Trynne’s brow furrowed and she walked to the edge of the fountain and stepped over. The waters sloshed and splashed as she and Lady Evie extricated themselves from it. Water dripped onto the polished marble floor.

Only then did Trynne see the two crumpled bodies that had been concealed by the edge.

Lady Evie gasped, seeing them at the same moment. “Look! Are they dead?”

Trynne knelt by the two bodies that were wearing Espion rings on their right hands. They had been stationed to guard the chapel fountain at all hours, day and night. Her insides quickened with fear and dread, but she heard the men breathing. Both were in a deep slumber.

“Something’s wrong,” Trynne whispered, once again sensing the magic that hung in the air. She jostled one of the men by the shoulder.

The Espion didn’t move; he just rolled onto his back, his mouth parted. It was a magically induced sleep.

“This is unlike Kevan’s men,” Lady Evie said, shaking her head. She stifled another yawn. “They’re supposed to be guarding this place.”

“I think they are under a spell,” Trynne whispered, holding up her hand. She was tempted to reach out with her magic, to divine the source of the shroud. The magic was trying to make her fall asleep, but it could only billow around her and Lady Evie. Trynne realized that her presence was the only thing keeping the Queen of Atabyrion awake.

“It’s so quiet,” Lady Evie whispered. Her look grew more concerned.

Trynne licked her lips. “The Wizr Rucrius was being held prisoner here,” she said. “Morwenna claimed she’d drugged him to sleep before we left to find you.”

“Morwenna said that?” Lady Evie answered in a distrusting tone.

Trynne nodded. “We must go to the king. Let’s make sure he is safe.”

“And my daughter,” Lady Evie said.

They started walking down the dark corridor together. Trynne immediately felt the presence of multiple Fountain-blessed in the audience hall where the Ring Table stood. She discerned there was other magic at work as well. Fear churned inside her. What was happening? Had Rucrius broken free in the night?

They walked as quietly as they could, but without any other sound, their steps seemed loud. There was another knight crumpled on the ground, fast asleep, ahead, hidden by the shadows. Another was sitting up against a pillar, his head lolling to one side. Trynne’s anxiousness grew with each step.

The main door to the audience hall lay just ahead. There were voices coming from it, but the thick door was too heavy for her to understand what was being said. They were the first sounds of life they’d heard since arriving in the fountain.

“My heart is full of dread,” Lady Evie whispered, but her eyes were more angry than fearful.