moment before he walked a ways off from where she was standing, far enough away that she would not be able to overhear their conversation.
As soon as he was convinced they were out of earshot, he turned to Aeden, “What is this about? Is King Cedric safe?”
Aeden spoke lowly, “This isn't about the king; he's safe. There has been another attack. Just before we escorted King Cedric and his family from Brantonwall Castle, Princess Rosalind's little brother Colin was targeted.”
Terric looked at his own brother oddly. “Is he hurt, or worse?”
“Fortunately he's fine, albeit a little frightened. We're not entirely sure that the attack had anything to do with the one that killed the boy's parents.”
“You think it's mere coincidence that on the heel of his parents getting killed, somebody comes after him?”
“It does sound logical, but remember the first attack was on King Cedric. King Eustace and Queen Constance happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. King Cedric believes that the attack on Colin is a result of somebody being aware of the lesser king's death and seeking for a way to eliminate any heir entirely as a way of overthrowing the throne.”
“Makes sense,” Terric conceded.
“But that means that Princess Rosalind is not safe as well. Whomever wanted to see her brother dead could very well want her harmed too. It's not safe to bring her back this way. King Cedric sent me to instruct you to take her someplace safe. She has to go into hiding.”
Terric sighed. “How am I supposed to explain the sudden change in plans to her? It's already a strange circumstance we are in. There's no way I can force her into hiding without a plausible explanation. She thinks we are going to Peltis to deliver her to her parents. And where do you suppose I take her? Drambil Castle will be too obvious a location.”
Aeden nodded in acknowledgment. “King Lawrence is on his way back to his territory as we speak. His defense has been doubled, and once he arrives home, they will send for backup defenders. I believe she would be safe there, but King Cedric doesn't wish to risk it.”
“Did he say where he'd like me to take her? I'm not comfortable being away from him at a time like this. The sooner I get back to him, the better.”
“He was hoping you had some ideas,” Aeden said, hopefully.
“Well I don't,” Terric growled. “My mind has been on other things.”
The brother's stood in silence, Terric mulling his unfortunate luck and Aeden trying to think of a solution. After a few terse minutes, Aeden offered his suggestion, “Why not take her home?”
Terric, still not thinking clearly, turned on his brother. “Are you daft? I just took her from there and can't very well take her back. That's likely the unsafest place she could go.”
Aeden laughed, but Terric failed to see any humor in the situation. “Someone is irritable.”
“With good reason,” Terric snapped.
“Aye, I suppose you're right. But I wasn't speaking of returning her to her home, but rather, why not take her to our home, Emerson Castle, to mother?” Terric's head snapped up, as he looked at Aeden curiously. “No one would think to look for her there and Mother and Gwendolyn would be grateful for the honor of housing a princess.”
“Queen,” Terric interceded.
“Aye, queen. That's going to take some getting used to.” Terric silently agreed. He still had a hard time remembering that she was no longer Princess Rosalind.
Rubbing his scruffy jaw while he thought, Terric contemplated the idea of taking Rosalind to his mother. The idea had merit, for any enemy to the kingdom would not think to find her there. And, as Aeden had said, his mother and sister would be more than welcoming to Rosalind. Now, he would just need to think of a way to tell her that their plans had changed. He tried several ideas out in his head, but each one was more ridiculous than the last. Finally, he turned to Aeden, “I will do as you
As soon as he was convinced they were out of earshot, he turned to Aeden, “What is this about? Is King Cedric safe?”
Aeden spoke lowly, “This isn't about the king; he's safe. There has been another attack. Just before we escorted King Cedric and his family from Brantonwall Castle, Princess Rosalind's little brother Colin was targeted.”
Terric looked at his own brother oddly. “Is he hurt, or worse?”
“Fortunately he's fine, albeit a little frightened. We're not entirely sure that the attack had anything to do with the one that killed the boy's parents.”
“You think it's mere coincidence that on the heel of his parents getting killed, somebody comes after him?”
“It does sound logical, but remember the first attack was on King Cedric. King Eustace and Queen Constance happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. King Cedric believes that the attack on Colin is a result of somebody being aware of the lesser king's death and seeking for a way to eliminate any heir entirely as a way of overthrowing the throne.”
“Makes sense,” Terric conceded.
“But that means that Princess Rosalind is not safe as well. Whomever wanted to see her brother dead could very well want her harmed too. It's not safe to bring her back this way. King Cedric sent me to instruct you to take her someplace safe. She has to go into hiding.”
Terric sighed. “How am I supposed to explain the sudden change in plans to her? It's already a strange circumstance we are in. There's no way I can force her into hiding without a plausible explanation. She thinks we are going to Peltis to deliver her to her parents. And where do you suppose I take her? Drambil Castle will be too obvious a location.”
Aeden nodded in acknowledgment. “King Lawrence is on his way back to his territory as we speak. His defense has been doubled, and once he arrives home, they will send for backup defenders. I believe she would be safe there, but King Cedric doesn't wish to risk it.”
“Did he say where he'd like me to take her? I'm not comfortable being away from him at a time like this. The sooner I get back to him, the better.”
“He was hoping you had some ideas,” Aeden said, hopefully.
“Well I don't,” Terric growled. “My mind has been on other things.”
The brother's stood in silence, Terric mulling his unfortunate luck and Aeden trying to think of a solution. After a few terse minutes, Aeden offered his suggestion, “Why not take her home?”
Terric, still not thinking clearly, turned on his brother. “Are you daft? I just took her from there and can't very well take her back. That's likely the unsafest place she could go.”
Aeden laughed, but Terric failed to see any humor in the situation. “Someone is irritable.”
“With good reason,” Terric snapped.
“Aye, I suppose you're right. But I wasn't speaking of returning her to her home, but rather, why not take her to our home, Emerson Castle, to mother?” Terric's head snapped up, as he looked at Aeden curiously. “No one would think to look for her there and Mother and Gwendolyn would be grateful for the honor of housing a princess.”
“Queen,” Terric interceded.
“Aye, queen. That's going to take some getting used to.” Terric silently agreed. He still had a hard time remembering that she was no longer Princess Rosalind.
Rubbing his scruffy jaw while he thought, Terric contemplated the idea of taking Rosalind to his mother. The idea had merit, for any enemy to the kingdom would not think to find her there. And, as Aeden had said, his mother and sister would be more than welcoming to Rosalind. Now, he would just need to think of a way to tell her that their plans had changed. He tried several ideas out in his head, but each one was more ridiculous than the last. Finally, he turned to Aeden, “I will do as you
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