38. Keelan

Chapter thirty-eight

Keelan

I couldn't stop sobbing. Halfway across Lake Irina, both Atikus and I stopped rowing. I gripped the oars, desperate for anything to hold on to.

We were sore, tired, and hungry.

Above all, misery had become our cloak.

I couldn't stop replaying the nightmarish scene of Tiana's death. Her smile would flash into my mind, then be replaced by her pained grimace as the crimson-robed figure plunged a dagger into her chest. I couldn't shake the haunting sounds of drums and that incessant humming.

The murderous melody echoed in my mind.

It made my skin crawl.

I would shake Tiana's image—only for Sil to fall face forward in my mind's eye, arrows jutting out of her body.

I was there to save Tiana, to protect her, and I'd failed.

I was there to protect my team, to bring them home safely. I failed that, too .

Guilt and grief threatened to shred my heart, but I was also angry . I was angry at Sil, that she gave up, that she turned to face certain death rather than trust her team. I was angry that she left us to go on while she slept.

Then my anger turned inward. How dare I blame her for her bravery, for her strength, for her sacrifice. She died saving us. Saving me .

She'd saved me.

And she'd done it because I had messed up and given our location away.

I had failed, on all accounts.

My eyes burned, and my throat was raw, but I couldn't stop the sobs.

"Put the oars down a minute. We both need to rest." Atikus tucked his oars inside the boat, then edged forward and placed his hands on my forearms. He helped me stow my oars, then wrapped me in fatherly arms. There, shrouded in the darkness of a moonless night in the middle of our sea of sorrow, two men became father and boy once more.

"I couldn't save her, Atikus. We were so close . . . but . . . there were so many of them. I couldn't save her."

"Oh, Keelan. My boy." Atikus gripped me tighter, waiting until my tears were exhausted. I lost track of how long Atikus held me, how long I surrendered to the comfort of his embrace .

I sat back, wiping my eyes and nose with a sleeve. Atikus gave me a pat on the shoulder and headed back to his seat in the front of the boat.

"We'd best start rowing again. I'd rather get to shore before sunrise, just in case . . ." Atikus's thought trailed off.

An hour and a half later, I spotted the shore and the dim lights of Cradle's dock. A few boats bobbed next to a long pier, much larger than the dock we'd left in Irina's Seat. Movement on shore caught my eye as several torches flared to life. I thought I could make out the silhouette of men holding nocked bows, but the torchlight hindered my vision.

"This is the King's Guard." A strong voice, rich with authority, carried across the open water. "Bring your boat in nice and slow. We have bows nocked and ready, so don't resist."

Atikus and I shared a look.

The voice called out again, all friendliness gone. "Dock your boat. If you resist, we will shoot."

We rowed the last quarter mile and were greeted by heavily armed men. When we reached the dock, one of the men helped Atikus out of the boat while another boarded and tied it off. Two other soldiers kept bows trained on me as I stepped onto the dock. The moment I stretched to my full height, the men shuffled, careful to keep their bows aimed at my chest .

Another soldier stepped forward and slapped iron cuffs on my wrists, then shoved me onto the land at the base of the pier. I got a brief look at the other boats and noted two bore the crest of the Royal Protectorate on their hulls.

As soon as our feet touched land, a tall man approached. Silver officer's pins on his collar reflected torchlight. One of our escorts leaned toward the man and whispered, "Sir, they wear the robes, but their masks were in the bottom of the boat."

The officer's stare intensified.

He met my eyes and placed one hand on the pommel of his sword. "You're a long way from home, gentlemen, and from the looks of things, you had a rough trip. By the King's agreement, Children are to stay on the other side of this lake. Why are you here? I'll give you one opportunity to tell me the truth."

I glanced toward Atikus, then back at the officer. When I spoke, my voice carried authority born of years in uniform.

"My name is Lieutenant Keelan Rea of the Saltstone Guard. This is Mage Atikus Dani. We are here under direct orders from the Captain-Commander of the Guard and Arch Mage of Melucia investigating the kidnapping of a prominent Healer from our city that occurred not long ago. We followed her kidnappers through the mountains to Irina's Seat, where we disguised ourselves as Children and attempted a rescue. We failed and barely escaped. A third member of our team, Guard Sil Wesser, did not make it."

The officer's eyes widened. I glanced around to see other soldiers within earshot also shaken by our tale.

"You say the Healer was kidnapped from Melucia?"

I nodded. "That's right. She ran an infirmary near the center of the city, across from the Guard Complex. I saw her the day before her kidnapping, and we had reason to believe that the Children were responsible."

The officer's eyes darted toward the other men. "Take these two to the command tent and get them something hot to drink. Take whatever's in the boat with them." He started to turn, then stopped. "Not a word of this to anyone. Hear me? Not one word."

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

Not long after, we found ourselves sitting on wooden chairs inside a pavilion housing the leadership of the King's army-on-the-move. Our shackles had been removed, but the two soldiers who'd escorted us to the tent stood guard a few paces away.

Atikus sipped tea, savoring the heat and honey. "I think that officer recognized your name."

I leaned toward the Mage and whispered, "Maybe. Or maybe the idea of a team of Melucians roaming the countryside while the Kingdom preps for an invasion threw him off. I can't remember getting this many sideways looks since you took Dec and me into the guild the first time, back when we were children."

"Maybe they've just never seen anyone so big or ugly?" Atikus grinned and wiggled his bushy brows.

I rolled my eyes. Even when sitting captive in the middle of soon-to-be enemy territory, the old Mage joked. It was a wonder he hadn't asked for food yet.

The officer we'd spoken with walked into the tent and headed straight for us. The two guards snapped to attention, but the officer ignored them, pulling up a chair.

"Mage, Lieutenant, I'm Commander Evan Paul of the King's Protectorate. His Majesty wants to talk with you, so here's how this will work. The two men behind you, along with another six, will accompany us to the King. Out of deference to your rank and reputation, Mage Dani, you will not be bound. Lieutenant Rea, I'm afraid your bulk alone requires shackles for the audience. I believe the story you told me was true and hope some good can come of this, but make no mistake, if you even flinch toward the King, I will personally put you down. Understood?"

Atikus nodded.

I spoke in a low voice so only Paul cold hear. "Commander, why does the King want to see us? We've already failed in our mission. It's time I got Mage Dani home."

Paul shook his head. "You think I know how to read a king's mind? We'll both find out soon enough. Let's go. "

The two guards led us out of the tent with Commander Paul trailing. As soon as we exited, six additional men joined the procession, forming a box around Atikus and me.

These weren't common soldiers.

Their all-black uniforms with only a hint of olive and a gold braid across one shoulder set them apart, but it was their movement that gave them away. They flowed with the athletic grace and easy confidence of the elite. Their eyes never rested, scanning before them in predatory vigilance. These were men of the King's personal guard.

As we traveled through the center of town, I noted soldiers milling about, easily outnumbering townsfolk by three or four to one.

We slowed as we approached a wooden two-story building. A roughly hewn sign bearing a painted parrot swung above the door. Freshly painted crimson script read, "The Perky Parrot."

A line of the Royal Guard stood like statues in front of the building, their heads unmoving, but their eyes never still. None dared step close. Even passing soldiers in verdant doublets gave their braided brothers a wide berth.

"This is where we leave you in the hands of our good friends of the Royal Guard. Lieutenant, one word of advice: no games. Their sense of humor was removed at birth." Commander Paul gave Atikus a nod, then he and his men marched back toward the command tent .

Our six escorts didn't move; nor did they look at Atikus or me. They scanned the surrounding area and stood in place.

Atikus was about to say something when the doors to the inn opened and a behemoth in Royal Guard colors stalked toward us. His shoulders were wide, and his doublet barely contained the muscles that bulged beneath. Two daggers hung from his belt, one on either side, while the hilt of a colossal broadsword peered over his back. I was speechless as I looked up at the man. I'd never met anyone who eclipsed my height by a full head. As the man approached, the six guards surrounding us took a couple of steps outward, maintaining their perimeter but giving the giant space and deference.

The man glanced at Atikus, then bore a hole through me before surprising us with a polite bow. When he spoke, he sounded more like a courteous concierge greeting his guests than a fearsome warrior. "Gentlemen, welcome. I am Captain Marv, commander of His Majesty's Royal Guard. When we enter, you will bow to His Majesty and wait to be recognized. I will be with you every moment. Please do not speak unless His Majesty asks you to do so. Do not step past where I stand. The audience will end poorly if you do, and my men hate cleaning up after unfortunate audiences. Questions?"

We shook our heads .

"Good. Let's not keep the King waiting." Proctor turned to duck through the door while the perimeter guards tightened their box and edged forward. Atikus and I took the hint and followed the Captain into the inn.

Seated at a table in the middle of the room were the King, a finely dressed teenager, and two men I didn't recognize. Aside from the guards and those at the table, the area stood eerily quiet.

Proctor stopped, turned, and faced us, some ten feet in front of the King's table. To punctuate his point, he rested both hands on the pommel of his broadsword. My eyes roamed the length of the blade, now drawn with its point resting on the floor an arm's length away. Two of the six guards barred the door, while the others fanned out around the room.

Atikus and I bowed toward the King.

The King's eyes fixed on me.

He left us bent for a long, uncomfortable moment before speaking in a stern, unwavering voice. "Rise and look at me, Lieutenant."

I did as commanded.

"I have been briefed on your unusual journey, but I would like to hear the tale directly from you—and Lieutenant, leave no details out. My friends here will know if you do." The King nodded toward the others seated at his table.

The boy shifted uncomfortably .

"Of course, Your Majesty."

I spoke in the clipped, professional tone of a Guardsman, walking the King through the events of the past weeks, starting with the discovery of Tiana's disappearance. I detailed the search for Bel, the Gifted who went missing from the town of Freeport, and the second investigative team's failed efforts at finding her. I left out any mention of Declan and his mission but painted a detailed image of the rest of our journey. Emotion threaded its way into my voice as I recounted the events I witnessed in the Children's ceremonial chamber.

"It all happened so quickly, and we were so far away. There was nothing we could do to save her."

The King leaned forward.

"All we could do was run. There were hundreds chasing us, and if Sil hadn't . . ."

Atikus rested a hand on my shoulder.

The King waited a moment before asking, "And your investigations led only here? There were no leads pointing . . . closer to home?"

My head snapped up. "No, Your Majesty. All of our leads, in both kidnappings, pointed here."

"I assume you know of our missing Gifted?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. We passed through Rutin two nights ago. A man in your household livery stood on the base of a statue, whipping people up with stories of the Triad kidnapping the Princess. We picked up a flyer, one among many scattered about, that called for volunteers to avenge the kidnappings. It was the first I had heard of them."

"You knew nothing of our kidnappings before you arrived in Rutin?"

"No, Your Majesty."

The King thought a moment, then turned to Atikus. "Mage, your reputation precedes you. Chancellor Thorn tells me you have been a friend to the Crown for many years, a voice of reason when tempers flare. What do you have to say?"

Atikus offered another deep bow to the King. "Chancellor Thorn and I have been acquainted for many decades, working together at times, opposed on other occasions. I suppose that is the way of things when you live as long as we do."

"I was referring to the kidnappings and the Lieutenant's tale. It strays from what our sources report," the King said.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. We Mages wander and ramble when our lips move." A laugh escaped 's lips, drawing a sharp rebuke from his monarch.

"King Alfred," Atikus said, "I have been with Keelan since the beginning of his investigations. What the Lieutenant described is exactly as I recall it, and your Chancellor might have a word to say on my skill of recall."

"I am well aware of your Gifts, Mage," the King said, then stared down at the table's surface. After a moment's reflection, his gaze rose to meet mine once more. "I require time to think and confer but wish to speak again tomorrow. For the moment, you will remain guests of the Kingdom. Captain, find accommodations for these men."

Proctor stepped forward and bowed toward the King. "Of course, sire."

The detail was already closing in when Atikus and I offered our own bows.