“I will make sure of it.”
Her head bowed again, her gaze focusing on her rings. The flickering light of the lantern caused shadows to dance over her hands. The wood creaked and groaned every once in a while, but otherwise silence filled the safe house beneath the earth.
CHAPTER 13
Melinda
“Close the gates!” Ashby yelled to the guards in the turrets on the wall surrounding the palace.
Melinda craned her head back to look at the guards peering down at them from atop the wall. Voices and footsteps echoed on the stone above them as more of the king’s guard came out to look down at them. The horse’s hooves rang out on the cobblestone roads within the castle walls as everyone accompanying them crowded into the bailey.
“Did you say close the gates?” one of the guards called down. It was an order that hadn’t been given in some time.
“Yes!” Ashby slid from the saddle and turned to pull Melinda into his arms. “Close them now!”
Around them the survivors of Badwin and the residents of Chippman fanned out into the massive courtyard. Their eyes were wide as they took in their surroundings and murmured with awe to each other. Melinda adjusted her skirt as the gates swung closed and the large wooden drawbridge Braith had ordered built rose into the air.
No moat surrounded the palace, but the heavy piece of wood was extra protection against any possible, future attack. At the time, her brother had believed he was being overly cautious by building it. She’d never been more thankful for that caution as the heavy wood settled into place against the metal gates, blocking out the homes beyond the gates.
“What about the residents of the outer town?” she asked Ashby.
“We’ll have them awakened and brought in now,” Ashby replied. “But those gates will remain closed until the residents are ready to enter and we have more guards to defend these walls.” He thrust his reins at a passing stable boy.
“Make sure all of the animals are well taken care of,” Melinda said to the stable boy before turning to face the palace.
Set into the mountain above them, the palace rose high into the night. Its golden spires gleamed in the moonlight shining down on them. Lanterns flickered in the windows of the main areas within, but many of the rooms were dark. Some of The Council members still resided within, but most of them had moved out of the palace and settled into the bailey town or the outer town.
It was as beautiful as she remembered and as imposing. Atticus had made it a formidable place he could readily defend against his many enemies. The enormous stone walls surrounding the palace enclosed nearly four square miles of land around it.
Aria and Braith had made the palace more inviting since they’d taken over and settled within. There had been no laughter within its walls or in the surrounding town before their rule, but now there were parties and dancing; there was happiness between the humans and vampires who coincided in peace. There was still the occasional disagreement, but more often than not it was solved without the authorities having to get involved. It was a life she’d never pictured having; secure, fun, and full of love, and now it may be coming to an end.
She hugged her arms around herself as she stared at the serene streets. Lanterns came to life in some of the homes closest to them. Doors opened as humans and vampires curiously peered out of the two and three story buildings lining the street.
“Where is Gideon?” Ashby demanded of the head guard on shift who came down from the wall to meet them.
“He is within the palace,” the man replied.
“Have some troops readied to go out and bring in the residents of the town. Bring as many of them to the palace for shelter as possible. Find homes for the rest within the walls,” Ashby instructed. “More of the king’s guard is to be awakened and brought down to defend the wall until there is a guard standing every ten feet around the entire wall. Alert them that we could be facing a possible attack soon and to be on the alert for anything unusual, no matter how small it is.”
“What of the king, will he be returning?” the guard inquired.
“Not tonight.”
The guard’s eyes widened, but he didn’t question Ashby’s statement or orders. The guard nodded briskly before turning away. Melinda watched him vanish into the growing crowd filling the street. Ashby gripped her elbow and led her forward. Her legs felt wooden as she walked beside him toward the palace.