Page 47 of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
No guards were seen on our path. We only had one chance, and no room for any more mistakes.
Please let the study be empty, please,I kept repeating in my head. That was the only risk we could not be prepared for.Please be empty,I begged.
Francis and I shared a determined nod. There was no fear shown on his face, and I could only hope my features did not give my true feelings away.Breathe.I ordered myself, setting my feet toward the darkness.
Everything slowed. Like in a nightmare, I ran, yet could not feel my body move. Every step felt as though it separated me from my target.
The ringing in my ears was as loud as the bells of the church. My mind felt as though it was in the depths of the ocean—quiet and loud all the same.
We rushed through the door of the study, closing it tight behind us. Anxiety broke through the wall I’d built in my mind, depriving me of any other emotion.
The only source of light in the study was the bright moon peeking out of curtains. Terror refused me the sweet relief of some luck. We were still in a very dangerous position here. No passageways led out of this room, if someone entered we were as good as dead. We had to make it quick.
I moved toward Mother’s table, leaving Francis to guard the door. I grabbed the matches from the Queen’s bookshelf when anxiety hit me with an even stronger force. The shaking in my hands made me lose at the weak attempt to light the candle.Come on!I screamed at the match.I do not have time for this!
When the fire finally illuminated the room, I released the air from my lungs.
Rushing through the endless amounts of paper, I tried to find something—anything—useful. Part of me wanted to take them all and go through the papers when we were in the safety of our home, although the logic in me did not allow such foolishness.
Of course whatever we took would be noticed eventually; but if I took it all, the search for it would start immediately.
Budget, allies agreements, lists of prisoners...
Nothing about the missing people.Damnation!Had we come here for nothing? Had we risked our heads only to leave empty handed? I knew Mother kept theVanishing List. I’d seen it when searching for Duke Barren’s proposition for his son’s marriage: right before Mother permanently banished me from her study.
“We have to hurry, Princess,” Francis whispered.
Anxiety tightened my heart into a painful knot as my hands flipped through the never-ending stack of papers.
Wedding budget, the list of guests...
I wanted to scream!
Weaponry, army, Wurdulacs...
Wurdulacs.
“Princess,” Francis shot me a worried gaze.
The attacks on our kingdom grew in the last few months, Your Majesty. I am sorry to inform you of the details of recent invasions on our borders. The bodies of the victims were not found, we are forced to believe the assaulters are associated with the Wurdulac society. Your youngests are in grave danger, Your Majesty.
I flipped to the next page, finding dozens of letters of the same character.
“Princess!” Francis hissed at me.
The papers crinkled as I folded them into my pocket—
The banging on the marble floor echoed into the room. My gaze slid to Francis’ when I blew out the candle, freezing in place. The ringing thud of heels grew louder from the hallway.
Francis mouthed a curse, squeezing his dagger until his knuckles whitened. He took a slow step toward me, his free hand caught my wrist, pulling me close.
Several more heavy slaps of boots raced toward the study.
My hand instinctively flew to the handle of my sword as I held a deep breath, afraid to make a sound. Someone must have seen us come in here. We were doomed.
The steps stopped right in front of the door to the study, the eternity of silence entered the room.
“Your Majesty, we think there are intruders in the castle,” the voice from the hallway announced when Francis pressed my body against the wall by the door, placing himself beside me. “We heard someone go through the passage in Your oldest daughter’s room.”
