"Stop right there." Kat grabbed Sage, who was trying to run past her and away from Vaytin.

"Don't touch me!" Sage tried to wrestle his arm from her, but she held on firmly.

"What is happening here?" She glanced at Vaytin, who stopped a few steps away once he noticed she had a hold of Sage.

He huffed. "Your Grace. This boy keeps taking food from the kitchen, despite the many times he has been warned that he must request the food first. He's been here two weeks and still has not learned."

Kat took in a long breath, closing her eyes for a moment, although she did not loosen her grip on the boy. "Thank you, Vaytin. I'll have a talk with him." As the assistant bowed his head and left, Kat looked at Sage. "Well? What is this about?"

He scowled, clutching his stolen pear to his chest. "The kitchen has plenty of food. I don't know why they're so worried about me taking a little."

"That's the point," Kat said. "There is plenty of food. Why do you need to steal it? They need to keep stock of everything in the kitchen so they can prepare meals. Why not just ask Taleena or Asola for something?"

His dark eyes regarded her rebelliously as he shrugged.

She sighed, letting go of his arm. "Listen, Sage, I understand. You're afraid. You don't think they'll give you what you need because no one else has, but they will. These are good people. We are all trying to take care of you and Jill. I wouldn't have brought you here if I thought you were going to be starved."

"What do you know of taking care of anyone?" he spat. "I lived near Nash Street too. I know that people there take care of themselves, not the people around them. When have you ever had to take care of anyone other than yourself? You don't actually care for us; all you've done is brought us here. You're too busy watching over that daft duke."

Kat's eyes softened. "You're not the first person I've taken care of. I... I had a brother once." Her jaw clenched. "Believe me, Sage, I do understand you. You want to care for Jillian and taking what you need is the only way you know how. But it doesn't have to be like that now. Please, from now on just ask before you take the food."

"If they're going to give it to me anyway, why do I need to ask?"

She sighed. "Sage, please. Do you want to be kicked out of the kitchen?" He rolled his eyes but shook his head grudgingly. "I thought not. Go on now and ask for the food before you take it." He stormed away, leaving her to massage her temples and wonder what she was doing wrong.

#

The next day, Kat was still wondering over Sage's problem while King Jayden and Riolf discussed more idea of how to slow crime. It was about three-fourths of the way through their daily meeting, and she was looking forward to going home for the night.

Home. She smiled a little to herself. I suppose I have one now. She felt the king's eyes on her and had to force herself not to blush or meet his gaze. I don't want to encourage him in... whatever he's doing.

Something banged on the door, drawing their attention. It didn't sound like a knock, but no one called out an apology for accidentally hitting the door either. They were in the meeting room rather than the king's private office—he said he was tired of being in one room all the time and wanted a change of scenery.

"Enter," King Jayden said after a moment, exchanging a confused look with Riolf.

Silence.

"Strange," said Riolf, glancing at the king.

"Now!" an unfamiliar voice shouted. The noise was muted and sounded like it was coming from behind the smaller door on the other side of the room behind King Jayden, who always sat facing the main doors.

All of them turned to look at the smaller door, including the king, who had to twist around on his chair to see. They were just in time to witness the forced entrance of nine men streaming into the room.

"What is the meaning of this?" the king shouted, him and Riolf leaping up at the same time. "Guards!"

Kat pulled her knife out of the leg sheath Riolf had acquired for her, getting into a more open area as the men flooded over to them in an instant, splitting into equal groups to attack each of them. One jabbed his sword at her, making her jump back as they pressed forward.

Her heart raced in panic as they advanced, two of them beginning to circle her. She wasn't well-prepared for multiple assailants. She didn't know why they hadn't just attacked her all at once, but it gave her half a moment to collect herself.

Keeping her eyes on the man in front, she leapt to directly to the right, slicing her dagger downward. The surprise maneuver worked—her blade slid across the man on the right's leg, making him grunt angrily in pain.

The left man tried to bring his sword down on her back, but she swung around, blocking his arm with her left, and stabbed her dagger into his side. He shouted as she pulled out the blade, elbowing the first man in the chest. As he stumbled back a step, she twisted the left man's sword out of his grasp, using her momentum to swing her arm backward to stab the man on the right while cutting the left man's face with her dagger. She pulled both weapons close to her and turned to kick the first man away.

I have to get to Riolf, was her first thought now that she had a moment. He was on the other side of her barrage of assailants, trying to fight two on his own with a third at his feet. She jumped onto the table, then leapt back down directly onto one of Riolf's foes, making them both tumble to the floor.

Kat immediately drove her dagger into his shoulder, then clumsily jumped up, stabbing him in the back and stepping away from the table. The three men that had attacked her advanced again, eyes sharp with pain and fury. One of them sliced his sword at Riolf, cutting the man on his arm. Kat adjusted her grip on her dagger and hurled it at the man, catching him below his shoulder. Less than half a moment after, she swung the sword she had stolen towards the other two men to keep them at bay.

Riolf was at her side now, fighting one man with fervor. Kat tossed the sword to her right hand, staring at the two men waiting to hurt her or the duke. The man towards the left tried to stab her ribs, but she blocked his sword with her own. She saw the man on the right come at her just as he carved his blade through the side of her shoulder. She flinched slightly and grunted from the sting. She dropped her body low, avoiding the blade of the left man as she swung her sword to the right, hacking at the right man's leg. He leapt back in time to save himself a nasty wound.

Kat found herself in a compromising position as she was practically on her knees with two attackers. She swooped her blade up to block the man on the left's downward swing, falling completely to her knees to get a better balance. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the right man take a step towards her, but that was as far as he got.

King Jayden hurdled into her fight, driving a sword through the man on her right. As he pulled his bloody sword from the man's body, he swung the blade towards the man she was currently in a battle of strength with, deeply cutting his side.

The man cried out and stumbled backwards. He fell against the table, clutching his side. "You—" he had no chance to finish. King Jayden slashed the man's neck, cutting off his words.

Riolf was still warring with the last standing man. The king assisted him in swiftly finishing off the foe while Kat stayed on her knees, catching her breath. Her shoulder was burning like hot embers and there was blood everywhere—on her, on the floor, on the dead men, even a splash on the table.

But I'm alive... I'm still alive.

"What was that?" Riolf thundered. Kat glanced up at him, clutching her shoulder. His hair was falling in strands out of his customary ponytail, although the bulk of it remained tied back, and his arms were cut in multiple places, adding to the blood splotched on his side. She couldn't tell if it was his or another's.

The blond man adjusted his grip on his sword. "I don't know. Are you two all right?"

Riolf confirmed while Kat took a quick assessment of herself. She had only been cut on the shoulder. Nothing seemed out of place except for the muscle she pulled in her right arm when she threw the dagger to protect Riolf.

The king took a worried step towards her when she didn't answer, but she shook her head. "I'm all right. Where are the guards?" There were always two guards outside the main doors. They should have come the instant the king called for them.

King Jayden's brows drew together. "I don't know." He strode over to the giant doors with Riolf right behind him. Kat struggled to her feet, gripping her shoulder still, as he opened the entrance.

The men standing outside were not the royal guard.

Everyone stared at each other, trying to comprehend what was happening. Then one of the men stabbed at Riolf, who jumped back and slashed with his sword, beginning the battle again.

"Guards!" King Jayden roared as he and Riolf fought.

No! I have to protect them! Kat grabbed her sword again, grunting at the pain in her shoulder, and dashed towards battle. The men were trying to circle around the king and his duke, but King Jayden and Riolf wouldn't allow them past the entrance. Kat opened the door slightly so there was more space for her to fight beside Riolf, immediately slashing at the first man she saw.

The guards arrived quickly, cutting through the opposing force with ease, bringing the battle to an end much quicker than the first. When all the invaders were on the floor in their own pool of blood, Kat dropped the sword she had stolen and leaned heavily against the door. The adrenaline had covered the pain of her shoulder, but it returned as soon as the battle was over with burning zeal.

Riolf noticed, touching her back lightly as he leaned in to murmur in her ear. "Are you all right?"

She gritted her teeth, nodding. I can recover.

"Send for the physician," King Jayden said. "I think we're all in need of some medical attention. And start cleaning this up. You men haul out the bodies. Store the rogues somewhere so they can be inspected and take the guards to the burning grounds. When they're all gone, send for some maids to clean the blood. The rest of you, search the grounds for any more intruders. I want every man on the lookout."

"Yes, Your Majesty," several voices said at once.

The king glanced at the men at his feet, most rogues, but some guards. He took a deep breath, then released it heavily. "Give each guard their own burning. Alert their families so they can be present. Don't burn them without their families unless they have none."

"Yes, Your Majesty." One guard began giving out orders, separating the men into organized groups with individual tasks.

The king eyed Kat and Riolf. "Can the two of you walk?"

They both nodded.

"Then come with me. We'll wait in my office for the physician." He alerted several of the guards that he would be in his office and to send the doctor there, then commanded two sentries to escort them.

Kat shivered as she caught a glimpse of a severed hand on the ground. Riolf stayed near her as they walked. She found comfort in the large, strong form beside her, and the confident stride before her.

They left the two guards outside the office and collapsed on individual chairs as soon as the doors were closed. Riolf put his elbows on his knees, resting his face in his hands. King Jayden leaned back against his chair behind the desk, eyes closed, chin tipped up towards the ceiling. Kat held her shoulder tightly and just breathed.

"Something is very wrong here," said King Jayden after a few moments. He opened his eyes and looked at the two of them. "How did so many intruders manage to invade the castle of all places? Where did our defenses slip?" He leaned forward. "Who let them in?"

Kat glanced at Riolf, who was silently staring at the blue-eyed man. "You think there is a spy," he said after a moment.

"Yes."

Kat's heart quickened. A spy... Could it be... No. Riolf would never... would he? He got hurt the worst out of all of us. She had pretended to not notice the way he was limping when they walked over to the office. She only had a cut on her shoulder and King Jayden looked mostly unscathed. That doesn't make sense... unless he wanted to make himself seem weak or like it couldn't have been him. Riolf was gone for stars-know-how-long the other night. Would he go so far as to initiate a strike against the king? Within his own castle. While he himself was there? Since he was there, he could ensure that everything went right. But nothing really happened—if they had intended to kill the king they failed. Riolf can't kill him himself, that would look bad.

Why would he want to kill the king anyway? He loves King Jayden like a brother. What could he gain by having him murdered? I suppose... His Majesty isn't married or has children. If he died, who would inherit his throne? The previous king? That would make the most sense. But perhaps His Majesty already has a will. Perhaps he listed Riolf as his successor. I've only known Riolf a short while—do I really know him? Could he be feigning his warm nature?

"What are you thinking of, Katarina?" King Jayden asked, snapping Kat abruptly from her thoughts.

"Oh, uh..." She grimaced. "Nothing, Your Majesty. My shoulder just hurts."

"I see. Riolf?"

The man glanced up. "I am trying to decide if this calls for action or subtlety. Shall we question everyone straight out, or attempt to find the spy by some quieter means?"

King Jayden tapped his desk thoughtfully. "Hmm. Yes. That requires some thought."

A guard knocked on the door. "The physician, Your Majesty."

"Ah, good, let him in." The king relaxed against his chair.

Everyone was quiet as the physician inspected each of them. Since it was so quiet, they could easily hear the footsteps pounding down the hallway as Kat was getting her shoulder wrapped. One person by the sound of it. He stopped in front of the door, speaking frantically to the guards.

"I have to see the king, it's urgent! Something awful has happened!"

"Let him in at once!" King Jayden sharply called before the guards could ask permission. The man burst in; eyes wide as he panted for breath. "What is it?"

The man took in a huge breath, taking a moment to bow. "It's Master and Mistress Hycantran, Your Majesty," he said in a rush. "They... they're dead!"