I swept into the hallway and he fell into step beside me. I avoided his eyes, sensing his growing consternation and not wanting to give myself away. The urge to blurt out the truth was gaining force with every second. I hated keeping things from him, but I’d thought about this all night and decided not to involve him in Arcus’s escape, not to mention the highly punishable act of melting the throne of Sud. The queen might forgive her own husband for his treason, but Kai was merely a well-liked and useful courtier who already had past strikes against him. I didn’t want him to lose all he’d worked for, not for my sake.
I’d shared my fears with Prince Eiko, and he had sworn to do everything in his power to protect Kai from any backlash when I didn’t attend the initiation ceremony. He was sure the queen would see reason, and that she would uphold her promises to Kai.
“Ruby,” Kai said softly, touching my shoulder with three fingers as we reached the bottom of the tower stairs. I drew to a halt. “Is everything all right?”
I took a steadying breath and forced a smile. “Everything is fine. I just want to look perfect for the initiation ceremony.”
“Far be it from me to criticize you for attention to your wardrobe.” His voice softened. “You’re sure nothing is wrong? This is a big step. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I was terrified, too. But the benefits of taking the vows outweigh the sacrifice of some of our freedoms.”
“I know,” I said, staring resolutely at his chest so I didn’t have to see his concern. I was so close to breaking down I could feel the confession forming on my tongue. No matter how I reasoned that Kai would be fine, I couldn’t help a surge of worry on his behalf. And lying was a poor way of repaying everything he’d done for me.
He hesitated before adding, “You know you have to go through with it now, don’t you? She expects it, especially from you. It would be dangerous to refuse.”
“I just want to get my cloak mended.” I forced myself to meet his eyes.
“All right.” He stared at me for another few seconds, then lifted my chin with his index finger and warned, “But if you’re late, I’ll make you pay for drinks at the tavern later.”
“Deal,” I said, wishing again that I didn’t have to lie.
I waved him off with a smile, my gut twisting with guilt and nerves. For all I knew, it could be the last time I saw him.
The realization sent shock waves through my body. It would hurt me far more than I wanted to admit to myself. I would miss him fiercely.
I watched until he moved out of sight, imprinting his bright hair and the lean athleticism of his movements into my memory. When he was gone, I allowed myself a moment to stare at the empty doorway, my chest aching.
With a cleansing breath, I shoved the feelings away. There was no time to spare. I threw the cloak into a corner and raced toward the north tower.
When I reached the hallway at the top, I slowed, relieved to see Prince Eiko already there. Two guards waited outside of Arcus’s door instead of the requisite six. When they saw me, they wore twin expressions of confusion.
“Princess Ruby,” Prince Eiko said with feigned surprise. “I just sent the other guards to attend you at your ceremony, as the queen requested.” His act was entirely unconvincing to my ears. I would warn him later never to consider a career on the stage.
“I came back for something.” We hadn’t exactly rehearsed the details of this part. “You didn’t give me…” I stepped closer to one guard, unable to think of anything I might need from the queen’s consort.
“Ah, yes,” he said, making a show of reaching under his cloak. “I assume you mean this?” With his free hand, he grabbed the guard’s halberd and tossed it away, while with the other he pulled out a dagger in a lightning movement, putting it to the guard’s throat. I did the same thing with my guard, though my dagger came from my sleeve. We had rehearsed this part.
“Open the door,” I ordered, staring into the furious eyes of the guard.
“No,” he said clearly, his jaw defiantly squared.
“You get points for loyalty.” I pushed the blade to his skin. “I’m sure you’ll get special recognition for that at your funeral.” I made a motion as if to draw the edge across his throat, hoping he wouldn’t notice the blade was ceremonial and as dull as a butter knife.
His eyes rounded. “I’ll be dismissed if I allow you in.”
“I assure you,” Prince Eiko said, “the blame will be all mine. I give you my word you won’t suffer for this.”
The guards glanced at each other out of the corners of their eyes, then my guard motioned to the other, who produced a key and unlocked the door.
“Ah-ah,” I cautioned when my guard twitched. “Stay still until I tell you to move.”
As the door swung open, Arcus’s voice came low and resonant, sending a shiver across my skin. “Is this my cue that I’ve overstayed my welcome?”
He grinned at me from the doorway. Despite the tension in my chest, I smiled back.
“On the contrary,” answered Eiko lightly, “my wife would like you to stay. But I think you’ll find our plans preferable.”
Arcus looked surprised to see Prince Eiko, but he deftly moved into the hallway out of the way of the guards, and we pushed them inside the room, keeping our blades raised.
Prince Eiko said, “You have no other key, I take it? Be honest, or my promise to protect you from consequences is void.”
“No other key,” one said sullenly, and the other nodded.
“Your breastplate and helm,” I said with an impatient motion to the taller guard. When he handed them to me, I gave them to Arcus. “Put these on.”
“Sorry about this,” Prince Eiko said to the guards in a cheerful tone. “Someone will no doubt release you soon. Until then…” He put a finger to his lips in a shushing motion. He locked them in and dropped the key into a pocket.
Arcus slid the helm on and was buckling the leather breastplate as we swept down the hallway. I handed him the halberd I’d picked up off the floor.
I gave the prince a sideways look as he passed me at the stairs. “You enjoyed that too much.”
“Intrigue is rather invigorating. I don’t know why I don’t engage in it more often.”
“Thank you for getting me out,” Arcus said quietly from close behind me. “Is my crew involved?”
I shook my head. “Marella was in no condition to plan anything, and the crew isn’t big enough to face all the guards. You can thank Prince Eiko for this. He gave orders so that most of the guards were otherwise occupied.”
“A well-executed plan, which I appreciate. But why is the prince helping us?”
“We have a common goal.” I met his eyes and lowered my voice. “To melt the throne and trap the Minax. I need your help for that part.”
“Of course.” He cleared his throat and said only slightly louder, “Thank you, Prince Eiko.”
“It’s you who will be helping me,” Prince Eiko said. “I’ll breathe easier when the curse is far away.”
As we reached the bottom of the stairs, I reminded Arcus quietly, “Don’t let anyone see your eyes.” Frostblood eyes would stand out like bluebells in a bed of daisies. Luckily the helm with its horizontal eye openings around the narrow nose guard left the upper half of his face in partial shadow.
Arcus stuck close to the wall while Prince Eiko and I stayed on the outside so anyone passing wouldn’t sense the waves of cold coming off his skin. His gift became harder to control in times of stress.
One of the courtiers came around a corner, a heavyset woman dressed in a turquoise gown covered with tiny white ribbons. As she saw us, she smiled and curtsied, blocking our way. “Prince Eiko, shouldn’t the princess be on her way to the initiation at the school? I’m on my way there now.”
Prince Eiko cleared his throat. “We’ll be along shortly, of course. I merely wished to… well, now, Lady Zini, you’re spoiling my surprise. I had planned to give the princess a piece of jewelry for the occasion—an heirloom from the royal vault.”
She clapped her hands in delight. “What a splendid idea! I look forward to seeing you wearing it later, Princess.”
Eiko bent his tall form in a bow. “If you’ll excuse us.”
We left the curious lady behind. Arcus and I followed Prince Eiko along the colonnade of arched windows that ran between the towers, nodding at anyone we passed and praying they didn’t engage us in conversation.