Page 113 of To Save a Kingdom

Chewing on the inside of her cheek, Aliya’s face flushed. “Aim for the throat, instead.”

He grunted his affirmation.

“Do ya know where we’re goin’, Princess?” Zadé sprinted past them, a broad grin pasted across her face.

“No,” Aliya said as she let Elessan pull her further down the tunnel. “I figured a quick stop off at the kitchen for supplies, but after that, I don’t know.”

“We’re abandoning the castle, then?” Zadé’s eyes widened.

Aliya flicked her attention between the two elves. “Unless you have a better idea? If we barricaded ourselves in a room like Brooks, it would only be a matter of time before they got us out, either through starvation or brute force.”

“But if we abandon the palace,” Elessan said, “that’ll make it harder to kick Roland out and reclaim your throne.”

“But it’ll keep you two out of jail.”

Zadé snorted. “I’d like to see ‘em try ta toss us in the brig.”

Aliya bit her lips as they burst into the kitchen. “Twelve to one aren’t great odds.” Running to the pantry, she grabbed a cheesecloth and spread it on the counter.

Elessan tossed a few fresh-baked loaves and some dried jerky on the material before bundling it up. “This’ll do.” He eyed her. “You can’t run in that. We need to get you something more practical.”

Aliya shook her head. “All my clothes are up in my suite. Which will be the first place they search.”

Zadé pointed to the dumbwaiter. “That goes up ta yer room, right?”

Aliya furrowed her brow. “Yes, I suppose so.”

“Great!” The other woman shoved her toward the contraption. “Get in! We’ll send yeh up ‘n lead the guards on a merry chase while yeh change.” Zadé flashed her a conspiratorial wink. “They’ll never realize yeh aren’t with us.”

Aliya glanced at Elessan, who was watching the hallway they’d entered from. “El?”

His eyes flicked to hers. “Whatever we do, we need to do it quick. I can hear them coming.”

“Meetcha in the stables!” Zadé practically forced Aliya into the dumbwaiter before throwing the lever that would set it into motion.

Aliya jerked her feet inside the box, along with the acres of fabric that comprised her skirts, as the contraption shot skyward.

When the cabinet opened a few minutes later, Aliya peeked into her study.

All was quiet. Zadé had been right, after all.

Tumbling from the restrictive contraption, she landed on the floor with an undignified oof.

She was already untying the laces on her bodice as she fled into her room. Dropping the heavy overskirt and corset, she ran to the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of leggings and a long tunic.

Pulling on a set of well-worn boots and grabbing a cloak, she spun on her heel and sprinted back out.

As she passed her desk, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. Jerking to a stop, she bent and picked it up, recognizing Thane Hedul’s angular hand.

Breaking the wax seal, she opened the letter.

Your Majesty,

I have come to learn the Whisperers were not eliminated as agreed, but rather handed off to a human. This is in direct violation of our treaty, as we will not allow this technology to fall into another race’s possession.

We will muster our army and march on Lions Grove. You have one week to produce the weapons and when we arrive, we expect to supervise their destruction.

If the Whisperers are not all present and accounted for, and ready to be destroyed, the dwarf clans will consider this breach to be an act of war.