Were under attack! Lenore cried out, racing for the stables. There were still two more guards in the stables, along with the driver. She just had to pray that he hadnt unhitched the horses from the carriage yet, because right then the only hope was to flee. There was no hope to fight, not against foes like these. She sprinted for the stables, hoping she would be in time, hoping she would keep ahead…

Lenore reached the stables and saw the bodies there. The two guards lay on the ground where they had fallen, clearly cut down in seconds. The driver swung from a noose, legs still kicking as he died. Even as Lenore stared in horror, a man stepped from the shadows, dangling another length of rope

Hmm, Eoris said that you might come this way, he said. But I thought he was mistaken. Tell me, are you going to fight?

Please, Lenore begged, but all the time she was doing it, her hand was creeping down to her eating knife. Please, Ill do whatever you

She lunged with it, hoping the element of surprise would make up for what she lacked in skill and strength. Instead, she found her opponent twisting aside, and that rope tangling with her hand, wrenching tight and ripping the knife from it. In another second, hed somehow caught her other wrist, tying the two together behind her.

Yes, he said. You will. And then what all the others want, too. King Ravin was quite clear.

Please, Lenore begged. As he threw her down to the stable floor, she found herself hoping, praying, that one of her brothers would arrive just in time to save her like something out of a song. It always happened like that, didnt it? They would be there, and they would save her, and…

Suddenly, a rope wrapped around her neck, forcing her to look up at the man who scowled down at her with pure hatred.

Good, the man said. Lets begin.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

Aurelle stretched out in the princes bed, waiting to see if he would return to it, and to her. When it became clear that he wouldnt, she stood and dressed before heading down quietly through the castle. With the feast done, there werent as many people to see where she went, but it also meant that there werent as many to mask her comings and goings.

At least the guards in the castle were used to her now. Theyd seen her on Prince Greaves arm, and that seemed to be enough to grant her license to leave without questions. She assumed it would get her back in when she needed to as well.

Everything is fine, she told herself, but she looked behind her for the possibility of anyone following, just to be sure.