soldiers. That way, when Ellington’s soldiers arrive, we’ll be ready for them.”
She absently nodded, pulling at a piece of grass.
“What’s the matter?” he asked. “There’s nothing to be worried about.”
At that, she raised her eyebrows.
“I’m serious. We’ve got this under control.”
That was precisely why she was nervous. If there was one thing she’d learned, nothing ever went according to plan.
Ackley reached out, taking Reid’s hand. “Stop worrying.”
Dexter approached them. “Perimeter check is done. Four men are on watch.” He sat next to Reid, rubbing his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. Instead, his focus zeroed in on where Ackley held Reid’s hand.
Ackley immediately let go. “I better go to sleep—I have the next watch.” He rolled over, his back to them.
Reid wondered if there was something else bothering Ackley that he wasn’t telling her. Not wanting to push the matter, she laid down. Dexter stretched out next to her. She wondered what tomorrow night would bring once they were in the castle. Would she and Dexter share a bed as husband and wife? She still hadn’t told him how she felt. Somehow, the words eluded her. But maybe there was another way. She closed her eyes, imagining how she could express her love to him.
Reid opened her eyes. The sky was only just starting to lighten, a thick fog coating the ground. What had woken her? Usually, she was one of the last to rise in the morning. Rolling onto her side, she noticed Ackley lying there. He stared blankly into space. She mouthed, “Everything okay?” Hopefully, no one was planning to attack them. Reid didn’t think she had enough energy to fight someone right now.
Ackley nodded before rolling over, facing away from her.
Unable to fall back asleep, Reid snuggled closer to Dexter, the morning air cold and crisp. Once the sky lightened some more, the Knights started to wake up.
After eating a quick breakfast, Ackley put the men into groups of three, giving each a different route to take to the City of Buckley along with a different safe house to stay at. Once the Knights left, Dexter, Ackley, and Reid set out.
“Why are you fidgeting?” Ackley asked.
She hadn’t even realized she’d been playing with the edge of her tunic. “What if the king told the soldiers manning the gate to be on the lookout for us? What if he told them we’re enemies of the crown?”
Ackley shook his head. “I’m a prince. So is Dexter. They have no choice but to listen to us. And the king isn’t here to give them any orders.”
Eldon had stripped Ackley’s title. “Technically, you’re not a prince any longer,” Reid pointed out.
“We’ll be fine. Eldon’s plan only works if he maintains peace here in the city. If people catch word he intends to overthrow the dukes, chaos will ensue. He can’t manage the army on his own. My father saw to that.”
“How so?” Dexter inquired.
“Given what my father had been through,” Ackley said, “he believed each of his sons should control a different element of the kingdom. Eldon was tasked with politics, and Gordon was put in charge of the army.”
Reid knew there was no way Gordon was capable of stepping into the role of king. Not only did he not know how to handle the dukes, but his public-speaking skills were also severely lacking, and he didn’t have the political savviness Eldon did. She just didn’t realize he was that way because of a lack of education and training manufactured by his father.
“And you?” Dexter said. “What did your father expect from you?”
“Originally, he intended for me to handle the kingdom’s finances. However, I pretended to be abysmal with numbers so I wouldn’t be stuck at a desk all day. When he taught me sword work, I excelled. He told me I could help Gordon with the army.” He shrugged. “I honestly don’t think he knew what to do with Idina.”
As they exited the forest, Reid became anxious at seeing the city again. She tried to remain calm, knowing the king wasn’t there.
“I’m surprised there aren’t agricultural fields near the city,” Dexter commented.
“Not much grows right around here,” Ackley replied.
“Where does your food come from?”
“This city is only a fifth the size of the City of Radella. A lot of it is brought in.”
Reid didn’t want to point out the rampant poverty. Dexter would see that for himself.
“My father wanted to make sure the army was well funded, the castle cared for, and there was plenty of