Elf Defence (Adventures in Aguillon #2) - Lisa Henry Page 0,53

and Benji happy, just to see their smiles?

He reached out and took Lars’s beefy hand, and traced patterns on his palm for a moment before lacing their fingers together and squeezing. “There are things that I feel for you and Benji that I’ve never felt before.”

Lars’s eyes grew wide.

Calarian lifted his hand and kissed his knuckles. “But I’m not going to say it here, Lars.”

“Not without Benji too,” Lars said, and nodded decisively.

“Not without Benji,” Calarian agreed. He drew a deep breath. “Now, let’s figure out how we’re going to get him back.”

The rescue plan still hadn’t advanced very far several hours later when a mountain troll bellowed through the doorway that there was someone coming up the path. Calarian peered cautiously around the corner of the door to see, the pressure in his chest giving way in a rush of relief when he saw that it was Gretchen.

He nodded at her, and explained to the mountain troll that it was okay if she came inside.

“Hello, idiots,” she said as she stomped into the hut, wiping a muscled forearm across her forehead where beads of sweat were gathering. “You were far too easy to track, by the way.”

Lars frowned. “Why are you here? Why aren’t you watching Benji?”

“Good to see you too, my darling little brother,” Gretchen said with what was possibly the fakest smile Calarian had ever seen.

“Two minutes older,” Lars muttered under his breath. “And again, why are you here?”

“You’re so cranky since they put you in charge. I’m here to let you know that Benji’s fine—or rather, he was when I left. He’s safely locked away and I’ve told them not to let Gunther near him.”

“And they’ll listen to you?” Calarian couldn’t help but ask.

Gretchen drew herself up to her full height and folded her arms across her impressive chest. “They will if they know what’s good for them.”

“It’s true,” Lars whispered. “She’s terrifyingly competent.”

Gretchen beamed her approval at his assessment. “Of course I am. Anyway, I’m also here to warn you. You’re both wanted men.”

Calarian could hardly say it was a surprise. “Of course we are. Is anyone coming for us?”

Gretchen shrugged. “Tournel doesn’t have many guards, and most of those are lining up for a turn at guarding an actual prisoner instead of a cell full of sauerkraut, so not yet. Listen, the best thing for you to do is make your way across the mountains—Lars will know the way—find horses as soon as you can and make for Callier. The kings will be able to put a stop to Gunther’s nonsense.”

Lars’s face screwed up in disapproval. “But—”

“Let me guess.” Gretchen rolled her eyes. “But Benji. How did I know you’d say that?”

“We can’t just leave him,” Calarian said, eyes wide. “That would be terrible. We have to come up with a plan!”

“Calarian,” Gretchen said, fixing him with a stare, “the last time you made a plan, you put my brother in danger by making him a pretender to the ducal seat! So forgive me if I take whatever you’re going to say next with enough salt to pickle a barrel full of herrings.”

Calarian sat back. Gretchen had a hell of a point. He just didn’t like to feel like he was doing nothing. He was a problem solver, and he always had been. It was what made him so good at Houses and Humans. But this was different. This wasn’t a game. This was Benji.

“We could... no, that wouldn’t work. What about...” He lapsed into silence, every single idea he had coming up short. He needed something foolproof—something Benji proof.

“The best thing you can do is make sure word gets to the kings,” Gretchen said. “Listen, Benji is in no immediate danger, except of boredom. There has to be a trial first, and even if he’s found guilty it’ll take a while to build the guillotine, and–”

“The what?” Calarian screeched.

“The guillotine,” Gretchen explained. “It’s a mechanical device that cuts off someone’s head with a giant blade.”

“I know what one is!” Calarian said. “Benji’s a huge fan, actually. But what do they need one for?”

Gretchen bit her lip. “The punishment for treason is beheading. Did I not mention that?”

“No! You most definitely did not mention it!” Calarian pressed a hand to his chest, where his heart was trying to break out through his ribcage. “Listen, Benji didn’t even touch Duke Klaus! He sneezed, and Duke Klaus got startled and fell. I know he talks a lot about killing kings and burning the world down, but