Page 34 of Savage Crown
That meant I could get into the castle, and even if confronted with the king, I could take him on and get Maelis back.
‘That’s what I’m unsure about. The second we stepped foot here, the spell tried to attach to you and Godric. The guards have thick rope-like cords connected to their arms and legs, as if King Harrow himself is making them walk like puppets on a string.’
It was horrifying that Harrow was capable of that.
‘But the random passerby has just a very thin spiderweb-like cord going to their head. I think Mind Render has great power, and can to some degree control everyone inside these city gates, but can only fully control a chosen few.’
‘And you think if I were to come up against him, he could control me like the puppet guards?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Well, why don’t we go back and find the guards, and you can try cutting the cords off and freeing them?’
She was silent for a moment as Godric slowed in front of a weathered tavern.
‘I think that would tell Mind Render we are here, and in turn alert King Harrow. Like cutting off one of the tentacles of an octopus. They would know.’
That was horrifying.‘Are you saying they are all connected?’
‘I think so.’
Godric moved to open the door to the tavern when a small boy about Finn’s age jumped out in front of me with his hands out. He had crusted boogers under his nose, dirty around his fingers, and was very skinny.
“Spare a copper, my lady?” he asked.
My heart fissured. Reaching into my pocket, I grabbed the handful of coins I’d stolen from the statue and gave him every single one.
His eyes widened, and his mouth went slack.
Godric swooped low, covering the boys' hands to hide what I’d given him.
“Don’t tell anyone where you got that. Run along,” he told the boy. The boy swallowed and ran off.
Godric gave me a bit of a stern look. “I said stay low profile,” he told me.
I shrugged. I wasn’t about to let some kid starve because I was worried about my own safety.
‘The boy didn’t have the spell on him,’Val told me quickly.
He didn’t? I wondered if all kids were unable to be spelled or just him.
Godric opened the door again, and we stepped inside.
It was a bustling place with every table filled. People were quietly eating their breakfast, talking about their day ahead.
“Greetings, we are full inside, but out back we still have seats,” the barmaid said with a lack of natural enthusiasm.
“Out back is fine,” Godric said, and kept his head down as we walked through the tavern. I knew that once he had been a powerful man here about ten years ago. Being recognized now would definitely jeopardize this mission. But no one seemed to spare more than a passing glance. When we got outside, it was a lovely little courtyard with a thatched sunshade overhead. The tables all centered around a large brick-walled well thatreminded me of the Dregs. It even had the little bucket on a string that you could crank to draw up water.
The woman sat us at the table by the well and told us the food would be out shortly. The daily special was lamb stew with honeyed cornbread.
“I can go without eating if we don’t have the coin,” I whispered to Godric.
He shook his head, raising one eyebrow as if to quiet me, and I forgot about all the wolfish ears around me.
“Nonsense. My favorite niece will never go hungry in my presence.”
Even though he was speaking about our cover identities, I knew he really meant that. I wouldn’t ever go hungry in his presence.
