A Flight of Ravens by John Conroe (thriller books to read TXT) 📗

steel to look the other way, and some who actively participate in the very crimes they are sworn to prevent.”

“Now it is you who throws insults.  If you had a lick of evidence, you’d back up your claims.”

“I have plenty of evidence, but sharing it will endanger those who really protect this kingdom,” I said.

A set of shadows falling over us in the well-lit room announced the arrival of others.

“Gentlemen, I’m pleased to find you both in one spot,” the crown princess said, her voice firm enough to belie her words.

Kiven held my eyes for a moment, then drew in a breath and turned to Brona, and a second later, so did I.

“You are both vital to this kingdom, and I will not have you at each other’s throats,” Brona almost whispered, her mouth smiling, her green eyes hard as emeralds.

“This man sullies the honor of my people,” Kiven said.

“Marshal, we have already spoken of this.  You know that Savid has the faith and confidence of the crown and always has.  What went before was theater, yet you continue as if it wasn’t.”  She spoke so quietly that I, who was only a span from her, could barely hear her.  “As to your nephew, Ash was a soldier of this kingdom and he went on his mission on my orders, approved by my father.”

“Everything okay here?” my father asked, approaching rapidly, clearly eager to stick his nose into it. A group of nobles crowded just behind him.

“Fine, Rucian. Everything is fine,” Brona said.

“Ah, wonderful. Then I feel much better asking my next question.  I… we have a question regarding Lady Rubella Dominick.  Is she by any chance in the castle dungeon?”

Brona appeared surprised, caught off guard.  She looked at each of the people around my father.  In addition to my brothers, Lady Olden was there, along with Lady Kardian, Lord Sampson, Lord Samuel, as well as Bascomb Porter, heir to the Porter family.

“This is the kind of question you’d ask at your grandson’s Name Day?” Brona asked.

Father shrugged.  “Better here than in your father’s court.”

“Actually, I will have to insist that you ask His Majesty your questions.  Kingdom justice is his to dispense,” the princess said, looking down as she tugged on her sleeves at each wrist.

“Hmm, I think we might better bring it to the king’s council,” Rucian said, watching her closely.

She looked up and met his eyes.  “As you think appropriate, my lord.  Now, it’s getting late.  Rose, what is next on my schedule?”

Rose, who looked very different from her boy persona, answered without looking at her notebook.  “Highness, you agreed to stop in at the Bonlee gala, sometime between eight and nine,” she said clearly.

Mentally I applauded Rose’s judgement.  Putting the Highness at the beginning rather than the end of her sentence was a nice reminder of Brona’s position to everyone listening.

“Then I’ll just pay my respects to your lady wife and be on my way,” she said with a sniff. She turned and glided across the floor to my mother and sister, who were still clustered around Camella and the baby.

I personally thought she was right on the verge of overacting, but the audience was eating it up.  Father and his group turned in on itself, speaking together just quietly enough to foil my hearing.  A tug on my arm turned me around.

“Welton?  What is it?” I asked.

“Pardon me, Captain, Lord Marshal sir,” the boy said, his face flushed from exertion, his breath fast. “She sent me to you.  Said to tell you that it was in the city and to come fast.”

“You can guide me?”

He nodded, still catching his breath.

“You ran here?”  He nodded again.  “Okay, go get Tipton from the grooms.  Mount up and meet me out front.” He nodded once and turned, slipping among guests and servers with youthful agility.  I saw Rose take note of the boy, leaning in to whisper to the princess.

“What do you have my nephew’s wife’s relation involved in?” Kiven demanded.

“He’s just acting as a messenger,” I said.  “But you should know that a woldling has entered the city.  I’m going to collect it now.”

“What?” he demanded, voice loud enough to turn heads.  He noticed the interest and reined himself in.  “I’m going with you!” he hissed, much quieter.

“Fine. Get your horse and let’s get after this thing.”

Across the room, Brona was watching me.  I twitched the fingers of my right hand.  Her head nodded, almost imperceptibly.

I moved quickly out of the room, Kiven close behind.  A few people, my mother included, watched us leave but no one followed.

Chapter 8

Outside, I found Welton sitting on Tipton, holding the reins of another horse.  “I heard what you said, Lord Marshal, and had your horse brought out as well,” the boy said to Kiven.

The lord marshal was surprised, but he said nothing as we mounted, me with the boy behind me.

“He’s coming with us?” was Kiven’s first comment.

“He’ll be safer with us than running the streets with a woldling loose,” I said.

“Isn’t your pet Drodacian hunting it?  And are you sure there’s only one?”

“Jella’s been on its trail, but this particular woldling is a different sort of beast.  Cunning,” I said.

“Where was it, Welton?”

“Not far from the Knife and Needle.  Hemppe has called out a general alert. Our people are out in force and Jella is keeping close to it, but it never stops moving.”

I pushed Tipton faster, Kiven’s horse following suit, their shod hooves clattering on the blackstone in front of the castle.

We had to slow when we got to the newer parts of the city, the icy cobblestones too slippery to risk either horse’s footing.  The streets were well lit, oil lamps reflecting off the dusting of snow on most surfaces.  Foot traffic was minimal, most people already in their homes and tucked in against the cold of the night.  We made it to my neighborhood in a little less than ten minutes.

I spotted the first Shadows in seconds, two cloaked figures standing with spears near