Free Suriax by Amanda Young Page A

Technically, the Royal Guard
was the Queen’s personal guard, but she used the Flame Guard often
enough that a fair amount of jealousy developed. Marcy caught
Thomas’ eyes and looked over at the jacket. His own eyes widened as
soon as he saw it. Stretching casually, he knocked the jacket to
the floor and kicked it under the chair. The guard turned at the
movement, but Thomas covered by sitting on the arm of the chair
with a sigh. Apparently satisfied, the guard bid them a good day
and left.
    Marcy released the breath she was holding and
let go of Frex’s hand. The illusion melted away, restoring their
normal faces.
    “How did you do that?” Veronica asked.
    “It was a change appearance scroll my friend
Lynnalin gave me. She makes magical items for my brother’s tavern
all the time and threw it in as a gift.”
    “Do you have any other ones?” Thomas asked
hopefully.
    “Unfortunately, no, that was the only
one.”
    Thomas looked off thoughtfully. “How could
they have found us so fast?”
    “I don’t think they did.” Marcy answered.
“They didn’t ask about you. I don’t think they know about you, yet.
I sounded like they were checking everyone.”
    “What did Kern get himself involved with?”
Thomas asked in wonder. It was no small feat to get that kind of
attention from the Crown, especially during the festival.
    “He said it had to do with his parents, but
he didn’t tell me who they were.”
    Both of them looked at Frex expectantly.
Looking uncertain, he shifted in his seat. “I suppose you should
know. Kern is the son of Crystillia and Veritan. He is the half
brother to Queen Maerishka.”
    The shock in the room was palpable. “No
wonder they’re looking everywhere. If anyone found out there was
another heir to the throne . . .” Thomas let his words trail off.
Everyone knew what would happen. There would be civil war. Those
who desire power would use the situation as an excuse to unseat the
queen, thinking it easier to undermine, influence or dethrone an
inexperienced new king. “Do you think you can get your hands on
another one of those scrolls?”
    “I can try, but Lynnalin lives at the mage
academy.” The academy was near Kern’s apartment, just outside the
walls of the palace grounds. Going there would not be easy.
    “I think it is worth the risk. We need a back
up plan in case Kern’s contact isn’t able to get us across the
border. Bradley, I know this is asking a lot, but can Frex stay
here while we go get the scroll?”
    “He may. The guards have already checked us,
so it is unlikely they will come back again right away. He should
be safe here for the time being.”
    Borrowing a shawl from Veronica to cover her
ears and partially hide her face, Marcy and Thomas left.
     
    * * *
     
    Svanteese knocked on the chamber door. He
heard a moan and knocked again. “Your Majesty?” When he didn’t hear
an answer, he pushed open the door. She may kill him for the
intrusion, but the queen missed all her morning meetings and no one
knew where she was. The last anyone saw she was at the temple. Even
more troubling, there was now a fourth name on the scroll of
Venerith.
    There was no one in the main chamber. He
heard a groan in the bed chamber and hesitated. “Your Majesty?”
    “Help me.”
    Svanteese tore open the bedroom door.
Maerishka lay curled in a ball on the floor. “I’ll get help.”
    “No,” she reached up, but the movement was
weak and her hand quickly fell heavily to the floor.
    Svanteese thought of what to do. She
obviously didn’t want anyone to know she was hurt, but he needed
help if he was to care for her and whatever ailment plagued her.
Rushing from the room, he found her handmaiden. Azalaie was the
only other person the queen trusted. She was, after all, the person
who warned her of the former king and queen’s plot on her life.
    “She is burning up,” Azalaie pulled back her
hand. Unable to touch Maerishka without burning themselves, they
grabbed blankets