Fear sparked in Orlo’s eyes at the mention of the order. No one in Madra wanted to face the white-cloaked lawmakers and their prison cells. Orlo didn’t hesitate to run once given the chance.

“How do you expect to keep this from father?” Helena asked. “They were in the middle of the city.” She threw a nervous look over her shoulder. “You know as well as I the priesthood has eyes everywhere.”

Edmund walked toward the boy who must have been Dell and bent down. “Your father and his dogs will hear of this alright. But you don’t understand this city, Len. There isn’t a single person who will turn Orlo or Dell over for questioning.” He placed two fingers against the boy’s neck. “Well, he’s alive, so there’s that at least.” Blowing the hair out of his face, he straightened and glanced around at the gathering crowd. “Don’t you have better things to do?”

He shook his head as they scattered and then turned to Helena. “You and I will have words once Dell is tended to.” He hefted Dell onto his shoulder as if he weighed nothing. “Come.”

She ran to keep up with Edmund’s long strides. He led her through the crowded city as if he’d lived there his entire life. In reality, he’d only been in Madra for the past two years, serving as the ambassador from Bela. There were rumors winding their way through the palace about Edmund and his relationship to the queen and king of Bela. Some said they were close, others spoke of imprisonments. Each story ended with Edmund requesting an assignment far from the kingdom he’d fought a war to save.

Helena wasn’t complaining though. She had four brothers, but none understood her as much as Edmund.

“Edmund,” she started. She needed to explain her presence in the city. It was forbidden by the laws and traditions of Madra for a princess to leave the walls of the palace unaccompanied and unmasked.

“Not here.” He turned into a narrow alley running between two pale-brick buildings, leading to a busy street.

Curious Madran eyes followed them, but Edmund was well known, and most feared to be in his presence. Those stories from the palace? They also spoke of his magic. Something Helena had never seen and had trouble believing existed.

Two years ago, Madran troops were sent to aid the Belaen queen in her war against La Dame. Persinette Basile took her kingdom back and those Madran troops who fought by her side came home with the most marvelous tales of magic. The minstrels, fascinated with their tall tales of magic and spells, turned the soldiers’ stories of the Belaen queen into epic songs.

Even the mercenaries who’d fought with Dracon against the royal Madran forces had their share of tales for anyone brave enough to approach them.