“It doesn’t make any sense,” Allyssa said.
“It makes perfect sense. King Drenton of Russek sent your family that letter telling you to go into exile in order to avoid the upcoming war, just as your family had sent Eliza and Jana into exile all those years ago. Jana wants to reclaim the Emperion throne and is using Russek’s might to do it.”
“If so, then why send the assassin? Grevik’s message indicates the assassin came from Eliza and Jana—not Russek.”
“I don’t know, but my gut tells me this is all tied together.”
“I want you to go and tell Neco what we’ve uncovered. I’ll go and tell my father everything—sneaking out of the castle, Grevik, the assassin—everything.”
“Very well,” Marek replied. “Anything else?
“I’ve been doing research on the main river that runs from the mountains in Romek down through Lakeside, straight through Krosek to the sea. Now, I don’t have any proof, this is just a theory, but I believe Russek will use the river to move their soldiers into Emperion. It’s the best way to travel with large amounts of people and supplies. It’ll take them right into our country without us even knowing.”
“I don’t know,” Marek responded. “I haven’t heard any reports of boats being spotted or read anything about rivers being used in war before.
“Like I said, it’s just an idea. Will you at least present my theory to your father?”
He nodded. “Have you decided what to do about Grevik?”
She’d been going over that in her mind and hadn’t come up with anything yet. “I’ll see if Jarvik has any ideas.”
Marek elbowed her in the ribs. “Jarvik? Really?” He raised his eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes. “There’s nothing going on between us.”
“I didn’t say that there was. Interesting your mind went there, though,” he teased.
She punched his arm.
“That’s not very princess-like, or lady-like for that matter,” Marek stated.
“Perhaps I’m not in a princessy mood right now,” she said. “Beware.”
“With you, I always am.” He turned and led the way down the stairs of the tower.
She sat in her father’s office, waiting for him to say something—anything. She’d told him about the first time she snuck out of the castle all those years ago, her friendship with Grevik, his father’s death, the two of them tracking down criminals, and then her encounter with the assassin. She finished with Marek’s suspicion of Jana being behind the war and the assassination attempt.
Clutching her hands together on her lap, she maintained eye contact even though she wanted to run screaming from the office. Her father’s face was blank, revealing nothing. He’d sat there the entire time she spoke, listening and not uttering a single word or asking any questions.
He finally leaned back on his chair, his gaze going to the window. His silence was making her sweat—she wished he’d talk to her.
The door flew open, and Neco stormed in. Blimey. Marek must have already told him what happened. Darmik held up his hand, indicating for Neco to wait. Neco stood there with his hand clutched on the door handle, his shoulders rising and falling from having run there. A moment later, Marek stumbled into the office, his face red from running after his father. Marek opened his mouth to speak, but one look from Neco had him snapping his jaw shut.
Darmik focused on his daughter as he slowly stood. “You’ve put our family in unnecessary danger,” he said in a deadly calm voice that sent a chill through her body. The best course of action was to keep her mouth shut and allow her father to speak. “Come in and close the door,” he ordered Neco and Marek. They did as he instructed, and the door clicked shut.
“How long have you known?” Darmik asked Neco.
“My son just told me now.”
Darmik turned his gaze to Marek.
“I only recently found out,” Marek answered.
“We don’t have a lot of time before the ball,” Darmik said, his voice still unreasonably calm. Now standing, he carefully placed his hands on his desk, leaning forward, towering over Allyssa as she sat on the chair. “I have a lot to discuss with your mother. She’s going to be furious with you, as am I.”
His words felt like a slap across the face.
“We must act quickly,” Neco said. “Especially since we heard from Audek this morning.”
“Yes,” Darmik responded, folding his arms. “First, we need to put everyone on high alert for the ball tonight. Marek, go and tell the entire guard on duty that an assassin is attempting to try and gain entrance into the castle. All food to the royal family will go through six tasters, all doors and entry points will be secured at all times.”