Page 163 of The Sun King's Noon

Richard’s breath hitched, his skin tingling from the kiss.

Above them, the moon hung full between the trees. Richard stared, tried to forget what was to come, and wished that morning would not dawn.

CHAPTER 58

After three more days of travel, the walls of High Ardenia rose into view. Richard sighed at the sight of the pale stone with its red-and-gold banners.

Home.

And yet, his shoulders sagged under its weight.

“At last,” Malgrin said on the bench opposite. “A warm bath. A soft bed. A goblet?—”

“An axe,” Agnes croaked. “To chop up my hopeless apprentices?—”

“Now, really, my lady, do have some courtesy?—”

Richard ignored them, his insides starting to coil. Somewhere within those walls, Elara would be waiting, sharp-tongued and furious, and Corwin, no doubt, all the more bitter at Richard having left with Kaelen. Briony perhaps might have come to forgive him by now—might even hug him and demand every detail of the trip.

The carriage halted a mile from the great Eastern Gate. Richard frowned as Joffrey appeared at the window, his face grave.

“Your Majesty,” Joffrey said. “Soldiers from the castle. They’ve brought Ashfall.”

Richard’s pulse quickened. He barrelled out of the carriage, his boots hitting the road just as the soldiers drew up—four of them, mounted, with Ashfall led on a long rein.

The grey destrier neighed the instant she saw Richard and lunged to nose at his shoulder.

“Easy.” Richard scratched the ridge under her forelock. “Yes, I have missed you also.”

He looked past the destrier’s ear to the foremost soldier, who dismounted. It was Lira—a broad, grey-haired lady with a weathered face.

“Speak.” Richard’s stomach churned all the worse on seeing her hesitate. Lira was a stout-hearted veteran. Very little disturbed her, and yet, she appeared frazzled.

“Your Majesty.” She bowed. “Last night, Princess Briony stole the military ledgers from the generals’ office. The troop numbers, the war plans, everything. She sneaked into the forest with it, sire, accompanied by Squires Eleanor and Godwyn.”

Richard’s eyes widened, and from his right, Kaelen swore.

“The generals were at the borders, sire,” Lira continued. “And the Chief Mage had returned to the veil. So it was the Lord Commander who led the tracking party this dawn when the princess’s bed was found empty. Lord Commander Dain found Princess Briony in Elderwood, in the midst of handing the ledgers to the harpy. His party was ambushed by the Sanguis Order witches. The harpy escaped with the ledgers. Twenty soldiers are dead, and Lord Commander Dain has been cursed with some spell of dark slumber.” She spoke to Kaelen. “He is alive but sleeping. The Chief Healer has not left his side. She says it is a dark sleep and that she is wrenching at it with both hands, but it will not give.”

Richard felt faint. “Briony?”

Lira winced. “The witches took her.”

There was a ringing in Richard’s ears. Bells. Tolling bells from the square in Vexmara.

“The witches went west,” Lira said. “Princess Elara and Prince Corwin rode out four hours past with fifty soldiers. They are following the trail with the tracking gem, Your Majesty, and have left markers for you to follow should you be near.”

The road lurched, and he had to steady himself against Ashfall’s shoulder.

Briony. Briony. His sister in the hands of witches hungry for her blood. His baby sister?—

“My king,” Kaelen said briskly. “Let us head after them.” A snarl etched his lips. “Let us spill blood and bring her home.”

The road steadied. Richard drew in a breath and met Kaelen’s determined eyes.

“Yes.”

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