A Kingdom Under Siege by Jeffrey L. Kohanek

Author:Jeffrey L. Kohanek [Kohanek, Jeffrey L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fallbrandt Press
Published: 2019-05-13T16:00:00+00:00

The area was quiet, as were the camps she had passed on her way to the stables. When she slipped inside, a soldier with a glowlamp stepped out of a stall. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized him.

“Quinn? What are you doing here?” Iko asked, appearing as shocked as she felt.

“I…” Quinn struggled with a response, mentally grasping for something that might sound plausible. “I followed the spy to Yarth and then here. He has been eluding me for days.”

Iko stepped closer and lowered the lamp. Quinn shifted to the side, feeling as if he were attempting to corner her. Before he could ask another question, she tried to shift the tide.

“What are you doing here?” she asked. “Why aren’t you in Sol Polis?”

He blinked, visibly taken aback. His lips pressed together in a frown. “I cannot say. I…I don’t trust you, Quinn. Something isn’t right here.”

She sighed and tried to appear nonchalant as she leaned against a pen wall. “Things are rarely as they seem, Iko. That’s why I am here. I’m trying to get to the root of the plot. I believe someone in the Imperial Army is behind it all.”

He jerked as if he had been punched, but his frown remained. Finally, he grunted. “If that were true…” His brow furrowed and he stared into space. “What if it is someone in our own ranks? What if someone seeking power is attempting to displace my mother and the other leaders? I never considered…”

Quinn found hope in his statement and hurried to feed the fire she had started. “Exactly. Imagine if they had an ear in the palace yet had control of a force significant enough to take Sol Polis when the time was right.”

In a hushed voice, he asked, “You suspect Rorrick?”

Quinn shrugged, happy for the suggestion. “Who is in a better position? What loyalty does he owe to your mother? You have known Kardan and Sculdin for years. What do you know of Rorrick?”

Iko’s brow furrowed and his frown deepened. “I only just met the man.”

“And?”

“I don’t like him one bit, nor does he wish me here.”

“Interesting. Why does your presence trouble him?” Quinn moved closer and put her hand on his arm. “What does your heart tell you, Iko? Consider the puzzle before you and how the pieces fit.”

He stared at her for a long moment before he relaxed. When he shook his head, she knew she had him.

“It makes too much sense. Who else would know Pretencia was held in the Sol Polis dungeon? Who else would have the means to slip a spy into the palace, a seasoned soldier nonetheless?” Iko’s face contorted in anger. “He tried to have my mother killed. That traitor!”

“Shh…” She rubbed his arm, hoping to quiet him. The last thing she needed was more attention. “Listen, I only came in here to see if the rumors are true. Word is we will break camp tomorrow and begin our march. I figured the horses would need to be saddled and ready for morning if it were true.

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