Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2)(40)

I inhaled uneasily. From that statement, it would not seem that she viewed me kindly. I especially did not think she would link arms with me and carry on as though we were the best of friends.

I heard myself asking, “And what is it that I have done?”

“Why, you have united both our countries—well, you will eventually. That will be the end result with your betrothal to Prince Chasan.”

“Th-Thank you,” I stammered, dubious of her sincerity despite her cheerfulness, and yet I wanted to know about that scream and what secret she spoke of.

“Perhaps Papa can work in the royal counting house. He was assistant to the treasurer in Relhok before he was appointed ambassador. You would think that being good with numbers would be an asset. Hmm, but the funny thing is that there is no money left to be had in Lagonia. Currency these days is anything deemed of value on any particular day. You, for instance, are currency.”

“Me?” I stiffened and would have stopped if she had not kept pulling me along.

“Yes. King Tebald is suddenly a far richer man than he was before you arrived. You are currency, leverage, a commodity. It’s all semantics. With your marriage to Prince Chasan—nicely done, by the way. He is quite the handsome rogue. Every girl here, me included, has been after him for years. What was I saying? Oh, yes. Lagonia is facing a far brighter future now that you are here, but forgive me. Let’s not talk policy. Not when there is fun to be had.”

My thoughts churned as she continued to lead me. At one point she stopped before a wall. I turned my head left and right. “What’s this?”

“I really shouldn’t be showing you this, but since we’re sharing so much, this palace is full of hidden passageways. I hear all manner of things I shouldn’t.” She paused and the back of my neck tickled.

“You eavesdrop?”

“It’s about the only thing that keeps me from dying of boredom.”

I pressed a hand to the wall, skimming my palm over the ancient stone. “What about ways out of the palace?”

“Who would want to leave the castle? It’s dangerous out there.”

It’s dangerous in here, too. “Come, now. I want to know all the ins and outs of my new home.” I cringed at this last bit. This place did not feel like home. Nor would it ever.

“Well, this castle has been around forever. Back in the old days, it was important to have a means of escape in the event of an attack. Not that this castle had ever been successfully invaded, to my knowledge at least.”

“So there is a secret way out?”

“Yes. Through the kitchens. A rug covers the floor of the larger storage room, but underneath it there’s a door.”

My heart hammered with excitement. I tried to control my features lest too much emotion give me away. “An escape hatch . . . that does sound intriguing.”

Riana sighed. “It’s just a smelly tunnel.”

A tunnel out of here.

Her hand found some hidden spot and pushed. The wall opened up to a passageway. “Come. Whisper only. Voices carry far in these hidden tunnels.” The sound of her words vibrated against her fingertips. “We don’t want to be caught. Tebald doesn’t think this suitable for a lady’s sensibilities.”

“What?” I demanded as we made our way through the winding, narrow space. Another round of cheers sounded. This time much closer, louder. The origin was just beyond us. Riana stopped and pushed at the tunnel wall, opening yet another door.

She led the way out into a larger space where the air flowed freely. “Keep your voice down. You must not alert them that we’re watching.” I nodded, curious. “Get down on your knees,” Riana instructed. “Torches line the pit. Not many, mind you. Just enough so that spectators can see clearly. Go on. Down with you. It’s just a ledge really, but it’s perfect for spying. You mustn’t stand or they could look up and spot us.”

She pushed down on my shoulder, and I obliged, feeling her body lower beside me as well. The din grew, flooding us as we crawled out onto the balcony. I pulled at my skirts to keep them from getting caught beneath me. I smelled the oil-fed fire from torches stuck in sconces sporadically around the ledge. The flames snapped in the air.

We stretched out, lying flat on our stomachs. Overlapping voices congested the air. Bring on the next one! More, more!

“What’s happening?” I stretched my neck, angling my head to listen better, to try to process what was happening far below us.

“Look right there. Do you see the man?”

I feigned as though I could see, relying on my ears and that additional sense buried deep inside my gut. “What is he doing?” It seemed a safe question to glean the necessary information—any information at all, really.

Her voice squeaked with excitement. “Oh, they’re opening the gates now.”

I did in fact hear the faint grind of metal as the gate lifted and locked into place.

“Now it’s about to get fun,” she breathed beside me. Just as I was beginning to conclude that her definition of fun and mine did not align, I heard it.

I gasped as a shrill dweller’s cry warbled on the air, and I started to scurry backward on my stomach until she clamped a surprisingly firm grip on my arm, keeping me from fleeing the ledge.

“W-What—” Fear choked the words from me. Already this place had lulled me into false complacency.