At the front of the castle, Victor dismounted, Reid doing the same. He went to the front door and opened it, waiting for her.

“Should I get my things?”

He waved her forward.

She glanced around, not seeing anyone but feeling like dozens of eyes were on her. Maybe she’d feel safer inside. She brushed past Victor to enter the castle. It was pitch black inside.

Victor placed his hand on her back, gently nudging her forward. “There is someone here who is dying to meet you.”

The door slammed shut, startling her.

“I have Lady Reid Ellington,” Victor said. “Just as you requested.”

“You may pass.”

Victor prodded Reid forward. “There’s a curtain in front of you. Push it aside.”

Reid did as instructed. Stepping past the curtain, she entered a brightly lit hallway. On her left, two open doors led to a sitting room.

Victor stepped around Reid and entered the room. There were two sofas and four chairs arranged around a low table. An enormous fireplace was situated along one wall, a desk and a bookshelf along another. A woman who had to be in her late forties stood near one of the chairs. She wore black pants and a black tunic, her brown hair in a single braid. Victor plopped on a sofa, then groaned in exhaustion.

“Please have a seat,” the woman said.

Fatigued, Reid sat, taking note there weren’t any windows in the room.

The woman smiled. “Lady Reid, I’d like to welcome you to the headquarters for the Knights of the Realm.”

Chapter Eleven

Reid couldn’t believe she was in the Knights of the Realm’s headquarters. And that it was in Axian. Leaning forward, she rubbed her face. “What about you?” she asked the stranger who hadn’t divulged her name.

“What about me?” Her voice was smooth and level, not revealing any emotion.

“Are you a Knight?”

Still standing, the woman gripped the back of the chair. “No. I am not officially a Knight.”

“Who are you?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I have time.”

“As do I.” The woman’s smile softened her face. “However, it’s late. I’m tired, and you must be as well. We will discuss everything tomorrow.” To Victor, she said, “Thank you for bringing her. You may leave.” Then to Reid, she said, “I’ll show you to your quarters.”

Reid followed the woman from the room.

“Thank you for coming. I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

Dozens of questions swirled in Reid’s mind. However, she was too exhausted to voice any as they traveled along a seemingly endless corridor. When they came to a steep, spiral staircase, they climbed two flights, then traversed another long hallway, doors lining either side at evenly spaced intervals.

The woman stopped before the sixth door on the left. “You may sleep in here. In the morning, we’ll talk.”