Devlin's Justice by Patricia Bray Page A

Devlin has returned?”
    It could not be possible. He could not have entered the city without passing through one of the gates, and the guards would surely have informed her. Solveig must be mistaken.
    “Lord Rikard and I had agreed to meet last night at the Royal Temple, to trade gossip.”
    Captain Drakken nodded. They knew that Solveig’s and Rikard’s public encounters were closely watched. But with the court in session, there were numerous diversions offered each evening, and no one found it odd that a noble would be returning to the palace long after sunset. If they took a path that led them past the unfashionable Royal Temple, well such was not suspicious in and of itself. And the deserted temple was a perfect place for a clandestine meeting, given Brother Arni’s tacit approval.
    “It took me longer than I expected to take my leave from Lady Vendela’s ball. When I arrived, I found Rikard had been there for some time. We could see that the soul stone had reached Kingsholm, and Brother Arni had begun offering prayers of thanks for the Chosen One’s safe return,” Solveig continued.
    “And that was at midnight?”
    “I arrived after midnight, but Brother Arni said the stone had changed color an hour before.”
    Perhaps Brother Arni was mistaken, though she had never heard of the soul stone spell failing. And he had no motive to lie about what he had seen. The priest was a man of sincere faith, who lived to serve the seven Gods and the Chosen One, their anointed representative.
    But if Devlin had been in the city for twelve hours now, then where was he? And why hadn’t she heard anything?
    “I returned to my chambers, but there was no word. The servants had no news, so I expected that Devlin had decided to wait until morning before seeking out the King. But as the morning passed, I became impatient. I knew he would seek you out, so I came here. But you haven’t seen him, have you?”
    Captain Drakken shook her head. “Nor have I had any word that he arrived. It makes no sense that he would hide himself from his friends.”
    “But surely someone must have seen them—the guards who let them in the gate, the sentries at the palace, the stablemen who took their horses . . . They did not simply fall from the sky.”
    And Didrik, at least, would not have let twelve hours pass without reporting to her. Something was gravely wrong.
    “I do not know what is happening, but I will find out,” Captain Drakken promised.
    “What can I do?”
    “Return to the palace. Make yourself visible. Listen for any gossip, but do not let on what you know. If you hear anything, send word to me. And above all, do not wander off alone. I’ll assign one of my guards to watch you.”
    “You think I may be threatened?” Solveig’s voice was incredulous. “Why?”
    Drakken did not know what to think, but her instincts were telling her that there was grave danger. Until she knew the shape of the threat, it was best to err on the side of caution.
    “Right now there are four people who know that Devlin has returned. You, Rikard, Brother Arni, and now me. Rikard has his own armsmen and the priest should be safe. But until we know why Devlin’s return has been kept secret, you should be on your guard. It may be nothing, but better safe than sorry.”

Five

    D IDRIK GAVE A SIGH OF RELIEF AS THE ROAD widened and he caught his first clear view of Kingsholm. The high walls were gray and forbidding, meant to discourage potential attackers, but to him they were a welcome sight. These were his walls, and this was his city. He knew every yard of the long walls, and every one of the streets and alleyways. Blindfolded he could be set down in any part of the city and instantly know where he was using just his hearing and sense of smell. The city had its dangers, but those were things he understood. And there, at least, he had a reputation of his own that made him formidable. Not to mention the full weight of the Guard behind him.
    He felt as