Dell squeezed his shoulder. “I wouldn’t go that far, buddy. But the princess is cute, right?”

A weak laugh passed the dying man’s lips. The joke eased some of the tightness in Dell’s chest.

It didn’t work this time.

He met the man’s glassy gaze with a nod before straightening to join the others.

When he searched the hall, it wasn’t the sailor who waited for him.

“Brother,” Reed said. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Pain radiated from Helena’s shoulder as she slammed it into the door once more. “Cole,” she screamed. “Let me out of here!”

“Helena,” her mother said calmly. “That will not help.”

“He can’t keep us in here. We’re his family, for priest’s sake.” She put her hands on her head and turned to her mother. “Family.” She walked back to the couch and dropped onto it with a huff. “I feel so useless. I can dance. I can sew. I can sit at royal dinners and not make a fool of myself. If I get close enough, I can take anyone down with a single knife. But when my family needs me most, I can’t help them.” Her shoulders slumped.

Her mother scooted close and put an arm around her shoulders. “Helena, dear, you are not useless. You have so many skills you have yet to discover. A princess is not all you are. This is not the end for you.” She rested her chin on Helena’s head. “Besides, I can get us out of here.”

Helena reeled back. “What are you talking about?”

Her mother sighed. “In Cana, we were taught so much more than I’ve passed on to you.”

“Of course.” The kingdom of spies. She jumped to her feet. “And you didn’t think to mention this in the hours we’ve been sitting in here?”

“I don’t want you out there, Len.” Sadness etched across her face. “It’s killing me to not know where Estevan and Kassander are. You three are my heart. But I do not think it wise any longer to wait and see what they mean to do with us.”

She rose to her feet and reached into her hair, pulling free two pins. At the door, she put the pins into the lock, her face a mask of concentration.

It was only when the click of the lock echoed through the room Helena realized she was holding her breath. She exhaled slowly, trying to calm her pounding heart.

The queen walked into her maid’s adjoining room, returning with an array of weapons. Helena shouldn’t have been surprised at her mother’s secrets.

“Helena, you have an advantage. Those at the ball only glimpsed your face. Only your brother and a few select others will recognize you. You must change.”