“I’m thinking,” she responded brusquely. “If what this Phelan says is true, then Mother was taken to draw me out of Tara.”

  “Keep in mind that your source is also a prisoner who came into the castle heavily armed. He‘s probably setting you up.”

  Edana resumed her pacing. “I realize that, but the fact remains that she’s been taken and he’s our only lead. Besides, why would he tell me that? Wouldn‘t he expect me to stay here if I thought I was in danger?”

  Morfram sighed and ran his hand through the inky blackness of his hair. Though he was a few years older than her father had been, the age gap often felt much greater. “We can’t just leave the city undefended. If what the prisoner says is true, then we must be cautious.”

  She knew this, but it didn‘t change what needed to be done. “Then I’ll go,” she said, suddenly sure of what came next. “I’ll take the prisoner and a small contingent with me to find my mother.”

  “That isn’t being cautious!” he exploded. “You could be walking into a trap for all we know.”

  “Or,” she said reasonably, “they could be hoping I’ll stay here. They were able to get to her here, after all.”

  “Which begs the question, how were they able to get to Bidelia here? She should have been guarded. No one was injured. No one is missing from duty. I think we need to consider that the culprit may be someone on the inside.”

  Edana felt her stomach drop. The thought had crossed her mind, but she just didn’t think it could be true. There was no motive for anyone to take her mother unless--

  “Is it possible that she was taken to be forced into naming the next in line?”

  Morfram scratched his chin and considered. “I suppose it’s possible. Whoever took her must realize that your name will be submitted.”

  “My name!” Edana abruptly stopped her pacing to drop into the nearest chair. “She can’t pick my name! I know people have been talking about it, but a woman’s never been chosen before.”

  “Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It’s common knowledge that your father was considering you as well.”

  “There’s a big difference between rumors and common knowledge! This wasn’t common knowledge to me.”

  “Edana,” he interrupted harshly. “How dense can you be?”

  “I assumed that he spent so much time tutoring me because he had an important match lined up for me.”

  “Hardly. He decided a long time ago that he would make you a leader. Which,” he considered calmly, “is why I can’t let you go after your mother.”

  Edana dropped her head into her hands. This was all beyond ridiculous. Yes, Eire had queens. Some had even been known as great warriors, but one had never been crowned on her own. That’s the way it had always been done.

  It was nice hearing that her father believed in her enough to suggest she would make a good queen. But there was a difference between considering someone for the role and actually submitting her name. It was a big responsibility. The biggest responsibility. She was too young, too inexperienced, too everything to rule in her father’s place.

  Father thought you were good enough, her mind whispered. Surely, he saw something in her that made her worthy of that kind of faith.

  It still made no sense, though. If her mother was taken to keep her from submitting Edana’s name, what was to keep Edana, who would be next in line, from submitting her own name? Especially if that’s what her father had wanted.

  The realization struck her like a blow to the chest. She couldn’t submit her own name. It was against their laws in the hopes of avoiding regicide in the name of power. This meant whoever took her mother not only wanted to prevent Edana from going to the stone, but also to ensure that their name was the one submitted to the people. If it was someone likely to be chosen on their own merit, then surely they wouldn’t bother to kidnap the queen.

  Slow down. You’re getting ahead of yourself, she thought. This was all just speculation. She needed answers, not just more questions to worry about.

  This left Edana with one choice as she saw it.

  “I’m going.”

  Morfram stood from his chair, ready to argue against her decision, but a raised hand from Edana stopped him.

  “I’ve already made up my mind. I’m going after her. I’ll take Kyl and Donal and anyone else they think necessary. The prisoner, Phelan, will be going with us, as well.”

  Morfram arched a questioning brow.

  “I don’t trust him,” Edana clarified. “You may be right about his motives. In fact, you probably are. He’s hiding something. Which is why I’d rather keep him with me where I can keep an eye on him. I don’t know how long we’ll be, so Ianna will be left in charge while I’m gone with you serving as her chief advisor. I‘ll sign everything I have to tonight, but we‘ll be leaving at dawn. I don‘t want to waste any more time.”

  Edana took a deep breath, not quite used to issuing orders to anyone. It seemed to her that she had issued more orders in the last hour than she had in her entire life. It couldn’t be helped. It actually felt pretty good to be able to command Morfram. In the past year, she had been unable to since Morfram had been working for her father. As the oldest member of the royal family, Morfram now worked for her. “Any questions?”

  Morfram stared at her, unblinking. His features were a composed mask, but there was a small hint of anger in his eyes that he couldn’t quite hide. “Just where are you planning to look first?”

  Edana considered the possibilities. Her mother’s captors could have taken her anywhere. They weren’t even sure who her captors were for that matter. Phelan already said he didn’t know where she was taken. That left her with a lot of possible starting points.

  Inspiration struck. “Look to the Druids,” Fal had said. Could this be the trouble he had referred to? If so, the gods were bastards for not telling her that her mother would be taken. She would have done whatever she could have to protect her if she’d only known.

  She prayed that whether this was the trouble Fal had warned her about or not, the Druids would be able to help her find her mother. The only thing she had left in this moment was hope. She would cling to it with everything she had.

  “I’ll find the Druids.” She was proud of the confidence in her tone.

  Morfram was clearly annoyed with the course their conversation had taken. “The Druids are gone.”

  “No, they’re not.” Of this one thing she could be sure. The gods may be bastards, but surely they wouldn’t lie about their chosen people. Fal said they were still here, so they must be.

  “And how can you be so sure?”

  Have faith, she told herself. Edana gave Morfram a cocky grin. “The gods told me so.”

  CHAPTER 7--PHELAN

  He’d been in worse places than this, Phelan thought as he looked around the dank cell. It was a sad thought. Dungeons were supposed to be the scariest places imaginable. This was nothing compared to the cell he’d found himself in the last time he visited the Ottoman Empire. Phelan smiled ruefully at the memory. The emperor hadn’t been too pleased with a comment he’d made about the man’s son. Luckily, he hadn’t been in that cell for long. He’d learned at a young age how to get himself out of tight spots.

  Here, straw covered every inch of the floor that he could see in the dimly lit room, a concession to the imprisoned so they wouldn’t have to sleep on the cold floor. No doubt this was an attempt to show the dungeon’s inhabitants that they were considered little better than animals. A small lantern had been lit, its flickering glow shining through the ugly iron bars. He saw no other source of light--no windows, no candles. Nothing.

  Though to be fair, arming prisoners with fire when the entire dungeon floor was covered in straw made his jailers smarter than he gave them credit for. Judging by the silence, he was most likely the only prisoner down here. Giving him even something as small as a candle would be a grave mistake on their part.

  Phelan mentally shrugged the thought away. No matter. Edana would try to rescue her mother, and he would be taken along. He would, selflessly, pretend to help her.

  At the first available opportunity, he would get rid of her guards. She wouldn’t leave the walls of the city without some kind of escort, after all. After her guards were taken care of, the Princess Edana would have a lot to answer for.

  Phelan had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Most of his life, in fact. It was his ill fortune that he needed the brat to get what he wanted.

  The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs snapped him out of his reverie. He hadn’t expected her to come back this soon, but it seemed the princess was in a bit of a hurry to get started.

  He couldn’t really blame her. If he’d been given the chance to save his mother, he would have done anything and everything in his power. He’d been ten when his mother died and hadn’t gotten the chance to save her. His own grief wouldn’t change anything. He still had a job to do. He wouldn’t be stopped now.

  The footsteps grew closer. Edana led the way, followed by four guards. One, he recognized as the man Edana and her sister had arrived with when they received news of their mother’s capture. Kyl, he recalled. Reports claimed Kyl was very close to Princess Edana, but the exact manner of the relationship hadn’t been verified.

  The bearing of both, before and now, as he sat on the floor looking up at them, indicated a close personal relationship. He smiled to himself. Maybe this was something he could use.

  Phelan rose from his seated position, his chains and manacle clanking. The sound echoed in the silent room. If the sound reassured them, it could only benefit him.

  He offered what he knew was his most obnoxious smile and gave Edana another mocking bow. Just knowing that it irritated her was reason enough to do it. His mother, if she lived, would likely be disappointed in his behavior, but until he completed his task, Phelan couldn’t afford to be diverted by the girl, especially since he’d been warned against it.

  “Edana, my love. I knew you’d come for me,” he teased breathlessly. Is it time for us to finally run away together?” He gestured to the guards. “Are these to be our wedding attendants?”

  “Donal.” Edana motioned to the closest guard who moved forward to unlock the heavy cell door. “Phelan,” she said coolly. “You’re going along because I don’t trust you enough to leave you behind.”

  “And because you’d miss me,” he interjected. His smile never wavered.

  Edana’s expression never changed. “You can make all the jokes you want, but if you make one false move toward me or one of my men, I will, personally, kill you.” She held her ground as Phelan exited the cell, his hands now chained in front of him. She kept her eyes locked on his. “Don’t think for a second that I’m not capable of it.”

  The cold gleam in her eyes and the firmness of her tone surprised him. I’ll be damned, he thought. She really means it.

  This would be interesting.

  CHAPTER 8--EDANA

  Edana entered her sister’s room before the sun had even risen followed by Phelan, Kyl, and Donal. The room itself reflected everything she loved about her sister. The color was a quiet blue. The bed cover was trimmed in a delicate white lace, lending the room an easy femininity. The bright flowers on her table offered a hint of boldness that reminded her of Ianna’s quick temper.

  Ianna, still in the clothes she had worn the day before, sat on the edge of the bed, making a lovely centerpiece to a lovely room. Though she’d undoubtedly spent days crying over the death of their father and now, hours worrying over their mother’s capture, the puffiness surrounding her eyes was the only sign that she was anything other than serene.

  She stood as they entered, eyes flashing angrily, no longer serene. “What’s he doing here?”

  Phelan, apparently less antagonistic to Ianna, made a small bow, his trademark sneer conspicuously absent. The ass!

  Kyl rolled his eyes. “He’s going with us.”

  “He’s going where with you?”

  Edana sighed. It was too much to hope her sister would take this well. “We’re going to find Mother. I know,” she said, holding up a hand, hoping to forestall the argument for a few more minutes. “I know you want to come with us, but I can’t let you.”

  “Why the hell not? You’re taking an attempted murderer with you!”

  Phelan leaned forward. “Whoa, whoa, now. Let’s not sling accusations like that around. For all you know, I was trying to save her.”

  Was this guy serious? Ianna’s look clearly asked the same.

  “I think you should just kill him and get it over with.”

  Kyl and Donal laughed at this. Even in dire circumstances, Kyl and Donal would find humor. It wasn’t very often Ianna surprised them like that. Phelan, not knowing Ianna, didn’t seem surprised by this sentiment at all. Maybe he was just too used to death threats to mind much. Edana imagined they were an everyday occurrence for him.

  “We can’t kill him. Yet,” she said with a smirk for Phelan. “Right now he’s our only lead to finding out what happened.”

  “You can’t be serious! For all you know, he’s going to wait until you get him out of the city and then slit your throats.”

  Phelan threw his head back and laughed. “She’s smart. I like her.” He met Ianna’s angry glare. “Would it help if I promise not to kill your precious sister?”

  Ianna ignored his sarcasm. “Yes, it would. Swear it.”

  Phelan seemed taken aback by the sharpness of her demand. He composed his features quickly, tilting his head as if considering her more closely. After a brief moment, he nodded. “I swear I won’t kill your sister.”

  Edana couldn’t have said who was more surprised by his response, she or everyone else in the room.

  The silence stretched for several awkward moments. Finally--thankfully--Kyl cleared his throat to shatter the stillness. “Well, I hope that clears things up. We’re wasting time.” He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Ianna. “I’ll look after her,” he whispered against her hair. “I swear it.”

  Ianna hugged him tighter before pulling away. She nodded at Donal and gave one last glare in Phelan’s direction before turning to face Edana.

  “Give us a moment,” Edana said to Kyl. “I’ll meet you at the stables.”

  Kyl nodded and led Donal and Phelan from the room.

  Edana moved to sit on the edge on the bed. Thankfully she’d had the forethought to change into breeches and a tunic. She pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them to her. When Ianna joined her on the bed, she took her hand in her own. “I’m sorry I can’t take you with me, but I need you to stay here. Until I find out where they took Mother, you’ll be in charge. I’ve already spoken to Morfram. He’ll advise you until we get back.”

  “I need to believe you’ll be back.”

  Edana squeezed her sister’s hand. “Believe it. I won’t let you down.”

  Ianna shook her head sadly. “I’m not worried about you letting me down. I’m worried about you dying.” She paused. “Which I guess is the same thing.”

  “You don’t need to be. I can take care of myself.”

  “How can you be sure? You‘ve never dealt with anything like this before.”

  Edana lifted her hands helplessly. “I have faith.”

  “What does that even mean?” Ianna exploded. “Stop acting like everything’s going to be okay! Do you even know where to look for her?”

  “Not exactly, no. But I know where to start.”

  Ianna prodded her on. “Where? And how do you know? You didn’t say anything earlier.” The flash in Edana’s eyes warned her to tread softly. “I’m not trying to make you angry. I just want you to be honest with me. You’re leaving me here. I don’t know when or even if I’ll see you again, and whenever I ask a question, all you give me are these cryptic responses.” She stood, turning to face her sister. “Edana, please.”

  She’s right, Edana thought. This was her sister. If she couldn’t be honest with her sister, then who could she be honest with? She heaved a breath. Chances were, Ianna would think she was crazy anyway. “I had a dream. No, don’t interrupt. Let me get this out.” She needed to get this out.

  “The day Father died, I had a dream. I met Fal. We were at the stone. Lud, Dagda, and Nuada were there too. All of them. They told me he was dead then warned me that something, or someone, was coming, and I’d have to leave soon. They said the only way to make everything right, would be for me to leave here.” She sighed. “And I’m being cryptic with you because he was cryptic with me. And that’s not all. Phelan was there. He was there in my dream.

  “I can’t quite figure out why, though. After Fal disappeared, Phelan and I were both running toward the stone. I just knew I needed to reach it. We both touched the stone and it was like the world exploded. The next thing I knew, I was waking up in bed and I could hear the bells ringing.” Edana made a face. “I know it doesn’t make sense, but…I feel that it’s true,” she finished lamely.

  Ianna was silent for a few seconds before nodding to herself. “I believe you. But gods or not, I need you to be careful.”

  “I will be. I swear. I need you to be careful too.”

  Ianna smiled sadly. “Swear.”

  The sisters moved forward to embrace each other, squeezing tightly. If this was the last time they ever saw each other, they wanted to make it count.

  “Love you,” Edana whispered.

  “Love you too.”

  Edana gave one last squeeze before pulling away. “I need to go now. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Ianna nodded. “Be safe.”

  Edana smiled and turned to leave. Please don’t let this be the last time I see my sister, she prayed silently. She didn’t think either one of them could deal with another loss.

  She took a deep, bracing breath. Have faith, she thought again.

  When she walked out of the room and a wave of anxiety washed over her, she couldn’t help thinking that she really needed the gods to be right about this.

 

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