One lone lantern spilled light on the otherside of the fountain that marked the maze center. The tallweathered stone left a shadow pointing toward the opening in thehedge they had just passed through.
“Kambry, love.” He ran his hands up her arms,bringing goosebumps to her skin. “You aren’t cold, are you?”
“No, Russal.” Cold was the last thing on hermind. Nervousness made her shiver and heat filled her chest. Beingalone with Russal excited her, which didn’t explain why she alsofelt better remaining in the maze rather than heading back to theirchambers.
He guided her hands around his neck andleaned down toward her upturned face. The light behind herreflected in the blue of his eyes. He pulled her closer, and herdress rustled between them.
Her fingers of their own accord, wovetogether behind his neck, pulling his lips closer to hers. The ringon her thumb caressing his check glowed a soft purple.
When his lips touched hers, much of hernervousness dashed away. She leaned against him, pulling himtight.
He sighed, and she lost all sense ofuncertainty.
Out of the warm night, a yell of surprise andfear turned them both toward the path behind them.
Another voice broke the frozen moment, deepertones, but tinted with strain.
Metal clashed.
Another yell, a woman’s.
“Russal, that sounds like Lady Laurents. Wehave to go help her.” Kambry started for the path, but Russalpulled her back.
“No, stay here.”
“Here? I’m not staying here!” She jerked freeof his arm and hurried to the separation in the wall of shrubbery.If Covey was the cause, she needed to be there to keep themapart.
He looked about and yelled, “Guards, to menow.”
Seconds passed and hedges jostled and leapedas if someone was yanking them up by their roots or diving betweenthem. Kambry thought perhaps both. Soon the center of the mazecontained four guards. Russal pointed at Cole and Lessa. “Stay withthe queen. You two with me.”
Off Russal ran, Drew and Marshal Burtram astride behind. Three more dithered by the taller hedge of theoriginal part of the maze. After a moment, two followed Russal outthe north entrance and the third joined Cole and Lessa.
Kambry snapped her fists to her hips. Didhe just leave me? “I’m not staying here.” She raced off afterRussal, reaching the exit in the palely lit courtyard just as Colestepped in front of her and Lessa marched to her right.
“Kambry, you’re staying here, just as theking ordered.” Cole folded his arms across his chest.
The clanging was not the steady flow ofstrike on strike. Metal slid across metal. Someone was onlyblocking the steady blows of someone with a sword. Who could have asword in the maze? A guard? And who would he or she befighting?
Kambry bounced on her toes. “And now yourqueen orders you to step aside,” she said. “I’ll not stand herewringing my hands while my new husband and the Laurents are indanger. Get out of my way, Guard Cole.” She’d never used that toneor addressed him in that way before, and his sudden uncertaintygave her greater determination. “I’ll not ask again.”
“Kambry,” Lessa wheedled. “Our job is toprotect you.”
“Queen Kambry or Your Majesty,” shecorrected. “How about this? Come along and join me. I’ll save sixmarauders just for you.”
Cole shook his head. Lessa laughed. “Youalways seemed a bit selfish, and now it shows. How many are yougoing to give Cole?”
“None, if he doesn’t step aside.”
Cole gazed a moment at Lessa. Kambry watchedthe two decide. He drew his sword and turned, calling over hisshoulder, “I lead; you follow. Lessa, watch the queen’s back.” Hepointed the tip of his sword at the third guard in their company.“You, behind Guard Veed.”
He led them toward the sounds of shrillmetal. They didn’t go far before he came to a stop. The path aheaddiverted both left and right.
Kambry fingered her scabbard and imagined thelayout of the maze. She had walked it in daylight, following thetelltales. Slowly, she oriented herself by where the castle stoodin the distance. Listening for the sound of the fight andestimating the likely pathway, she called out, “Right, then rightagain.” Excitement and worry vied for control of her heart. Sheneeded to be by Russal’s side if she was going to interfere withhim facing Felip Covey. Kambry pushed Cole forward.
Cole dashed around the corner and held aquick pace to the next right. Two guards stood, pulling at thehedge before them. “What are you doing?” he shouted.
“The king went this way, the hedge splittingto allow him through. Drew and Burtram followed, but it closed upbefore we could.”
Cole turned to face Kambry. “What can you do,Your Majesty?”
Chapter Five
Kambry drew the magic ofKavin toward her, a breeze instantly rising around her and movingin a slow turn about her body. Kavin, help me reach Russal.The hedge shook, the leaves sliding like a whisper against eachother. A cleft in the maze wall formed and deepened, and sectionsof the pathway beyond came into view.
A scream rent the air. Kambry dropped hercontrol of Kavin, the hedge half separated, stiffening. “Mom!That’s my mom!” But it had come from a different direction. Russalwas straight ahead, but Mom was off to the right. The next soundwas an impact, a dull thump, like metal hitting something with giveto it.
Kambry grasped the magic and rent aside thegreen wall on her right. She ran through, Cole yelling behind herto wait. She could hear footfalls in her wake. Good enough. Shesplit another barrier of greenery and winced at the thought of howGardner Konnelby would feel about her tearing his maze to pieces,before flinging the thought aside and focusing on the sounds ofstruggle ahead.
“Mom!” she yelled. “Dad!” Another hedgefluttered its leaves before two mature shrubs leaned apart. A smallcourtyard lay ahead. Two men struggled against a third, trying hardto pull away from them. He fell from their grasp, the hood of hisrobe falling backward. But he was in shadows and other than seeingthat he was a man, his features remained unclear.
The intruder rolled to the side and was outthrough an opening before the two
