King of the Seditious

Home.

That was how Savage saw the Blue Lark anymore.

Especially when she’s there.

He looked across the carriage at the woman he’d so dearly missed for this long month.

The longest we’ve ever been apart.

She was sleeping. Her head lolling limply as the wheels turned through the rough terrain of Dread Country. She rested soundly.

She’s exhausted.

He felt the hint of guilt for being the reason she was so tired.

Though he’d never admit to her, he knew how she worried about him when he was away.

And how I worry for her.

Knowing she was in the Guild surrounded by assassins should terrify him but at this point, it felt like the safest place she could be. Though that wasn’t what he’d thought a month ago.

Though that was before they promised to help me.

RedBayne and The Nauvree had both vowed that they’d conduct frequent checks at the Blue Lark to ensure she was safe and there was no conspiring against her.

Though it’s still risky.

He felt minutely better knowing that.

I trust them.

That was a hard thing for him, who trusted so few, to acknowledge.

Nightfall was descending in a dark cloak and the lanterns at the corners of the carriage had to be lit.

Savage’s eagerness to get back to the Guild and get her safely in his tent and hold her again was nearly irrepressible.

Just to hold her.

Having her in his arms seemed a far-off dream, that whole time she was gone.

Especially when I thought I might’ve lost her forever.

All those visions of her body slamming against the rocks in the Sea of Souls still haunted him.

Never.

“She looks well.” The Nauvree sauntered across Winters Haven to remark. “None the worse for wear.”

“She’s incredibly resilient.” Savage couldn’t keep the note of admiration out of his voice.

“She’s certainly that.” Nauvree remarked. “And more.”

Savage was watching her walking through the Winters Haven to deliver tankards of ale to a table of assassins.

After nearly losing her, Savage was finding it harder to keep his eyes off her at all.

“Glad to have her back.”

Savage rotated to look at him. “You know I am. But what is this really about.”

“Since I helped you in bringing her home. I hoped you might help me.”

Savage quirked an intrigue brow.

The Nauvree wasn’t a man to ask for help.

He never has before.

So, this...was more than intriguing.

“What do you need?”

“I’m going to take Nightway.”

“From the crooked queen running it?”

“Well, the crooked queen is now dead and her bumbling step-daughter who has good intentions but is a bit prideful and blind.”

“So, you intend to rob her?” Savage’s tone was flat but in truth, he was surprised.

That would be unlike the man I know.

Nauvree was nothing if not ever honorable.

The man with spiked blonde hair, shifted uncomfortably. Sliding his mug back and forth thoughtfully along the countertop. “It’s a bit more complicated than that.”

“Complicated, how?”

“Must we get into all this?”

“If you want my help...”

“I do.” Nauvree sighed. “She’s doing a miserable job running her kingdom and her people are starving. Even with the raids you’re doing on Danbury, he’s robbing them blind.”

“Sounds as though you two have history.” Savage lifted his drink. “Why not just tell her.”

“I’ve tried...Wretched woman won’t listen.”

“Ah.”

Perhaps his intention is not so much to steal as to help.

Now that...That sounded very much like the Nauvree.

“Fine, Brother.” Savage said. “I’ll help you.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Get inside the castle and help me take it.”

“I don’t need your help.” Savage took another drink.

Nauvree scoffed. “You think you can do it single-handedly.”

Savage rolled his eyes sideways to look at the man but said nothing.

The Nauvree returned to a back table where he sat with Bodin Rhyers, who’d come by the Blue Lark to visit his former ward.

“Is he going to help you?”

“He is. He says I just need to come up with what signal will tell him it is time and he’ll come.”

“Why do you look so anxious?”

“Because he thinks he can get in the gates of Nightway and take the bailey.”

“You don’t think he’s able?”

The Nauvree blew a long breath. “I’m more worried that he can.”

“The boy is damnably terrifying.” Rhyers admitted. “He unsettles even me. His eyes are so flat and icy. Like he feels nothing.”

“Don’t be fooled.” Nauvree remarked. “He feels for your friend there.”

Nauvree pointed to Dimurah.

“She does seem to get under his skin.” Rhyers noted.

“More than that.” Nauvree remarked. Watching her roaming behind the counter. “I believe he truly does love her.”

“That creature?” Rhyers eyed Savage askance.

“Yes.”

1729 Nightway Castle, Nightway

THE NAUVREE

The Nauvree dropped the torch, heedless of the fact that the nearby bedspread immediately lit. The room burned brightly.

The signal was seen.

There was a shout at the bridge tower by one of the Nightway wall guards as they noticed a man ambling toward the bridge.

They hadn’t even noticed the chamber afire yet.

So, it begins.

The Nauvree listened to what happened in the hall outside the chamber.

“Let me in!” The man shouted from the other end of the bridge.

Queen Riaura of Nightway heard the call and went to the window slit in the hall to peer out. Barely glimpsing a male shadow just beyond the light of the torches.

“Assure he’s not armed!” She ordered to the knights on the balcony below. They shouted to the bridge guard who barked something inaudible from within the castle.

The Tower Guards added fuel to the torches to brighten the area as the man lifted his tunic and turned a slow circle before raising his empty hands to reveal he was unarmed.

The bridge guard lifted the spined gate to let him into the bailey.

A knight jogged up the stairs to the third floor to Queen Riaura, helmet in hand. “Do you know him, My Queen?”

“I don’t think so.” She murmured thoughtfully. Not recognizing the voice conferring with knights below. “But I’d hazard a guess he’s here to negotiate for our captive’s release.” She glanced at the locked door where she knew The Nauvree lurked beyond.

Where she’d left him.