The Broken Kingdoms of Osvolta (Kingdoms of Osvolta #1)

54. Seek the Truth

Chapter fifty-four

Seek the Truth

S olveig avoided Teris’s gaze as she lit a sconce for her. Refusing to divulge why she needed it. Once the castle was sleeping, she crept out of the room, listening for passing servants. Determined not to be seen as she headed for the Infirmary.

The healer must’ve been called out, for the door was unlocked when she arrived. She slipped inside, heading straight for the Records Room. Knowing the healer could return at any moment. First, she retrieved the file on Xanthe, then she searched for the older one, fingers drifting across a slip of aged paper carrying Aldrik’s name.

She walked over to the desk, placing her sconce down to study each of the death certificates. Both listed the cause of death as poisoning. Though the healer remarked, they could not find a trace of it after the fact. Whatever had killed the duchess, and her son, hadn’t been in their systems when they filed the report.

Solveig felt as though she were drowning as she stared at the confirmation that she may have killed innocent people on her family’s orders. Never once questioning it, until her friend’s name came up on the docket. She was a monster. Despite Emmerich’s protestations to the contrary. She had innocent blood on her hands.

Whatever saving Emmerich cost her, she deserved to lose it. She couldn’t take back what she had done, but she could try to stop it from happening again. If Aldrik and Xanthe hadn’t been poisoned, that meant whoever went after Emmerich was still alive and still had access to him.

She pocketed the death certificates and returned the files, before turning on her heel and heading, not for her quarters, but for her mothers. Whoever had done this was likely at the ball last night. They wouldn’t have wanted to miss the culmination of their efforts. She needed the list of attendees and assigned workers. As Emmerich had suspected her of being Xanthe’s killer, she now had to suspect everyone of being his.

Unlike the infirmary, the door to the queen’s lady-in-waiting’s room was locked. Solveig sank down on her knees, laying the glowing sconce against the stone wall. Casting, flickering, blue tinted shadows up and down the hall as she pulled pins from her hair and set to work wrestling with the lock.

As footsteps sounded down the hall, it clicked open, and she darted inside. She hid the sconce beneath the desk, praying its light wouldn’t filter out beneath the door frame. Solveig held her breath as the steps came closer, louder. They paused for a second at the door, and she froze, as if even the slightest movement would give her away.

What seemed like an eternity later, the person finally moved along. Running to the desk, she pulled open drawers and boxes until she found what she needed. Then raced from the room in case whoever had lingered by the door decided to come back. The list felt like it was burning her skin as she moved. Someone on it had attacked the prince, and she was going to find out who, but it wasn’t safe to investigate what she had learned in this castle. She needed to get away from watchful eyes and listening ears.

Commander Bleeker had sent word for the ship to be readied, as promised. Once Emmerich could finally walk more than a few steps from his bed, she declared it was time for them to go. They could do no more here, not when his life was on the line and Emmerich reluctantly agreed. Only requesting that they delay for one more day to allow him to say goodbye to the Princess, who had gripped his attention so thoroughly. They were talking in hushed tones over a light breakfast and steaming cups of coffee when Teris burst through the door.

“She’s gone,” she gasped.

“What are you talking about?” Emmerich demanded, shooting up from his chair, ignoring the ache still lingering in his body.

“Solveig. Some of her clothes and weapons are missing, as is she. I’m such a fool,” she cried, covering her face with her hands.

“Start again.” Emmerich exclaimed as he rounded the chair.

“Last night she asked me to light her a sconce, but wouldn’t say why. I was wandering the castle half the night to see if I could spot her, but I never did except…” She paused.

“Except what?”

“I walked past one of the queen’s offices. I thought I saw something, but no one was there. Now, I’m not sure.”

“Why would she go there?”

“She was searching for something.”

“Information she couldn’t ask for,” Wrenn supplied. Emmerich and Teris turned toward her.

“What information could she need?” Emmerich was almost shouting now, pinching his brow in frustration.

Wrenn turned toward Teris for help, whose only reply was a tight grimace. “Before the party, Teris was worried you may have been under undue influence from that tea you’ve been drinking. She asked me to talk to the princess about it. Something about not drinking tea from her mother’s kitchen and warning you of the same.”

“I remember.”

“Well, the princess wasn’t overly concerned, but now, maybe there’s something.” She shrugged.

“Something she’s chosen to keep to herself.” Emmerich groaned, his head falling back as he rubbed at his eyes.

“I warned you not to trust her.”

“Something tells me that’s not the problem here,” he muttered.

“Then what?”

“It’s just her. She doesn’t trust anyone. Thinks someone in the castle poisoned me. I think she’s found something that she thought wasn’t safe to delve into here.” He turned toward Teris. “Any ideas where she’d go?”

“Farrenhold.”

“Why would she go there?” The prince and his commander glanced at each other, and Teris looked at them both as though they were stupid.

“Have you paid no attention to her at all? She’s friends with the future sovereign, Adira Etana, and if that reason isn’t good enough for you. Jasper Etana declared she would be under their protection whenever she was there until the end of her days. If she’s found something she’s not supposed to know. There’s no place safer for her right now.”

Emmerich eyed Wrenn next to him. “Change of plans, Commander. We’re going to Farrenhold.”

Wrenn rolled her eyes as she stood to write a message to be delivered to the port, as Emmerich prepared his belongings for departure.

“Wait.” Teris shouted, throwing her hands wide. “You can’t simply go to Farrenhold. You’re a prince of the realm, remember? An enemy prince at that, you need permission to step foot on Farrenhold soil.” Emmerich looked at Teris tersely.

His nostrils flared as he jerked his head toward Wrenn, flexing the muscles in his arms to loosen the tension there.

“Wrenn, you pack. I’ll write the letter. And Teris, you make sure it gets sent out today. We’re leaving before sundown.”