Dark Tides (Kingdom of Bones #2)

Original Edition: ◇ Chapter 10 ◇ Queendom ◇

CSILLA

Baltessa

Mid-Rainrise

"Don't tell a soul," Csilla whispered to the guard who'd come bringing her the news. "Especially not Blackwater."

When Kane had come back to the courtyard searching for Lorelei and she wasn't anywhere to be seen, she sent a couple of guards to the rose garden and the guests' quarters. She'd sent her best and most trusted sword down the servant wing and through the dimmest lit hallways. The fact that Nara hadn't returned yet signaled alarm bells in Csilla's head.

"We have a maid who thinks she might've seen something," a guard, Tio, muttered quietly. They stood in an alcove on the edge of the courtyard, away from the reset of the party-goers, unaware the Storm had gone missing. And even worse, not just Lorelei, but Csilla's dearest friend and first mate. How could she have spent her time dancing and twirling with Flynn and let something like this happen in her home?

"Take me to her," Csilla said, pulling the gold mask from her face. She had no use of it anymore. She turned to follow the guard, but then Flynn was there in her path, his crooked smile pulling at his lips.

"Don't tell me you're leaving." Flynn twined his fingers into hers. "Put aside your queenly duties just for the night."

She had, and now her friends could be missing. She slid her hands away from Flynn. "Duty never rests. I'm sorry, but I must go."

"I understand," he told her, his usually sparkling eyes losing a bit of their glimmer. "Try not to think of me too much while you're gone."

A small smile was all she could spare him as she turned away and followed after Tio, winding through the halls to the servant's wing. The roast she'd eaten earlier started to churn in her stomach, threatening to come back up, dread leaving a sour taste in her mouth.

The guard stopped at a door to one of the large storage rooms and opened it, ushering Csilla inside. The space was dimly lit by a hanging lantern, shelves stocked with sheets, quilts and other bedding lining the walls. A woman in the center of the room turned to face them when they entered. Her hands were wrapped around her arms as if she were chilled, nervous eyes flicking from Csilla to the floor.

"Your Majesty," the maid said, bowing her head. A strand of honey hair escaped from the cap on her head. She didn't look a year older than Csilla.

"What did you see?" Csilla asked her, sweeping past all formalities. "Please tell me everything."

"Yes ma'am," she said with a quiver in her voice. "I wasn't too sure of what I saw at first, because of the party and the dark hallways, and I wrote it off as people roaming, because people when they have too much ale and rum, you know?" She spoke much too quickly, her words falling from her mouth like loose marbles. "By the time I realized that what I saw could've been foul, it was probably too late to have made a difference, but I still went to find someone on patrol in the inner-halls of the palace."

"You're nervous," Csilla said, softening her tone even though her heart raced the longer she stood there. "It's all right. Just take a deep breath and tell me exactly what you saw. I promise you, every detail will help, even if you think it's too late."

The maid nodded and took a breath before continuing. "There hadn't been much of anyone in the halls after we served dinner. Everyone either went to the masquerade or home to their families since we were finished early tonight, but I still had shelves to stock. I was alone and when I heard bootsteps, I was curious if maybe some lovebirds were trying to find a quiet place to be...alone, you know?"