The enemy breached the castle. First, they’d capture the royal family, then come for her. Time would soon run out.
She must hurry. Closing her eyes, she pulled at the arcane thread she’d planted long ago. The link caught, struggling against her summons. Finally, the tension eased. Good girl.
Nyanda cast a quick spell, allowing the princess safe passage.
Princess Saris tapped gently, peering into the room, golden eyes wide. She shook, but to her credit, she approached.
“Safe passage” came in the form of a grizzled, broad-shouldered guard. The man said nothing, showed no curiosity, though he’d never been allowed into Nyanda’s domain before. The imbecile didn’t appreciate the honor. His snow-white hair and golden eyes marked him as kin to the royal family. His position clarified the connection asdistantkin.
“Come in, come in.” Nyanda took a deep breath to mask her tension. She’d never get her way by yelling. “I have a task for you.”
“Yes, Lady Gimitri?” Princess Saris trembled in her velvet slippers. Even now, her family must be searching for her, preparing to hide from a fate they’d not avoid.
“I am a sorceress. Our enemy cannot allow me to live, but my little Pieravor doesn’t share my talent. I can’t let him share my fate.” Sincerity. Never Nyanda’s forte. She attempted an earnest, protective tone. “He’s no threat to anyone. You’ve played with him. You know he’s merely an innocent babe. Promise me you’ll hide him. Tell no one of his existence. Let him live.”
The princess’s eyes grew wide. Having seen fifteen winters, she’d join with some noble in a few seasons and whelp children of her own—if King Umbri saw fit to let her live.
Not Nyanda’s problem, as long as the girl accomplished her task before succumbing to death.
Nyanda handed the bundled child to the princess, kissing the boy’s forehead, as might be expected of a mother seeing her offspring for the last time. “Now go. Your family waits for you. But hide Pieravor first.” Then, with a final touch to her son’s forehead, Nyanda transferred her familiar’s loyalty, wherever Chynne might be.
She opened a hidden door at the back of her tower and pushed the girl through. The guard glared at the blatant disregard of royal protocol but followed the princess. A prickle of magic brushed Nyanda’s skin when the pair swept past, but from the guard or the princess? It couldn’t be the princess. Poor, bland little thing, with no redeeming qualities except her biddable nature and heritage, now more a burden than a blessing.
Nyanda thought for a moment of leaving too, but any decent practitioner could track her with the precision of a hunting hound, or worse, set actual hellhounds on her. Aberfrer would scent her magic the moment he gained entry to the castle. This route would lead to a slower, more ignominious capture and death. Covetous old fool. No escaping now.
He’d never catch her scent on her son.
Closing the secret door, Nyanda gave a grim smile. “Goodbye, little Pieravor Gimitri. Future king.”
She sat at her vanity, ignoring her wildly pounding heart while combing her hair and applying scent to her neck. She’d meet her end with dignity.
Incense still scented her rooms. She retrieved and placed her grimoire on her worktable. “Words within belong to me; none shall read, save Gimitri.” There. The best she could do on short notice.
She slipped the book back into her travel bag.
A tiny silver wristband lay on her worktable. What? No! She snatched the band and ran after the princess.
The tower door smashed open. “She’s here!” shouted a man with a captain’s insignia on his armor.
The band fell from Nyanda’s fingers.
Too late.
CHAPTER TWO
Saris waited behind the hidden door with her faithful guard, his battle-scarred face less scary now than when she’d been a child.
“Princess, we need to flee.” Sir Lyvianne brandished his sword toward the downward-leading stairs.
“But she has magical artifacts. Maybe we can find something to help.” Not that Saris possessed enough power to use them. She must try. Her family depended on her. Her people depended on her. A crash sounded on the other side of the door. Guards barked orders.
Had Lady Gimitri surrendered without fighting to allow Saris to escape with Pieravor?
Saris barely breathed, straining her hearing. The child blinked up at her from his bundle of blankets. Good baby. One wail would give them away.
The shouting faded. Saris cracked open the door. Nothing. Silence. “Lady Nyanda?”
Lyvianne stopped Saris from opening the door farther. “Highness. Allow me.” Shielding her with his armored bulk, he stepped from their hiding place.