A Kingdom Threatened (The Vazula Chronicles Book 3) by Deborah Grace White

Author:Deborah Grace White [White, Deborah Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922636218
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2022-08-25T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Heath hardly saw the corridor around him as he strode through the castle. His thoughts were far away and far below, as they had been almost constantly since his visit to Vazula the day before. He ran a hand distractedly through his hair, trying to focus his farsight.

He’d never wanted it to work more desperately, but he still couldn’t see anything but Merletta’s features. She was underwater, that much was clear. She seemed to be in a crowd as well, given the way she kept brushing against people. But what was the event? Was she taking her stand, as she’d declared herself ready to do?

Heath found that both hands were tangled in his hair now, and he lowered them with an effort. A passing servant threw him a startled glance, and he realized he must look like his mind was disordered. He couldn’t help it. He was terrified for Merletta, even as he admired her courage in the face of overwhelming opposition.

If he was that courageous, maybe the situation for the power-wielders would be very different.

He saw Merletta moving, seeming to rise up in the water. He was so focused on her determined face that he actually walked into a suit of armor.

“Sorry,” he said hastily, his concentration broken as he stooped to help a servant straighten it.

Merletta’s image receded, not disappearing altogether, but no longer occupying central place in his mind. Shaking his head to clear it, Heath looked around and realized he was only a corridor away from his destination.

He covered the short distance to Lachlan’s study quickly, hoping to get the meeting over with so he could go back to watching whatever trouble Merletta was getting herself into.

The guards outside the door gestured for him to enter the study—clearly Lachlan had told them of his summons.

“Heath!” The prince stood quickly, actually coming around the desk. “I hope it wasn’t too soon after your ordeal for me to call you to the castle.”

“Of course not,” Heath protested. “I’m fine. I was barely injured.” He raised his bandaged arm in illustration.

Lachlan considered him for a moment. “From what I hear, you were extremely lucky to be barely injured.”

Heath nodded, waiting for his cousin to lower himself back into his chair before taking a seat himself.

“I can’t deny it,” he said. “I came very close to being killed.”

“I’m extremely grateful you weren’t,” said Lachlan mildly. He leaned slightly forward. “I understand you don’t wish to take any action against the blacksmith?”

“What? No, of course I don’t,” said Heath. “I don’t think for a moment it was his fault.”

Lachlan considered him thoughtfully. “Not even if he failed to safely maintain his property?”

Heath gave his cousin a look. “I don’t believe that was the case.” He narrowed his eyes. “What’s behind these questions? I thought we were being direct with each other now.”

With a sigh, Lachlan leaned back in his chair. “We are. Which is why I called you here to tell you that I examined the site myself, and I am almost certain that the building was intentionally sabotaged.

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