left the castle. To make sure there was no repeat of the other night’s debacle, possibly, but more likely to report on my actions and ensure I stayed in his quarters despite his absence.

“Captain Lucien returned today.” At Ajax’s comment, my heart leaped. A reaction I still didn’t know how to contend with.

I schooled my features into a genial smile. “That’s good news.”

Finally, I could try to learn the aim of his mission. Since none of us had been led to the gallows, it likely didn’t involve an outright rebellion of our homelands.

Or if it did, Ryszard waited to dispatch his punishment at an opportune moment. His eyes roving over us all at lunch today had caused my skin to crawl and the food to turn leaden in my stomach. What did Lucien see in him to follow his lead and wreak so much havoc? What did any of them see?

“He’s meeting with some of the others now,” Ajax continued. “But I assume he’ll be back to his quarters before too late.”

“And was it a good venture, wherever he went?”

“He’s unharmed, if that’s what you’re asking.”

It wasn’t, but that confirmation untwisted the knot I hadn’t realized sat deep within me. Ajax didn’t seem willing to disperse any useful information, so I let the topic drop. He wasn’t a bad guy, and I sensed even the guards were being watched. One step out of line for them could be worse than for us.

Ryszard needed his honored guests alive. But the guards…he had plenty of those.

* * *

“The weary traveler returns home,”I teased when Lucien entered the room later that day. I set the book of stories I’d been reading on top of the stack I’d finished that week, which included Lucien’s book of war.

He grunted, staring me down. “Weary is right. We nearly rode our horses into the ground trying to make it back by nightfall.”

Riding in all that armor… What a burden for the poor horse.

“Such a long day,” I sympathized. “You must have ridden from very far away.”Tell me where.

“Indeed.”

Ugh.

“What happened to draw you away so urgently?” I tried a new tactic.

“Some questionable activity to the…east. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Truth or lie? He wasn’t one to stumble over words. I rose to my feet, letting a show of concern flash across my face. “Did someone step out of line?” My hand trailed to my mouth. “Their guest here…are they…will they…”

Though a show, I didn’t have to force the worry that colored my words.

As hostages, we’d been lucky to see little punishment, at least in the weeks I’d lived here. However, I’d heard the tale of how Lord Noren Bacher was beheaded after his father rose up with men-at-arms against Ryszard after faking submission. His younger twin brothers resided with us now. The taxes upon their lands had been doubled. No one wanted to suffer Noren’s fate or have their people bear an increased burden.

“Your concern for others is admirable, but no one will die tonight.” His eyes locked with mine across the room.

“And tomorrow?”

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