Page 55 of The Prince's Fealty

“We don’t know!” Fernila exclaimed. “But someone tried to kill the baby!”

Ada’s gaze flew to Cala, and she demanded, “What?”

Fernila was crying again. “I know! It’s so awful! And they, they—”

Butshe dissolved into tears, and Ada wrapped her arms around her and helped her sit down again beside the baby, who peacefully slept through this torrent of emotion.

Rubbing her sister-in-law’s back, Ada hoped that Var would be back soon. He was the best placed to reassure his wife.

By the time the door opened again to admit Thurnil, a servant with a tray piled with food, and another one of King Nostex’s guards, Fernila was mostly back in control, just dabbing at her eyes with a very damp handkerchief.

Ada jumped to her feet and smiled at the young woman with the tray.

“Goodness, that looks like enough food to feed all the guards in the castle! Let’s set it down here.”

There was a table with a wrought iron frame and wooden top which had just a few items on it. Ada plucked up the basket of mending and stack of discarded books so that there was room for the tray, and set them down on a chair.

The servant smiled shyly at her as she returned to the table.

“Is there anything else you need, Your Highness?”

“No, this looks wonderful. Thank you.”

The young woman bowed and withdrew, and Ada reached for the teapot.

“You need a cup of tea,” Ada told her sister-in-law. “When Var gets here, we’ll talk everything—”

Ada wasn’t sure what alerted her. Perhaps the worry and alarm that had carried her through the last five days hadn’t completely dissipated. Whatever it was, it meant that her shield was already forming even as she whirled towards what proved to be the guard stabbing at her with a dagger that would undoubtedly have found its target if it weren’t for the shield between them.

As it was, it pushed Ada back a few steps, the shield snapping up around her even as Fernila let out a shriek and Thurnil yanked his sword out of his scabbard.

Ada threw up another shield around Fernila and the baby even as Thurnil rushed after the guard, who bolted.

And then Ada, Fernila, and the baby were left alone, staring at one another in shock. Well, Fernila and Ada were staring. Cala had just been rudely woken from her nap and was not happy about it.

Fernila scooped the wailing Cala into her arms and set about to soothe her.

Ada was still buzzing with shock. She could feel the unpleasant zing of her magic filling her. Using it always made the discomfort worse.

“Whatwasthat?” she demanded.

Fernila looked like she was terrified but trying to hide it behind a more soothing expression for her daughter. Her smile was shaky. “You’re all right, Cala, honey. I’m so sorry I startled you awake. It’s all going to be fine. Don’t you worry about anything.” Slowly, Cala’s cries tapered off under her mother’s gentle care. Then she cast wide, scared eyes at Ada. “It might mean it’s spread here! Oh, Adexa, I don’t know what we’re going to do!”

“What do you mean?” Ada asked. Then she was distracted. “Where are the guards?”

There’d been yelling, a screaming baby, and a guard running off with a prince in rapid pursuit. Surely, that wasn’t normal behavior.

Only then Thurnil returned, looking slightly out of breath. He looked angry.

“He got away! The guards have gone in pursuit.” He eyed Ada. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” Ada assured him, trying not to allow any of her surprise to color her voice.

It had been a long time since she’d believed that Thurnil cared about her, but he seemed genuinely concerned, cheeks dark with color and anger flashing in his eyes.

“But there’s no sign of other attackers?” Ada questioned. “Do we have reason to believe that we’re under attack?”

Thurnil shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” He hesitated for a moment. “It seems like it must have been an isolated incident, though I can’t imagine what the goal was. What did he think would happen if he’d succeeded?”