“I don’t want my brother traveling alone,” Ackley said. “I’m going with him.”
Anna put her slice of toast down, observing Ackley. “I thought you wanted to be the one to kill Eldon?”
“I do. When Gordon and his soldiers are close enough to the City of Radella, I’ll check in with you. I can infiltrate the palace then.”
“In order to guarantee our success,” Anna said, “other men will be in place as well.”
“I think that’s a wise plan,” Ackley replied.
“I don’t think it’s safe for Reid or myself to remain here,” Dexter said. “Eldon will be searching for us. It seems logical he would have his men check Reid’s grandparents’ manor.”
“I agree,” Anna said. “I want Reid to come with me. I will see to her safety.”
Reid wondered if her mother intended to return to the Knights’ headquarters. “What of Grandfather and Grandmother?” she asked. Would they be safe from Eldon?
“They will remain here,” Anna replied. “It would look suspicious if they weren’t home where they belong.”
“Father, where do you plan to go?” Reid asked. Did he intend to remain in Axian or return to Ellington?
“I am staying with your mother.”
Anna stiffened. “I have no need for you here. You may go home.”
“My home is where you are,” he replied. “Now that everything is changing, you don’t have to pretend to be dead any longer.” Hope shone in his eyes.
Anna had her hair pulled back into a braid, not a single strand out of place. Her crisp tunic had no wrinkles in sight. “I have work to do here. I intend to have my family’s land, title, and rights restored. My daughter will sit on the throne. I am in charge of the Knights.”
“Ackley can take over the Knights,” Duke Ellington suggested.
At that, Anna raised her brows. “Ackley?”
Duke Ellington nodded. “He is more than capable.”
Ackley leaned back in his chair, watching Reid’s parents argue.
“The Winston family has taken enough from me. I am in charge of the Knights. That will not change.” For the first time since Reid had met Anna, the woman’s voice shook slightly, as if filled with intense fury.
“Brianna, be reasonable,” Tatum said.
Anna twisted to face him. “I am not the Brianna from eighteen years ago. That girl is dead. I am a grown woman, and you are not my keeper.”
Duke Ellington’s brows drew together in confusion. “Don’t you want to be a part of your family now that you can? You have five beautiful daughters.”
“I am no longer your wife,” she hissed. “It is time for you to go.” She stood, then stalked from the room.
Ackley whistled. “She never ceases to amaze me.”
Ignoring that snide comment, Reid focused on her father. “Are you all right?”
Absently, Duke Ellington nodded, his eyes vacant.
“Dexter and I will escort you home. Then we can join the others at the City of Buckley.”
“Yes,” the duke replied. “I think it is time for me to go home.” The lines around his eyes deepened.
Reid had the urge to punch her mother for treating her father so rudely. However, Anna’s behavior didn’t surprise her. Anna was obviously an independent woman who had no desire to be tied to another person—not a husband and certainly not her daughters.
“I’ll take Colbert to another location,” Markis said. “I have a few ideas of safe places we can go.”
Reid rubbed her forehead. “And what of Princess Nara and Captain Gytha? Do we assume they’re all right? Or do we send someone to help them?”
The corners of Dexter’s lips rose. “We assume they’re fine.”
Henrick entered the room, carrying a bag.
“Are you going somewhere?” Colbert asked.
“I can’t stay here.” He patted Dexter on the back. “I also don’t think it’s wise for me to travel with either of my sons.”
“Where do you plan to go?” Reid asked.
“There’s a place for me,” he said. “But since I’m dead, no one can know where.”
“What about Nara?” she asked.
“We’ve already said our goodbyes.”
Why were so many people disappointing Reid today? How could Henrick walk away from his wife? His marriage? His kids?
Abruptly, Dexter stood and hugged his father, bidding him farewell. Colbert did the same. Neither tried to convince Henrick to stay.
Chapter Three
They set out after breakfast. Ackley and Gordon rode in front, Duke Ellington in the middle, and Reid and Dexter brought up the rear. Dexter insisted they stay off the main roads in case Eldon had soldiers searching for them.
They traveled all day, barely speaking. Nervous and on edge, Reid kept scanning the nearby areas, on the lookout for threats—or a wagon with a broken wheel, like the assassins had used the last time to try to lure Reid and Dexter in. When it became too dark to safely navigate, they stopped. Since Dexter didn’t want to risk a fire, they ate the bread and cheese they’d brought with them. Afterward, they stretched out on the hard ground and slept.
Ackley woke them before the sun crested the horizon. After another day of traversing over rolling green hills, they stopped just before suppertime.
“You don’t want to ride for a few more hours?” Reid asked.
“There’s a town up ahead,” Dexter explained as he dismounted. “If we skirt around it, it’ll take us an extra day to reach the Gast River.” He wiped his brow on his sleeve. “I’ll go ahead and scout the town to see if there are any Melenia or Marsden soldiers. I can’t imagine there are, but I want to be sure.”
“I’ll go with you,” Ackley said.
Dexter nodded. “Gordon, you remain here with the duke and Reid. We’ll be back in two hours.”
Reid dismounted, watching Ackley and Dexter walk in the direction of the town. Taking hers and Dexter’s horses, she led them over to the stream so they could drink. After feeding and rubbing them down, Reid sat, leaning against a tree.
Gordon announced he wanted to scout out the area to be sure no one was nearby. After he left, Duke Ellington sat across from his daughter.
“It’s pretty here,” he said.
They’d stopped in a valley. A stream cut through it with tall maple trees on either side. Clouds filled the sky, hinting at rain.
“Can I ask you something?”
Duke Ellington nodded.
Reid picked up a stick, twirling it between her fingers. “Did you know Anna was in charge of the Knights?”
He sighed. “Before agreeing to send her to Axian, I made her tell me why she wanted to go. She told me about the organization, and explained how her father needed her.”
“A few weeks back, when you went to see if she’d help us, how’d you know where to find her?”
“I didn’t. Shortly after I arrived in Axian for your wedding, I visited Gregor and Constance. I told them I wanted to see Brianna. After I explained how there were rumors of a foreign army in Marsden, I said it was imperative I speak with her. I told them I’d return to the manor in a couple of weeks, which is what I did.”