after me if I have not yet returned.â
âWhat are you going to do, Sire?â Toli was frightened by the look in Quentinâs eyes.
âI am going to bring back the prince.â With that, he turned away and strode to where Blazer waited patiently. Snatching up the reins, he swung himself into the saddle, then glanced back once more at the body of the hermit on the ground. âGood-bye, old friend,â he said simply, raising a hand slowly in final salute. Then he was gone.
âWhat can be taking them so long?â wondered Bria aloud. âThey should have returned long ago.â
Esme, sitting next to the queen in the royal pavilion, craned her neck and gazed toward the forest. âI do not see anyone coming. But you know men and their hunting. I would not wonder but that they became caught up in the chase and have forgotten everything else.â
âYou are right. I am certain that is what has happened.â She spoke the words, but in her heart she was far from convinced. Bria turned her eyes once more to the costumed mummers performing before her. The bright disguises glittered in the sun, and the two young princesses giggled at the pantomime, clapping their hands with glee. Bria tried to maintain interest in the performance, but once and again her eyes stole back across the plain toward the forest, watching for the return of Quentin, Durwin, and the others. But she saw no sign of anyone, so at last forced herself to concentrate on the play.
âLook!â Esme whispered urgently. âA rider!â
The queen raised her eyes and looked where Esme was pointing. She could just make out the form of one rider approaching from across the plain.
âOh! Only one!â An arrow of dread pierced her heart. âSomething has happened!â
âWe cannot be certain,â Esme said lightly. âLet us wait until we have heard what he has to say. Perhaps it is only a messenger on his way to tell us the king will be lateâwhich we already know.â She laughed, but there was no happiness in her voice.
âWho is it? Can you see?â Bria stood.
âNo, not yet.â
They waited. Tension drew taut as a bowstring.
Queen Bria crumpled the front of her gown in her hands as the rider drew closer.
âIt is Toli!â cried Esme.
âYes, I can see him now!â Bria stepped down from her chair. âCome. I cannot abide here another moment. Stay here with Chloe,â she told her daughters. âI will return in a moment.â
âI will look after them, my lady,â answered Chloe.
The two women dashed onto the field, scattering the actors, who parted to let them pass and then continued once more with their performance.
They met Toli at the edge of the festivities. âWhat is it?â asked the queen, her intuition already answering the worst.
Toli turned grave eyes on her. He did not look at Esme. Bria felt a thin blade of terror slide under her ribs. âThe kingâ,â she whispered. âNot the king.â
Toli took the queenâs hand. âMy lady, the king is well,â he said softly, searching her eyes, hoping to find further words there.
âYes, continue,â said Bria. She stared steadily back.
âDurwin is dead.â
âHow?â Bria gasped.
âThey were set upon by kidnappers in the forest. He died protecting the prince.â
âAnd the prince? He is safe?â said Esme.
âGone. The prince has been takenââ
âNo!â murmured Bria. The clattering, noisy din around them faded, and she had the sensation of the world blurring before her as she staggered beneath the force of a killing blow.
âWhere is the king?â asked Esme, fighting to keep her voice under control.
âHe was with Durwin when I found him. He has gone after the prince.â He glanced briefly at Esme, as if noticing her for the first time. âI am to fetch a bier and bring Durwin to the