Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) (43 page)

At the bottom of the steps, she came upon a servant girl bent over a broom and dustpan. The young woman straightened as her bright eyes rose. Kyrin paused. Did the girl know the Wylands had a guest? One that so happened to be considered a traitor by the Arcacian government? Thankfully, Anne walked in.

“Good morning, Kyrin,” she greeted. She then smiled at the maid. “Sara, this is the guest I told you about, Kyrin Altair.”

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Altair,” the young woman said sweetly.

Kyrin smiled, and Anne asked, “Sara, will you please get Kyrin’s breakfast?”

“Right away, my lady.”

She hurried out of the room, and Anne led Kyrin to the table.

“You don’t have to worry about the servants,” she told her. “They’re aware of the situation, but would never give you away.”

Kyrin breathed freer with this knowledge.

“How did you sleep?” Anne
asked as they each took a seat.

“Very well,” Kyrin was happy to answer.
Better than her nights at Auréa. “It was just what I needed.” She looked around. She and Anne were the only two present. “Where’s Tane?”

“He left around dawn for Landale. He wanted to talk to Trask and see if he has a place ready for you in camp.”

“So, it’s in the forest?”

Anne nodded, and Kyrin considered this. Living in the forest would be a different world compared to life in Arcacia’s largest city. But it sounded peaceful. Not too many
people, and no need to pretend to be someone she wasn’t. Exactly what she and Kaden had dreamed of.

“I’m sure they’ll have you living comfortably in a cabin.” Anne smiled mischievously. “In fact, I’ll make sure they do.”

A wide smile broke across Kyrin’s face. She liked Anne a lot. She liked her strength and spirit.

Through a delicious meal of fresh eggs and bacon, Anne remained with Kyrin at the table to talk. Lady Catherine joined them as well. The three of them were deep in a conversation about Tarvin Hall when a gentle knock came at the back door. Anne rose to answer it.

“Well, look who decided to show,” she said with a smile in her voice.

She opened the door wider. A man in his late twenties with chestnut-brown hair stepped inside. He wore a grin, his eyes twinkling down at Anne. Tane walked in behind him.

“So, you finally came to say hello?” Anne asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“Actually, I came to meet Miss Altair,” the man answered.

“Oh, so it wasn’t for me?”

“I didn’t say that.”

He bent a little closer as if to kiss her, but Anne just grinned and turned away from him. “Kyrin, this is Baron Grey’s son, Trask.”

Kyrin rose to meet him, and he greeted her with a kind smile. An endearing air of mischief and good humor sparkled in his eyes. Any fears she had about meeting new people without the support of her brother were quickly vanishing.

“Tane told me about your ordeal in Valcré,” Trask said. “We don’t often see bravery like that these days. You’ll be very welcome in camp. The mother of one of my men just moved out there. She was delighted when I asked if she would share her cabin.”

“It sounds very nice,” Kyrin replied, and she meant it. It would take some getting used to on her part, but if the woman was as kind and accommodating as the Wylands and Trask, it wouldn’t be hard. She’d never had a good relationship with any of the female instructors at Tarvin Hall. In fact, she had never had a good relationship with any older woman. Hopefully this would be the first.

“Then, whenever you’re ready, I’ll come and take you to camp,” Trask said.

“You can give us a couple of days,” Anne told him. “I’ll get her clothes and see she has anything else she needs.”

“Sounds good. I’m sure Lenae will have the cabin ready for two people by then.”

Before they could go on, the sound of hoof beats came from out front. Lady Catherine hurried to the window.

“It’s Goler and his men,” she said in a hushed but urgent voice.

Kyrin’s heart took a hard stumble. If the emperor found her here, she wouldn’t be the only one to pay the price.

“Not again,” Anne muttered. She faced Trask. “All of you, in the kitchen, quick. He won’t go in there.”

Tane motioned for Kyrin to follow, and they hurried toward the kitchen. Trask, however, lingered behind.

“Go,” Anne urged him. “It won’t do any good for him to find you here.”

Kyrin glanced back. Trask’s relaxed expression had gone hard, but he followed them into the kitchen. The servants there just looked at them and quietly went back to work. Tane started to close the door, but Trask held it open a little so he could see out into the dining room. Loud footsteps sounded on the porch outside, followed by a forceful knock. A moment later, the door opened.

“Captain Goler,” Catherine’s voice filtered into the kitchen, “what brings you here this morning?”

A deep, yet smooth voice replied, “Is Lady Anne in?”

Following a brief silence, Anne answered, “Yes, I’m here.”

Boots clomped on the floorboards with the faint jingle of spurs. Kyrin leaned forward to peek through a small crack in the door planks. A man stood near the table facing Anne. The sight of his gold and black uniform wound Kyrin’s insides into a tight coil. He was average height, a little on the heavy side, and had long, dirty-blond hair. Though she didn’t have a view of his whole face, she caught sight of a long scar starting at the bridge of his crooked nose and trailing down his right cheek. He certainly wasn’t a handsome man, though the way he held himself suggested he believed he was.

“How are you this fine morning, Anne?” he asked with a wolfish smile, displaying surprisingly white teeth.

“
Lady
Anne,” Trask muttered to himself.

“Very well, thank you,” Anne answered primly.

A pause followed in which Goler clearly took pleasure in the sight of her. Trask tensed and his fists clenched, but Tane put his hand on Trask’s shoulder and shook his head.

“Is there something I can do for you?” Anne asked. She had a definite edge to her voice now.

With a smug smile still perched on his damp lips, Goler said, “I just came from Landale Village. I’m looking for Trask. He wasn’t around, so I thought I’d come by and see if you’ve seen him.”

Anne shrugged. “Trask always has something keeping him busy these days. He hasn’t been around here regularly.” Her prim tone had
returned, no doubt with full knowledge that Trask could hear every word.

“I see,” Goler replied, though he didn’t sound convinced.

“What is it you wish to speak with him about?”

“I received news about an escaped prisoner from Valcré. I wondered if Trask might know something.”

“And why would that be?”

Goler’s smile stretched into a vicious grin. “Just a guess. Perhaps I’ll stop by Landale again later this evening and see if he’s around. And, when time permits, I’ll
come call on you again. Maybe you would join me for an afternoon ride one of these days before the weather turns too hot.”

“My days are usually pretty full. I’ve got new gowns to make, needlework to finish—you know, those sorts of things.” She smiled sweetly, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Always something more to do.”

Goler’s grin cooled. “Of course. Nevertheless, keep it in mind. I will ask again.” He nodded to Lady Catherine before his gaze swung back to Anne. “Good day, my ladies.”

Spurs jingled again and signaled his exit. Kyrin, Trask, and Tane waited for the sound of hoof beats to die away before leaving the kitchen. Trask glared at the door where Goler had left as if to send fire after the man.

“I don’t like him coming out here,” he told Anne.

She shrugged and appeared less bothered than Kyrin would be in her position. “Neither do I, but there’s
nothing we can do about it. Usually, Father is around, and that helps.”

“You won’t accept his invitation to a ride, will you?”

“Not unless I have to.”

Trask’s frown deepened. “That could be dangerous. I could throw him farther than I trust him.”

“If he pushes, I may have no choice but to go, or he’ll start to grow more suspicious.”

“Well, if you must, set a time and let me know. I can follow from cover. He’ll never know I’m there
…unless, of course, I have to beat him senseless.”

Anne laughed. “I would hope it doesn’t come to that, but I’ll let you know.”

“Good,” Trask said with a nod. “Now, I better get back to camp and see that everything’s taken care of there. I want to be home if Goler shows up tonight.” His smile resurfaced when he turned to Kyrin. “I look forward to showing you out to camp.”

She thanked him, and Anne followed him to the door.

“Be careful,” she cautioned. “I don’t trust Goler around you either.”

W
illiam Altair eased down into the canvas folding chair at the desk in his officer’s tent and absently flipped through a stack of reports. It was a slow time at Fort Rivor, where many of the kingdom’s battalions were stationed. Aside from drills and training new recruits, his day mainly consisted of paperwork. It was not quite the adventurous life he thought he’d signed up for in his youth, but he was old enough now to appreciate the quiet moments, dull as they might be.

He’d just settled in for the long afternoon of sifting through endless figures when someone threw back the tent flap. A fellow captain stepped inside. William peered at him over the papers. Though the man saluted with his right fist to his chest, they had never been on particularly friendly terms. Bearing the name of Altair saw to that, but he rose and did the same.

“An urgent message from Valcré, Captain,” the man announced.

Whether it was the look in the other captain’s eyes or simply intuition, William’s heart stopped. It could be anything, but somehow, by instinct, Kyrin’s face appeared in his mind.

A courier stepped into the tent at the other captain’s bidding. The man looked to have been riding hard.

“Captain Altair, I bring unfortunate news from the emperor. Your daughter has denied the gods
…”

In that heartbeat of frozen time, William leaned forward and braced himself against the desk. She’d done it. His brave daughter had stood for her faith. But at what price? The weight of these thoughts nearly drowned out the courier’s next words.

“…and attacked His Majesty.”

William’s eyes snapped back to the courier. “Attacked the emperor?”

“Yes, sir,” the courier confirmed.

William frowned deeply, but he became aware of the intense way in which the other captain watched him. He licked his lips and struggled to find his voice as he prepared for the worst. Already his heart had begun to rip in two, burning through his chest.

“And what…has been done with her?”

“She was scheduled for execution, but somehow disappeared three nights ago. We believe other traitors were involved.”

William barely caught himself from blowing out a great sigh. Careful to keep his face neutral, he asked, “Is the emperor taking strides to find her?”

“He is, sir. He has set a generous reward for her capture or information on her location. Every effort will be made to locate her.”

William gave a slow nod. “Thank you for bringing word.”

The courier nodded and left the tent. William’s eyes shifted to the other captain, who said, “You must be devastated. I can’t imagine the pain of one of your children bringing such dishonor to the family.”

Smugness tainted every word.

“This certainly will be a great blow to us,” William responded quietly. Though it mattered little to him, it would further sully the Altair name and be difficult for the rest of the family. The captain watched him intently, as if waiting for him to slip up, so he continued, “Thank you for your concern. Will you please send word to my sons that I wish to see them? I would like the news to come from me.”

“Of course,” the man responded coolly.