Chapter 6
Cassia did not remember crossing the library.
One moment she was staring at the empty rug.
The next she was standing in the corridor with the red eagle clasp in one hand and Aurelia’s abandoned shawl in the other.
“Which way?”
No one answered fast enough.
“Which way did they take him?”
Captain Ren knelt beside the unconscious fire-watch guard.
She checked his breathing.
“Alive.”
Cassia’s voice sharpened.
“I did not ask whether he was alive.”
Ren looked up.
“No visible wounds. Likely struck or drugged.”
Lucian stood behind Cassia.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
The kind of calm people used when terror had nowhere else to go.
“Seal every stair.”
Ren rose.
“Already ordered.”
“Crypt passages.”
“Teams moving.”
“Roof.”
“Covered.”
Cassia turned.
“If Varro controls eastern guards, your orders may not hold.”
Ren’s face tightened.
“I know.”
Lucian looked at the message.
Stop interfering with the war.
Or next time, the poison will not stay in the bottle.
Marius arrived breathless.
He read it.
Then said the thing nobody else wanted to say.
“They need Cael alive.”
Lucian stared.
“How comforting.”
“I am not comforting you.”
Marius pointed at the note.
“If they wanted the heir dead, they already had access.”
Cassia felt sick.
He was right.
The poison vials had been hidden inside Cael’s blanket.
Someone could have used them.
Instead they were stored.
Displayed.
Evidence.
Threat.
The child was more valuable alive.
“For what?” Ren asked.
Marius looked toward the war bells.
“Legitimacy.”
Lucian’s face darkened.
Cassia understood.
If Varro claimed the emperor was injured or compromised, he still needed the heir.
A two-year-old could not rule.
Someone would rule for him.
A regent.
“Who becomes regent?” Cassia asked.
Everyone looked at Aurelia’s missing shawl.
Lucian closed his eyes.
“The empress.”
Ren said, “Unless she was abducted too.”
Cassia looked at the floor.
Aurelia had been angry.
Cruel.
Proud.
But she had admitted fault.
She had remained outside the library rather than force herself into Cael’s safe space.
Cassia did not believe she willingly helped Varro take the boy.
Not now.
“Both were taken.”
Marius nodded.
“Then Varro may intend to use Aurelia publicly.”
Lucian’s jaw tightened.
“She has royal blood from the southern houses.”
“And their cavalry loyalty,” Ren added.
Cassia remembered Adrian’s warning.
Varro has taken interest in your father’s southern cavalry.
The trap had begun before Aurelia married Lucian.
Maybe Varro had never needed her cooperation.
Only her name.
Tessa appeared at the end of the corridor carrying a basket of uniforms.
Cassia stared.
“What are you doing?”
“Laundry.”
“This is not the time.”
Tessa raised an eyebrow.
“It is exactly the time.”
She set down the basket.
Inside were no clothes.
Bundles of copied notices.
The emperor’s statement.
Adrian’s warning.
The fact Ambassador Vale remained alive and had made no confession.
Tessa looked at Lucian.
“My runners are ready.”
He nodded.
“Send them.”
She did.
Servants left through kitchens, roof walks, drainage gates, chapel corridors, and supply passages.
Not carrying weapons.
Carrying paper.
Cassia prayed paper moved faster than cavalry.
Ren called for reports.
Nothing from the nursery.
Nothing from the roof.
Then a young scullery boy arrived.
He looked terrified.
“I saw them.”
Cassia moved first.
“Who?”
“The prince.”
“Where?”
“Lower kitchens.”
“With whom?”
“Her Majesty.”
Cassia’s heart pounded.
“Was she walking willingly?”
The boy shook his head.
“A guard had her arm.”
“What guard?”
“Red bird.”
Ceremonial eagle cloak.
The missing cloak.
“Face?”
“Helmet.”
“How many?”
“Three.”
“Which direction?”
“Old salt cellar.”
Ren frowned.
“That corridor ends.”
Cassia thought.
Not if the tunnels connected.
“The crypt.”
They ran.
Lucian came.
Ren tried to stop him.
He ignored her.
The lower kitchens were chaos.
Servants pressed against walls as the emperor passed.
In the salt cellar, one barrel had been moved.
Behind it was a stone arch Cassia had never seen.
The passage smelled damp.
Torch smoke lingered.
Fresh.
Ren held up one hand.
“Majesty stays.”
Lucian said, “No.”
“Then I resign after we survive.”
Despite everything, Cassia almost laughed.
Lucian did not.
“Fine.”
Ren led.
Cassia followed.
“You stay too,” Lucian said.
“No.”
“This is not your duty.”
Cassia turned.
“Neither is fatherhood apparently yours if everyone else gets to decide where your son goes.”
Ren winced.
Marius looked delighted.
Lucian stared.
Then nodded.
“Stay behind me.”
“No.”
“Cassia.”
“You wear a crown.”
“What does that have to do with it?”
“You are easier to see.”
Marius coughed into his sleeve to hide a laugh.
They entered the tunnel.
The route split twice.
No footprints on stone.
Then Cassia saw crumbs.
Tiny.
Bread.
Cael.
He always crushed bread in his fist when frightened.
Cassia crouched.
More crumbs.
“Left.”
They followed.
At the next junction, a piece of green ribbon lay on the ground.
Aurelia’s dress ribbon.
“She’s marking the path,” Ren whispered.
Cassia’s respect for the empress rose despite herself.
Prideful did not mean helpless.
They moved faster.
The tunnel climbed.
Then voices.
Ren extinguished their torch.
Ahead, red light.
A chamber.
Two guards.
One wearing the ceremonial eagle cloak.
Aurelia’s voice.
“If you touch him again, I will tear your throat out.”
Cassia stopped.
Lucian closed his eyes for half a second.
Alive.
Both.
A man replied.
“You should be grateful, Majesty.”
Not Varro.
Cassia recognized the voice.
Lord Sevrin.
The war minister.
Her stomach dropped.
Had they been wrong?
Sevrin had been under guard.
Apparently not anymore.
Ren whispered, “His escort was compromised.”
They moved closer.
Sevrin said, “Varro will have the eastern army by dawn.”
Aurelia replied, “And you?”
“I will have what I was promised.”
Cassia felt cold.
Lucian’s face changed.
So Sevrin was involved after all.
Not mastermind.
Participant.
Aurelia said, “War ministry?”
Sevrin laughed.
“I already had that.”
“What then?”
“Regency council.”
Silence.
“You think Lucian dies?”
“He does not need to.”
Cassia looked at Marius.
Marius nodded grimly.
A living emperor could be declared incapacitated.
Poisoned.
Traumatized.
Controlled by Veyra.
Sevrin continued.
“The empire will need continuity.”
“And my son?”
“Protected.”
Aurelia spat.
Cassia almost admired her.
Sevrin’s voice sharpened.
“You always wanted him strong.”
“Not your puppet.”
“Everyone is someone’s puppet.”
Cael began crying.
Cassia moved.
Ren caught her sleeve.
Wait.
Sevrin said, “Give him the draught.”
Aurelia shouted.
“No.”
Cassia’s blood turned cold.
A guard said, “He’ll scream.”
“Then let him.”
Sevrin’s voice changed.
“We need quiet.”
Cassia could not wait.
She picked up a loose stone.
Threw it down the opposite tunnel.
The crash echoed.
One guard turned.
Ren moved like lightning.
She struck the nearer guard’s wrist.
Lucian slammed the second into the wall.
Cassia ran to Cael.
Aurelia was tied at the wrists.
The prince was in her lap.
Cassia reached.
Cael screamed her name.
“Cass!”
She took him.
He buried his face against her neck.
Sevrin backed away.
Marius blocked the passage.
The war minister looked around.
Then laughed.
“You think this changes anything?”
Lucian stepped toward him.
“You abducted my wife and son.”
“No.”
Sevrin looked at Aurelia.
“I removed them from Varro’s men.”
Everyone froze.
Aurelia stared.
“You lying bastard.”
Sevrin shook his head.
“Varro ordered both taken to the eastern barracks. I intercepted.”
Lucian’s face hardened.
“And tied my wife?”
“She tried to stab me.”
Aurelia lifted her bound hands.
“I still might.”
Cassia almost believed Sevrin.
That frightened her.
Ren said, “You told her Varro would have the army.”
“Because he will.”
“And your promised regency?”
Sevrin’s face tightened.
“That was the offer.”
“You accepted?”
“No.”
Aurelia laughed.
“You sounded convincing.”
“I needed the guards to believe me.”
One of the captured men spat blood.
“He lies.”
Everyone turned.
The guard said, “Lord Sevrin serves the Ash Council.”
Sevrin stared.
The man smiled.
“See?”
Too easy again.
A confession from a convenient prisoner.
Cassia was done with convenience.
She looked at the guard.
“What is your name?”
He hesitated.
“Why?”
“Because you just accused the minister of treason and somehow forgot to say who you are.”
Silence.
Ren pulled off his helmet.
A young man.
Cassia recognized him.
“Nursery gate.”
He had stood outside Cael’s rooms twice that week.
His face went pale.
Aurelia whispered, “I know him.”
Lucian turned.
“Who?”
“Varro’s nephew.”
The guard stopped smiling.
Ren grabbed him.
“Darian Varro.”
Now the accusation against Sevrin looked different.
Cassia looked at the minister.
“Why should we believe you?”
Sevrin reached slowly into his coat.
Ren drew her sword.
He stopped.
“A letter.”
“Drop it.”
He did.
Lucian picked it up.
Varro’s handwriting.
Or a good copy.
Sevrin—
When the emperor is secured, you will announce his illness. Aurelia signs the regency declaration. If she refuses, the child’s condition will persuade her.
Lucian went white.
Sevrin said, “It arrived an hour ago.”
“You could have written it.”
“Yes.”
Cassia almost smiled.
At least he knew.
“What did you do?”
“I escaped my guard.”
“That helps.”
“One guard was mine.”
“That does not.”
“I came here because I knew this route.”
Ren frowned.
“How?”
“War ministry archives.”
Aurelia said, “He did intercept us.”
Cassia looked at her.
“You believe him?”
“No.”
“But?”
“Varro’s men were taking us east. Sevrin attacked them at the salt passage.”
Sevrin stared at her.
“You could have mentioned that.”
“You tied me.”
“You stabbed me.”
“Not well enough.”
Lucian rubbed his face.
This royal marriage might survive treason out of pure stubbornness.
Ren said, “We take everyone back.”
Sevrin shook his head.
“No.”
Lucian’s expression hardened.
“You are not giving orders.”
“If we go back, Varro controls the courtyards.”
“He controls the eastern barracks.”
“Not anymore.”
Everyone froze.
“What?”
Sevrin looked at the distant ceiling.
“Listen.”
The war bells had stopped.
In the silence came another sound.
Crowds.
Thousands of voices outside.
Cassia’s heart pounded.
Tessa’s runners.
The city had received the truth.
Sevrin smiled faintly.
“Soldiers found your notices.”
Lucian stared.
“How do you know?”
“My runner returned before I came underground.”
“Which soldiers?”
“The Third East Legion refused to march.”
Ren exhaled.
Sevrin continued.
“Varro arrested three captains. The rest locked the barracks against him.”
Cassia almost collapsed.
Paper had beaten the first cavalry order.
Not the war.
Not yet.
Lucian said, “Then Varro is cornered.”
Marius shook his head.
“No.”
Everyone looked.
“Cornered men burn exits.”
A boom sounded above.
Stone dust fell.
Then another.
Ren’s face changed.
“Explosives?”
Sevrin went pale.
“No.”
“What?”
“The eastern powder magazine.”
Lucian stared.
Sevrin whispered, “Varro controls it.”
Another boom.
Farther away.
Not palace.
City wall.
Marius closed his eyes.
“He is opening the eastern gate.”
Cassia understood.
If Varro could not march the imperial army into Veyra, he could invite Veyra to appear to attack.
Or send disguised troops outward and start a fight.
Chaos would do what orders failed to do.
They ran back toward the palace.
Cael clung to Cassia.
Aurelia refused help despite bound wrists until Ren cut them free.
At the salt cellar, a messenger nearly crashed into Lucian.
“Majesty!”
“Report.”
“The eastern gate is open.”
Lucian’s face hardened.
“Enemy?”
“Not yet.”
“Varro?”
“On the wall.”
Sevrin swore.
The messenger continued.
“He has Ambassador Vale.”
Cassia stopped.
Soren.
They had left him under guard.
Varro had taken him.
“What does he want?” Lucian asked.
The messenger swallowed.
“He says at sunrise he will execute the ambassador for poisoning Prince Cael.”
Marius whispered, “Then Veyra will cross the border by noon.”
Lucian looked toward the paling windows.
Dawn was coming.
Cassia held Cael tighter.
May you like
Varro no longer needed anyone to believe his evidence forever.
Only long enough to kill a diplomat in public.
