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"Arhys is headstrong and spoiled, and I’m overprotective"

"I’d--I’d best see to Raven" She turned to go, but he touched her arled over what he wanted to say "I need to thank you I’m indebted to you You not only saved the life of an innocent child--troublesoht be--but also that of the heir to the throne"

Karigan was not sure she’d heard correctly "Throne? What throne? The emperor’s?"

"No As I told you, he assassinates all his offspring No, Arhys is heir to the throne of Sacoridia She is directly descended fro you served, and his queen"

AN EXCHANGE OF SECRETS

Karigan shook herself, not sure she’d heard hih the yard was empty of potential eavesdroppers

"That--" She was about to say "brat," but caught herself in time "Arhys is a direct? A descendent of?"

The professor nodded The brighteningrevealed the seriousness etched into his features "We, the opposition, have preserved the bloodline It’s been so very dangerous The heirs were always hunted by the eeneral belief is that the line iped out when a boy, ould have been Arhys’ uncle, was slain We er sister separate and safe, her identity hidden Arhys’Zachary and Estora"

"Had a son When Sacor City fell, the queen escaped with her son and went into hiding They were hunted ceaselessly, and it is said only the queen’s courage kept thean wanted to sit down This was one revelation too et inside," the professor said, "warh she was, and had wrapped her arms around herself to ward off a chill "Does Arhys knohat she is?"

The professor gave a throaty chuckle "Can you iine what she’d be like if we told her she was to be queen?"

Karigan shuddered at the thought

"No, for her safety, and ours, she will not know till she coe So now, perhaps, you understand why I coddle her a little too much I really must learn another approach--it would not do to have a spoiled brat on the throne" He hesitated, then said, "I expect that you, as a Green Rider, will guard this secret with your life You will, won’t you?" His tone was both pleading and tinged with the inherent threat that if she did not comply, her own existence was forfeit The professor would protect his royal heir at whatever the cost, and no ret it

Arhys was Zachary’s uard such a secret? Besides, she would never let harirl, no matter who she was, or how foolish "You have "

"Thank you" He bowed formally and looked wistful "I should have liked to have , he who instills such loyalty Now, perhaps we should go in?"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>