Aris was still mad at him, but Anton knew he had done the right thing. If only he could convince Aris of that. Right now, though, he had more things to worry about. Suliel should be the one handling this; she was better at it, and she got experience for doing it. She was helping, at least, but she was a little bit upset with Anton as well.

  At least his wives were getting along.

  Most of Anton’s duties were planning. Among other things, he had to schedule shifts for patrols around the approaches to town. And the walls. And now inside the town, since there were twenty-four Royal Marines billeting in the Adventurer’s Guild inn. He needed to keep them contained, make sure they didn’t see anything they shouldn’t.

  Soraya was keeping well clear of the areas they should be frequenting, but he had to keep a guard on her, in case one of the soldiers went wandering and saw an Elitran working in the town. There were just so many things he had to juggle—

  A knock came on his door. A messenger put his head through. “Urgent request for you at the gate. It’s Zaphar.”

  Anton frowned. “You’re holding Zaphar up at the gate? He’s on the list.”

  “Yes, sir. But it’s not just Zaphar, and he’s… asked us to shut the gates.”

  That was… odd. But if Zaphar was here, it probably meant trouble of some sort. He was supposed to stay in the capital.

  “I’m going down there,” he told the messenger. “Inform my wives. And… pass the word to the other gate and watchtowers. Full alert, and close the gates.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Kelsey, you’re with me.”

  “Yes, sir, no, sir, three bags full, sir!” Kelsey said cheerfully. Anton decided to take that as agreement.

  Anton debated with himself whether to alert the townsfolk as he made his way to the gates. He decided against it, if only because it would delay finding out what was going on. When he got to the gates, the first thing he noticed was that they were closed. That was going against orders, but Anton wasn’t about to berate the guards over it. Closed was the safer option if there was something more dangerous than a merchant out there.

  One of the guards waved him straight to the gatehouse as he drew near. Anton slowed his approach. It had been an easy jog for him, but it would have been a fast sprint for a second Tier. Kelsey had needed to run to keep up, but she didn’t seem out of breath.

  The first thing Anton saw was Zaphar. Dressed as a noble, and wearing an expression that said he was lamenting the events of his life, but that there was no immediate crisis. The next thing Anton saw was the probable cause of all that lamentation.

  “Princess Elara!” Anton blurted. She might have been dressed in commoner clothes, but she was instantly recognisable. She turned and attempted a curtsey, ignoring the inconveniant detail of not having a dress.

  Is she supposed to curtsey to me? Anton wracked his brain for his etiquette lessons. He didn’t think she was supposed to curtsey to him.

  “Lord Nos, I find myself at your mercy. My father has ordered my death, for reasons that are not clear to me, and I seek shelter and sanctuary until this matter is resolved.”

  Anton froze. He wished Suliel were here to deal with the politics, but this wasn’t something that could wait for her. His mind raced, trying to come to a decision.

  “Are you aware that we have declared for your Aunt?” he asked. He was taking a risk, revealing something he was still keeping from the commander at the inn, but he guessed that the runaway princess wasn’t going to be in a position to spread his secrets.

  “I… guessed that you might have taken arms against Father, but word had not reached the capital when I left. I wasn’t even aware that Aunt Syrelle was alive.”

  Anton nodded. “It’s a story. I never knew her, of course, but those who did have vouched for her.”

  “Then…” Elara wilted. “Then, my father is surely guilty of some crime. I wonder if that has something to do with him seeking my death.”

  “That’s another story,” Anton said, “one which we were hoping to get word to you about—”

  “Boss,” Zaphar interrupted. “Before you are swapping stories, there is more immediate concerns, there are.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like Captain Oldaw is riding here, looking for the princess,” Zaphar said. “We got ahead of him by… it doesn’t matter right now. Also, there is this.”

  He pointed at the other woman in the room.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “And who is this?” Anton asked.

  “Trouble,” Zaphar said sourly.

  “How rude!” the other woman interjected. “Lord Nos, I’m Thiefhunter Calis Marr, Zaphar’s girlfriend.”

  “That isn’t…” Zaphar sighed. “Hey, boss, maybe you want to add her to your harem?”

  “You’re not going to be able to pawn me off on some noble, no matter how rich he is, or how… broad his shoulders are,” Calis protested. “Our partnership has been forged through adversity!”

  “Now let’s not be hasty,” Kelsey put in. “We’ve got an interview process to go through before we can consider a new—”

  “Kelsey, stop. Whatever it is you’re doing,” Anton commanded. “Zaphar, you said we had real problems. Is she an immediate problem?”

  “Only for me,” Zaphar said. “Immediate problem is outside.”

  “Sir, we have riders approaching!” the guards outside called, as if to punctuate the point.

  Anton groaned. “Right.” He thought about what he needed to say next. He didn’t quite know the correct words, but it would have to do.

  “Princess. I can grant you sanctuary, but it comes with the condition that you do not leave this town without my permission.”

  Elara bowed her head. “I can accept that condition with gratitude, my Lord.”

  Anton frowned at her courtesy. It was a bit too respectful, he thought, from a princess to a baron. Perhaps it was because he was offering sanctuary? The lessons hadn’t covered that.

  I’ll have to check with Suliel. Once she’s finished catching up with the princess, anyway. That might take a while.

  Calling down one of the guards, Anton issued some more orders.

  “Get this lady a cloak of some kind and escort her to the castle. Make sure our ‘guests’ don’t get a good look at her. Zaphar and Calis, you go with her.”

  With those tasks taken care of, Anton was free to stand on the wall and watch the approaching riders.

  This isn’t like the last time, Anton thought, looking over at the section of wall where his parents had died. There was nothing recognisable left, for which he was grateful. The new wall was wider and taller than before, and Anton was nothing like the young man he had been.

  Anton recognised the banner first, then the features of the Captain as he drew closer. Seeing that the gates were closed, the troop of cavalry wheeled to a halt about fifty yards short of the walls, spreading out in a line. After a brief conference, a small group rode forward.

  “Ho! The gate!” Captain Oldaw called up.

  “Hail and well met,” Anton replied, not quite shouting. It felt a little formal, but formal might be best for what was to come.

  “Lord Nos! I wasn’t expecting to meet you at the gate. Is there some reason that your gates are shut to the King’s cavalry?”

  “Is there some reason that the Glimmering Lancers are out riding?” Anton asked. “You are the Kingdom’s vanguard after all, sent where you are needed most.”

  “There is a task we have been set,” Oldaw admitted. “But I would prefer to speak of it in private. Will you not allow us entry?”

  “Hey, check out his sword,” Kelsey said.

  Anton frowned. Was now really the time? But the hilt did look familiar…

  Glimmering Sword, Bonded Weapon, Perfect Quality, Tier 3, Properties: Lodestar, Banish the Night, Glimmering Beacon

  Thats…

  “Congratulations,” Kelsey called. “I see you got your sword back.”

  Oldaw glared at her and touched his hand to the hilt. “I did. Losing it was a deep regret, and I’m pleased to have recovered part of the history of my unit.”

  “Yeah, see, we know where you must have got it from,” Kelsey drawled.

  “There’s no shame in admitting that I met a Fae,” Oldaw said uncomfortably.

  “What did you pay for it?” Kelsey asked sharply.

  “That, I see no reason to divulge. And the very question is a distraction from my much more urgent one. Do you plan to let us in or not?”

  “Zaphar’s been holding out on us,” Kelsey muttered. “No way that guy is going to be in the area and not check up on his favourite amusement.”

  “He might have been instructed not to say anything,” Anton said in an equally low voice. “That guy didn’t like being talked about, remember?”

  “As long as you’re thinking about it,” Kelsey allowed. “You gonna give this guy an answer?”

  Anton considered his options. Could he juggle Captain Oldaw and Commander Dazhar, keeping both of them from learning the princess was here? If Oldaw tried to fight his way in, could Anton keep Dazhar from finding out about it?

  Anton didn’t like his chances either way. Hoping to delay some more, he looked down at the impatient captain.

  “I’m afraid I’ll have to insist. What is your purpose here?”

  Oldaw’s face twitched, but he answered.

  “We are riding to the rescue of Princess Elara, who was kidnapped by Tiatian agents in the capital.”

  “Kidnapped by… she’s a Tiatian princess as much as she is Zamarran!”

  “That may be so, but we believe they hope to use her to lead an invasion of the country, as a figurehead,” Oldaw replied. “We have not yet determined if she is cooperating with them or not.”

  Anton’s head spun. Elara hadn’t arrived with any Tiatians, unless he counted her. Zaphar hadn’t been acting as her kidnapper. So, where was this story from?

  “That’s quite a story, Captain,” Anton said.

  Oldaw looked uncomfortable. “Obviously, the Crown would prefer that word of this incident is kept contained. A traitorous princess, or a breach of security, neither cast the Royal Family in a good light.”

  “So she has not left to join the rebels, then?” Anton asked.

  Oldaw looked more uncomfortable. “I was not aware that word of that had reached this far,” he said. “Then I must ask you, Lord Nos. Do you stand with justice and honour? Do you stand with our King?”

  Anton sighed.

  “I do not,” he said. “I’ve seen the evidence that he’s a False King who hides his status. I’ve spoken with Queen Syrelle and those who knew her. I’ve heard her accuse her brother of usurping her rightful throne.”

  “Lies,” Captain Oldaw stated. “You swore your loyalty to our King.”

  “I’ve spoken to Princess Elara as well,” Anton continued. It was reckless, but he needed to at least try to convince the man. “She made no mention of Tiatian kidnappers, but said that her father tried to have her killed.”

  “That’s not possible,” Oldaw protested, but Anton could see that he was wavering. “She must be conspiring with the invaders, seeking the throne for herself.”

  “She isn’t,” Anton insisted. “You rode to the defence of this town once, Captain. And you were used by Suliel’s mother, helping her to usurp Suliel from her rightful seat. Which of those acts does this feel like?”

  “I—” Oldaw started. Then his voice hardened. “A soldier has no room in his heart for feelings. Only loyalty. Open these gates or be held in rebellion.”

  “I can’t do that, Captain. Can’t you see—”

  “No more talking,” Captain Oldaw snapped. He wheeled his horse around and called back over his shoulder. “We are coming for the Princess, one way or the other. If the gates are closed on our return, we will charge through them.”