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Her boots rapped on the spiraling stone stairs as she descended to the keep’s main level Despite her reputation, she found herself constantly having to reinforce her role Returning to Mirwellton after the old lord-governor’s fall had been risky There were those who suspected she had betrayed hi have executed her as well, or at least kept her in prison? Not that anyone would admit they approved of the old lord or his plans to dethrone King Zachary…but it did generate her share of ene those who remained secretly loyal to the dead man and his ambitions
She ensured none of these suspicions led to the truth, that no one exposed her real affiliations and co Zachary’s Her mission was to keep watch on Timas Mirwell, to make sure he did not follow in the footsteps of his traitorous father
She entered the main hall Soldiers saluted her and courtiers spared her a nervous glance before hurrying away She allowed herself a s suspicions about her, if she believed they would reveal her true affiliations, her true duty, they quietly disappeared, never to be heard froain
She was not what one would consider a typical Green Rider
Beryl contening her duties that would keep her away, seriously hail over him There were two possibilities: either Ti else was afoot and he couldn’t trust her If it were the latter, it meant her mission was compromised If the mission was coer, unless they—Colonel Birch and Lord Mirwell—believed her ignorant of their activities and that she continued to give only positive reports to King Zachary
She norance, but that was bloody hard when they kept sending her away
Crossing thedown a corridor toward her quarters, Beryl ondering how she et out of her latest orders when she heard Birch speaking with someone behind her She turned about and peered back into the main hall A runner handed hilanced at it before folding it back up and dropping it into his pocket He dismissed the runner and headed toward the keep’s entranceway Guards hauled open the massive ironbound doors for hiainst her face, he walked out into the night
She decided to follow him If she needed information, this was the way to start: to see what Birch was about If he and Ti did not approve of, it was her duty to find out about it And if they were diverting her attention because they knew her real identity and wanted her out of the way, she had to correct the situation
She paused for several reat doors once again at her approach, and she strode out onto the front steps Torches sputtered on either side of her, so she descended the steps to stand in the deeper glooht to allow her eyes time to adjust to the dark Across the courtyard she could ht
She glanced about toand set off across the courtyard with a deter the torchlit entrance behind Birch was angling toward the stables Would she have to follow him somewhere on horseback?
The heavy, cool air subdued the world around her No breeze stirred the treetops, there was no sound of owls hooting or dogs baying in the distance; only her feet crunching on the gravel ay
She slowed as she approached the stable, not wishing to give away her presence There were no lanterns lit within, just the blackened s gaping at her At this hour, the horses were quiet inside, dozing oron hay She hoped her own mare, Luna Moth, would not catch wind of her and call out with a whinny as she sometimes did