They ran across the meadow. A heavenly scent emanated from the kitchens. The daily bread was being baked. As they entered the ground floor of the keep, she spotted a huge pillar candle that had been burning all night long. On the table surrounding it were smaller candlesticks. She lit one, then climbed the stairs.
As they walked along the upstairs hallway, her steps sounded loud on the black-and-white tiled floor. Even Pirate’s claws made little clicking noises. At this time of night, the castle seemed deserted. They reached the smaller hall that led to her bedchamber.
It was dark. Pirate crouched low and growled. She eased forward, holding out her candle, but Pirate jumped in front to stop her. Why was her door open? She glanced down and gasped.
Jensen was on the floor in a crumpled heap.
Pirate gave him a quick sniff, then slipped through the open door.
“Jensen?” Luciana knelt beside him. Her heart thudded in her ears. Was he dead? She didn’t see any blood.
She shook him and he moaned. Oh, thank the goddesses!
“What’s happening?” Tatiana asked, and with a yelp, Luciana nearly dropped the candle on her guard.
“Ye scared me self to death.” Luciana pressed a hand to her pounding heart.
Jensen moaned again.
“It looks like someone knocked him out,” Tatiana whispered.
“I wonder what happened to the guard from the Lord Protector?” Luciana asked.
“Oh, I saw him,” Tatiana replied with a smirk. “He’s outside Gabriella’s door, snoring away. He’s going to be in big trouble.”
Luciana’s gaze shifted to the open door. Was Pirate all right? “Go inside and see if anyone’s there.”
“Me?” Tatiana scoffed. “Are you trying to get me killed? Oh. Right. Just a minute.” She slipped inside.
With a groan, Jensen sat up. His eyes widened with alarm. “My lady. Are you all right?”
“Yes. But someone’s been in my room.” She helped him to his feet.
Tatiana filtered through the wall. “There’s no one there, but the dog. He’s—”
“Stay behind me.” Jensen drew his sword and pushed the door wider open.
Luciana followed close behind, holding the candle aloft so they could see. When they neared the bed, she gasped.
Her pillows were still lined up under the coverlet to look like she was asleep. But a sword had been plunged right through them.
“By the Light,” Tatiana whispered. “Somebody wants you dead.”
Chapter Twelve
“Is she all right?” Leo demanded. It was an hour before dawn, and Nevis had woken him with alarming news.
“She’s shaken, but otherwise fine,” Nevis replied.
“What the hell has happened?” General Harden threw on a cloak as he rushed out of his tent and headed their way.
Nevis quickly repeated the news while Leo paced in front of his tent, eyeing the fortress in the distance. It was still dark, so he could only make out a few torches on the curtain wall. “Where is she now?”
“Her guard took her to her father,” Nevis explained. “She’s now heavily guarded in the duke’s private rooms.”
Leo continued to pace. “And our guard? Where the hell was he?”
Nevis winced. “He fell asleep outside the maid’s door.”
Leo halted with a jerk and clenched his gloved hands. “See to his punishment. And where was Brody? How did an assassin get past him?”
“Brody wasn’t anywhere near her bedchamber,” Nevis said. “He spent the night guarding the southwestern tower. Somehow she sneaked out of her room to go there.”
“Why?”
Nevis shrugged. “Hell if I know, but it saved her life. The assassin stabbed her bed in the dark, believing a line of pillows was her body.”
She’d sneaked out without her guards knowing? Leo groaned inwardly. “Was she meeting someone?”
Nevis shook his head. “Brody said she was alone the entire time she was in the tower.”
By the Light, what was she up to? The woman was too intriguing for her own good. Leo resumed his pacing. “And no one saw the assassin?”
Nevis sighed. “The guard caught only a glimpse of him before he was knocked out. He was masked and moving extremely fast. Brody was able to detect the man’s scent, so he should be able to identify him.”
“Where’s Brody now?” the general asked.
“He’s outside the duke’s private rooms,” Nevis said. “If the assassin comes near, he’ll recognize him.”
Leo continued to pace, too tense to remain still. “Tell the duke to move his daughter to a tower and install guards at every entrance. Two at her chamber door. Station the guards inside the tower, where no one can see them. Only a select few should know her new location. Make sure to include some of our guards. Meanwhile, the duke will spread the word that she is back in her old rooms, where she is in bed, seriously wounded and not expected to live.”
The general nodded. “A good plan. If the assassins think they’ve succeeded, they won’t make a second attempt.”
“What about Brody?” Nevis asked. “Shall I take him through the barracks to track down the assassin?”
“Wait a few hours. I want the assassin to believe he got away with it, so he’ll relax his guard. And I want to be there when Brody finds him.” Leo tugged at his gloves. “For now, have Brody guard the tower. And tell the duke to double the guard around himself. The assassins will target him next. Go now. Keep me informed.”