Entering the room, Reid found a single lit candle, which revealed a narrow bed on one wall, a writing desk on another, and a tall dresser shoved in the corner. No window, no fireplace. She shivered. While the room was neat and clean, it felt cold and sterile. Reid spotted her bag at the end of the bed. She opened it, pulling her nightgown out. After changing, she climbed under the rough sheets.

The unnatural quiet gave the castle a haunted feeling. Who was the woman she’d spoken to? The exhaustion from traveling all day consumed her, and she quickly fell asleep.

Since there weren’t any windows in the room, Reid had no idea if it was morning yet. Feeling rested, she stretched and climbed out of bed. When her feet hit the stone floor, she yelped at the frigid temperature.

After quickly dressing in pants and a tunic, she tied her hair back and exited the room. She headed downstairs where she found the woman from last night sitting at a desk writing.

“Good morning,” Reid said, hoping not to startle her. “At least I think it’s morning. I honestly don’t know.”

“It’s after sunrise.” The woman folded a piece of paper in half before sliding it in the top drawer. “Let’s get something to eat while we talk.”

“You still haven’t told me your name.”

“I’m Anna.” She led the way to a rectangular dining room, where a table already loaded with food waited.

Reid sat, taking a plate and piling it with food. She’d barely had anything to eat over the past two days. “This is the Knights’ headquarters?” From the little she’d seen, the facility seemed remote and secure.

“It is.”

“But you’re not a Knight?”

“No. I train the Knights. However, I’ve never taken the oath.”

“Why not?”

“I’m married.”

“So is Prince Henrick,” Reid pointed out.

“He’s no longer an active Knight, though he does help out when needed. For example, when we requested your presence, he made the arrangements to get you here.” Her plate held only a piece of bread covered with raspberry jam.

Reid took a bite of her eggs. “Ackley told me there are twenty-five Knights?”

“You are the twenty-sixth active Knight. There are another twenty-five who are retired.”

“What’s going to happen once I marry Prince Dexter?” she asked, cutting into her fried tomato.

“You will no longer be a Knight.”

That didn’t seem fair. “Aren’t the Knights trying to bring Axian’s way of life into northern Marsden?”

“Why do you say that?”

Because people were treated fairly in Axian, which made Axian better than the other counties. Instead of saying that, she voiced another concern. “Don’t you think Henrick is a more effective leader than Eldon?”