Page 48 of To Love

“Is something amiss?”

“Aye,” he responded. “That they should be deceived any longer. Elara asked for me to join her early this eve, though I know not the reason.”

“I do,” Darien cut in.

“Deceived?” Roland had picked up what Darien had not. He, like Gareth, no longer smiled or jested either. “Alden?”

He and Gareth looked at one another for the briefest of moments before Gareth nodded just slightly.

Alden turned to his friends, thankful to have the courtyard to themselves. There were precious few spots within the keep that whispers could not be heard.

Elara’s bedchamber being one of them.

“The steward uncovered a discrepancy in the books that led him to believe there may be a traitor among our ranks. Elara is investigating and elicited my aid since Gareth is no longer one of us.”

Gareth took exception to Alden’s phrasing. “I will always be one of you.”

“As a recruit,” he clarified.

“What discrepancies?” Roland appeared as shocked as Alden would expect.

“You and Lady Elara . . .” Darien looked between him and Gareth.

“Are working to find the traitor. Rumors about the fire are true. It appears to have been started in two locations, leading us to believe ’twas no accident.”

“A traitor.” Roland’s jaw flexed. “One of our own men?” He began to pace.

“Perhaps,” Gareth said. “Or another instructor. Or a servant.”

“We have cause,” Alden added, “to suspect the blond maid, Lila.”

That was news to all, including Gareth. “Indeed?” he asked.

“We’ve found no evidence yet, but Elara has another on the serving staff observing, listening. Both she and I found the maid’s behavior suspicious when the fire was mentioned.”

“If she has ought to do with it,” Gareth mused, “’tis unlikely she works alone.”

“You did not tell us.” Roland was getting more angry with each passing moment. He stopped pacing. “Your visits with Elara?”

“Purely strategy,” Gareth said.

Alden did not confirm his friends’ words.

“Or mayhap not?” Darien mused, watching him closely. All three men turned to look at him. Though Alden did not wish to lie to his friends, neither would he implicate Elara any further.

“It is of no consequence. What matters is that our entire order could be in jeopardy.”

“Much more than that,” Gareth said. “If there is indeed a traitor among us.”

“Lives are at risk,” Alden said, watching as Roland took up pacing once again.

“If this is true, why would he, or she,” Darien asked, “employ such underhanded methods? Why not simply expose us and be done with it?”

“A question we’ve asked from the start,” Gareth admitted.

“Why did you not tell us before today?” Roland grumbled.

“We were told, explicitly, not to tell anyone,” Alden answered truthfully. “But I know neither of you are the traitor and trust you with my life.” Nothing further needed to be said.