Each child born to the royal family had a purpose placed on them the day they first opened their eyes. Stev was to be the next ruler of Madra. Helena would lead the Merchant guild—the most powerful entity behind the king and the priesthood. Kassander was born to be a priest. Quinn and Cole were bastards but in an unusual move, the king recognized them so even they had roles within the kingdom. They were not placed into the line of succession, but were given posts in military command.

Helena turned to Edmund. “Thanks for getting me this far, but I’m okay getting back on my own.”

He shook his head. “Stev would kill me if I didn’t accompany you.”

She narrowed her eyes, realization setting in. “Of course.” She walked back toward the street. “Big brother sent you to find me.”

“He saw you leave.” There was meaning in his words that took her a few moments to understand.

She slowed her steps. “He let me go?”

“He wanted you to have your freedom, even if it meant defying tradition. I’ve been following you since you reached the columns at the end of the square. I only stepped in when I saw Dell fighting.”

“Unbelievable.” She shook her head. “Stev is…” Her brother was always surprising her. He never spoke to her as if he cared, but then he did things like this.

They made it to the far side of the palace where a grate sat above a hole in the ground. It lay hidden beneath a wooden platform. If anyone found it, they’d assume it was only a part of the vast sewer system consisting of shallow clay pipes. An innovation of her grandmother’s. Helena bent and lifted the wooden boards to reveal the metal bars. She pulled a rusted key from the string around her neck and bent to turn it in the iron lock. Edmund pulled the bars free.

“Replace this once I’m through,” Helena instructed.

Edmund gaped. “I don’t like the thought of you going down into that.” He stared into the dark.

She shrugged and sat on the edge of the hole, swinging her legs in and dropping onto the ladder.

As she cleared the entrance, Edmund put the iron bars back in place and stared down at her.

“Thanks, Edmund.”

He nodded and watched her descend.

The musty smell of the tunnel enveloped Helena as she jumped from the ladder into the ankle-deep water. Kassander’s boots would be soaked, but her ten-year-old brother’s clothes were the only ones that fit.

Running through the darkened tunnels, she skimmed her hand along the wall to guide her steps. She didn’t know how long she walked before a door appeared, light seeping out from underneath.