Reign Shadowfell's Arc

Chapter 27 of 29

First light came gray through the shutters. Reign left the prisoner bound under the bed with the gag tight. He washed his face, straightened his collar, and touched the red stone under his shirt one last time. Vixen wore her black coat and her hair up. Lyla wore the dark dress with the small crosses stitched into the skirt, her red hair loose over one shoulder. Lux climbed onto the table and waited. The four of them went down the stairs together and out to the carriage. The woman who had come to the inn the night before stood at the castle gate in armor now. She opened the carriage door herself and did not smile. She told them her superior would meet them in the courtyard. Reign nodded once. The carriage rolled through the outer gate and past two rows of guards who did not look at him and did not look away. The horses stopped. A large demon with green-black skin opened the door and put out his hand. Vixen took it and stepped down. Lyla took it after her. Lux jumped from the seat to Reign's shoulder and gripped his collar. Reign stepped out last. A thin man in a gray coat crossed the stones toward them. He bowed at the waist, not deep. He said his name was Huntley and that he was the steward of the castle. He would take them to the hall. His eyes moved once over Reign's face, once over the shape of the amulet under his shirt, and once over Lux. He turned and began to walk. Reign followed with Vixen at his right and Lyla at his left. The courtyard was full of people who had come out to see him. Reign kept his pace even and his face still. He looked at ears. He looked at every woman they passed. A servant girl carrying linen, no. Two guards' wives by the well, plain hoops, no. A tall woman by the inner arch in green silk, pearl drops, no. Then, on the step above the arch, a woman in dark red stood with three other women of the inner circle. She was watching him come. Small silver crescents hung from her ears and caught the morning light. Reign's step did not change. He did not look at her a second time. He felt Lux's claws tighten on his collar and knew the imp had seen them too. Huntley opened the inner door and stood aside. Reign passed him and went in. He had walked into the king's house without drawing a blade, without a question asked, and he had found her. He knew her face now. She did not yet know that he knew. For the first time since the inn, the ground under him felt firm.