Chapter 14

N early a full day had passed and not a word from the Summerton camp in response to Anyka's letter. She was quickly coming to her breaking point. "She is doing this with purpose. She means to drive me toward an action I will regret."

Hawke, standing beside her out on the balcony of her quarters, shook his head. "My lady, she cannot do this to you. It is unthinkable that you would be treated this way, but you must not let her dictate your actions. You have ruled Malveaux longer than she has been alive."

Anyka took a breath. He was right, of course. Hawke was quite often right. "I wish your arrow had been true."

He snorted. "As do I, my lady." He composed himself. "Do you wish to attend dinner, or shall I leave you? I will do whatever you want."

"No, we'll go to dinner. It will be good to be seen, just in case she's there." The distraction might help her mood. She looked at him. "How go things with Nazyr?"

Hawke smiled. "I gave him an archery lesson today."

Her mouth came open. "You did? He consented to that?"

Hawke nodded. "I told him it was never a bad time to learn to defend oneself or one's queen. That magic could only do so much. He agreed."

"I am impressed. Did you learn anything?"

Hawke stared off into the distance. "That you are right, he is hiding something. I mentioned Queen Sparrow and Summerton several times and he was quick to change the subject. Afterwards, he looked preoccupied. Nearly shot his own foot once."

Anyka rolled her eyes. "I knew it. You must keep after him. Make him believe you are someone he can confide in. You may even disparage me if you think it would help."

Hawke frowned. "I don't believe that is the way, my lady. He seems very loyal to you."

"Does he?" Anyka pondered that. "I'm glad of it. I've had some doubts. No real concrete reason for them, but I cannot help but consider such things when it comes to those around me."

Hawke's hand flew to his chest. "Please tell me, my lady, that you do not have doubts about me . I am your sworn servant. You must know that."

She smiled. "I have no doubts about you, Hawke." Especially not since Galwyn seemed quite fond of the man. She exhaled and placed her hands on the railing, looking down at the river as it flowed toward Celestial Lake. "We should go."

"You don't seem like you want to, if I might be so bold."

"I don't, not truly. I would rather…I don't know what I'd rather. To not bear these burdens for a few hours? To spend my time freely like my citizens surely do?"

He inched closer, eyes filled with concern. "The weight upon your shoulders must be immeasurable."

"It is," she said softly.

"I cannot begin to understand it, but perhaps I can lighten it for a few brief moments?"

She narrowed her eyes. "How?"

"After dinner, I would take you out on the lake. Take you away from all of this for as long as you'd like."

"I would like that very much." She held out her hand. "Escort me to dinner."

"It would be my honor and my pleasure." He kissed her knuckles, then placed her hand on his arm and led her inside.

As they strode toward the sitting room, Trog trudging behind them, Wyett burst through the door.

He bowed. "My lady, I have news."

"Yes? Out with it."

"Queen Sparrow has not answered you because she is no longer at Willow Hall."

"What? She left? Was she at Summerton when—" Anyka frowned, unwilling to finish her question and reveal to Hawke what she'd done.

"No," Wyett spat out. He lifted his chin, heat in his gaze unlike anything Anyka had seen before. "She has gone to Hythe, the kingdom of the Wyvern, my lady. The hill people."

Anger boiled up in Anyka. "How did she— That conniving piece of— Is my uncle here?"

"Yes, my lady," Wyett answered.

"Ishmyel!" Anyka screamed, fists clenched at her sides. Galwyn jumped on his perch, twitching at the sound. "Come in here, now ."

Her uncle rushed into the room in his dressing gown, half of his face covered in soap foam, a straight razor in one hand. His eyes were round and wild. "What is it?"

"Queen Sparrow has gone to Hythe. To the hill people. She's going to undermine me. Again ." Anyka stomped closer to him. "How did she find out? How did she know to go to the cloud kingdom?"

"My lady?" Wyett spoke softly.

"What?" she snarled.

"I may know. Queen Sparrow and Nightborne scoured the libraries here. They took every book that had any mention of Lady Cynzia. It's possible they found a connection between her and the cloud kingdom there."

"Or," Anyka leaned toward him as she spoke. "She found out about the tracker I hired to go there."

Wyett shook his head. "You know none of us would share that information with anyone."

"Well, someone did, didn't they?" But Anyka knew he was right. Hawke hadn't known, and neither Wyett nor her uncle would dare say a thing about her plans.

Hawke snorted softly and crossed his arms. "Who's this tracker? Is he trustworthy? Maybe he sold her the information."

"Valentyne Greybone," Anyka spat out. "Do you know of him?"

Hawke uncrossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "I do. And what I know of him is that he's one of the best, if not the best. His loyalty remains with whoever's hired him until the job is done."

"She found out somehow." Anyka sighed loudly. "I am so tired of being undermined by that woman." She clenched her fists. "I have had enough. I want the book back." She whirled to point at Wyett. "Who did Sparrow take with her?"

"As best I was able to tell, a few guards, Nightborne, and Darkstone."

Anyka took a deep breath, trying to dispel some of her anger so that she could think clearly. She brought her head up and spoke as calmly as she could. "We will use this to our advantage. Wyett, you will search Darkstone's room while the rest of us make an appearance at dinner."

He nodded.

"If you find anything of interest, bring it straight back here and stay with it until we return."

"Yes, my lady."

How she was going to sit through a meal pretending like everything was fine, she had no idea, but for the sake of the throne, she would manage. "Uncle, get ready and join us. I have no idea where Princess Beatryce is but I'm assuming she'll show up."

"Yes," Ishmyel said. "She told me she was attending a talk about gems of the realm and would be along to dinner when it ended. She also asked if she might bring a new friend, a young woman from Dearth."

Anyka frowned. "A villager?"

Ishmyel nodded reluctantly. "Yes. Her father is a clockmaker. He owns the shop in the village."

Anyka sighed and rolled her eyes. "It's too late to tell her no, I suppose." She looked at everyone. "Mind your tongues at dinner. The last thing I want is word spreading because some shop girl overheard us."

She put her hand on Hawke's arm. "Let's go."

He escorted her out, Trog following. Hawke didn't speak until they were in the portal. "Do you really believe Lady Cynzia is in Hythe?"

"I think it's as good a place as any. If there's any possibility she's still alive, I want her at my side. With her help, I could change everything. Overtake Summerton to rule both kingdoms. Lift the curse from Malveaux. No one would dare challenge me."

The doors opened.

"I will do everything in my power to aid you in your mission, my lady."

She rewarded him with a slight smile. "I appreciate that, Hawke. The thing I need help with most right now is getting through this meal."

"I am at your side."

They left the portal and walked to the entrance of the dining hall. Trence, the master of Willow Hall, was there to greet them.

He bowed. "Queen Anyka, it's lovely to have you in attendance this evening. If you need anything, I am, as always, at your service."

She paused, causing Hawke and Trog to come to a stop as well. "What I need is to know why Queen Sparrow has been absent." Sometimes, pretending not to know something was the best way to get more information. "Is she ill?" Anyka did her best to appear concerned. "Does she no longer wish to dine at the same time as me? Have I done something?"

Trence shook his head. "Your highness, I cannot speak for Queen Sparrow, but I'm sure it's nothing you have done."

"Well, it's very off-putting to be here, hoping to achieve a new unity and understanding between our two kingdoms, while the representative of that other kingdom can't be bothered to show up."

"I would be happy to make your concerns known to her, if you wish it."

"Then she's here?"

"I…" He swallowed. "I don't believe she is, your highness."

This was good. He knew something. Anyka blinked as though his confession shocked her, raising her voice in hopes that her words would carry. "Queen Sparrow has left Willow Hall?"

He shook his head. "I'm sure she'll be back soon."

"Where has she gone?"

"I don't know, your highness. I can only assume it was important business."

"Even so, to leave without a word to me…" She sighed as if deeply wounded. "I would never do such a thing."

He nodded but kept silent.

"Onward," she said softly.

Hawke walked her to the table where Nazyr, Princess Beatryce and her new friend were already seated.

They all stood as she approached. Nazyr bowed his head.

Bea smiled. "Mother! I'm so glad you're here. This is Merylynn. Merylynn, my mother, Queen Anka."

Merylynn dropped into a deep curtsey. "Your highness."

Anyka waved a hand at them. She was in no mood for small talk, but she imagined it would be unavoidable at a meal like this. "Sit. Please."

She gestured to the seat next to Nazyr. Hawke pulled it out for her, and she sat. "Nazyr. What have you done all day?"

He tipped his head at Hawke, who'd helped himself to the chair on her other side. "Wickthorne gave me an archery lesson today, if you can believe that."

Anyka smiled without trying. The very idea of Nazyr trying his hand at such a thing was comical. "Did he?" She glanced at Hawke like this was news to her. "I think that's marvelous."

"Do you?" Nazyr snorted softly. "I thought you'd think it a waste of time."

"No, not at all. Why shouldn't you learn new skills?"

Salads were delivered. Beetroot, sheep's cheese, and a sprinkling of nuts and dried orange bits over greens.

She picked up her fork. "Is Hawke a good teacher?"

Nazyr nodded. "Yes, my lady. He is patient and very skilled."

And he was working for her. Anyka pierced a piece of beetroot, causing it to ooze red. "I give you leave to take more lessons whenever you wish. There's nothing I need you to do for me at the moment, so spend as much time learning from Hawke as you like."

And , she thought, while you're at it, tell him everything you've been hiding from me.