Free The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze Page A

sides were welded shut. I heard a humming sound coming from above and I looked up, startled. It was the murmuring of voices. I felt my heart beating rapidly as I hurried up the stairs and crouched down to hide in the dark landing.
    I followed the sound of the voices down the passagewayuntil I saw a ribbon of fluorescent light spilling from a doorway. I pressed my back to the wall, pulling my sword from its sheath as I crept forward. Inside the cavernous chamber, the generals of Hollister’s army sat around a long, heavy oak table, their backs to the door. Blueprints, maps, and diagrams covered the walls.
    “The plans to build camps F through J are set to begin in Field Eleven.”A younger soldier stood at the front of the room, pointing to the diagrams. “We have a location for the royal crown. One of the tortured Royalists confessed.” I chanced a look into the room, scanning the ranks of the New Guard for Hollister’s face.
    “I knew we’d find our answer with the enhanced interrogation techniques,” a second soldier, a woman, said.
    “ Extraordinarily enhanced interrogationtechniques,” another voice said, laughing.
    I pressed my back to the wall. A light flickered on the floor above. To get there I would have to pass the doorway. Peering into the room from the corner of my eye, I waited until the soldier had his back turned, then shot past the doorway as quickly as possible. The sound of metal on metal reverberated through the hallway as the blade of my sword struckthe stairway railing. I froze. A wave of cold fear swept over me.
    “Who’s there?” The soldier who’d been addressing the room appeared in the doorway. “What are you doing here? No unauthorized officers allowed in the keep.” His voice was firm, angry.
    I shook my head, unable to speak.
    “Answer me!” he ordered.
    Desperately I tried to think of an excuse. “I’m sorry. I’m lost, I was just trying tofind my bunk.” Frightened, I stepped away from him, out of the light, keeping my eyes low. I glanced up at his face, and our eyes caught. In that instant I recognized him. Dark blond hair, deep-set green eyes, high cheekbones. He was the guard who had left me in the wardrobe during the invasion of Buckingham Palace.
    “You got lost in the keep?” He stared at me suspiciously. Did he recognize metoo? The last time he saw me, I was wearing makeup and a beautiful ball gown. Now my hair and face were dirty, and I wore the uniform of his army. This was the last place he should expect to find me. For all he knew, I had been burnt to ashes in Buckingham Palace.
    “Yes. It’s my first day here,” I stammered, not concealing the fear in my voice. If he could tell how afraid I was, maybe he wouldbelieve I really was a hopelessly lost new recruit.
    He took another step closer. I looked back at him through wide eyes and gripped my hands in tight fists to stop them from trembling. Fear lurched in my stomach. Should I try to run? I glanced behind me, gauging the distance from the banister railing to the floor below. I could jump. But landing on the stones might break my ankles, maybe evenmy legs.
    “This time it’s a warning,” he said angrily. “I don’t ever want to see you where you don’t belong again. Do you understand?”
    “Yes.” I nodded eagerly.
    His eyes fell over my face once again, a slight furrow in his brow. “Officers,” he called. “Escort the new recruit back to her division.”
    “Yes, Sergeant Wesley,” the soldiers said, hurrying toward me.
    I turned back as the guards escortedme away. “Thank you,” I whispered quietly. His face was cast in shadow and just a flicker of his green eyes was visible. He stood alone in the hallway, watching me.

13
    “UP, UP!” SCREAMED TUB. EVERYONE GROANED. IT WAS STILL pitch dark outside—at least an hour earlier than we usually woke. “Last one downstairs has to give me their rations!” she added. Suddenly the dorm was a flurry of activity as everyone jumped out of bed,