The smile slowly returned. “The entire plan hangs on the thread of you sitting on the Wren throne.”
“There’s more.”
“Princess Elenore may be at the Eagle’s Nest right now. The pass through the mountains is only open two months a year, which is why it’s still a secret, and the route hasn’t been expanded. I assume you’ll march in that direction?”
Hannah hadn’t considered the idea Elenore might be living there now. “What’s the Eagle’s Nest like?”
He spread his arms wide. “It used to be a monastery a hundred years ago. The sect that owned it disappeared due to illness, I heard. Since it’s located closer to Calverton and the route is open most of the year to Peermont, the Royal family took it on as a winter playground. I’d guess a hundred rooms in a sprawling stone building. I’ve never been there, but that’s what I know.”
“How long will it take me to force-march from here to there?”
“Getting in a hurry?” Tranter asked, then continued, “Two days, but you might want to check that with someone who’s been there.”
She stood. “I need to speak with the general, and with Brice, my knight, but I like your plan.”
He also stood and reached out his hand to shake. “No matter how this goes, you and I are in it together as a family. If you do not reclaim your throne, where will you go?”
“Gallium. I share a place there.”
“Gallium. I’ve heard the buildings are so white they seem tinged blue and fill both sides of a gateway to another ocean. Okay, if you’re unsuccessful, I will meet you in Gallium, a city I’ve always wanted to see.”
Hannah was shocked that he would base his whole future on a short meeting in the King’s throne room with a woman he’d never met. “You can’t promise that.”
“And if you are successful, I will make my way to Wren, and together we’ll decide how to bring Peermont back to its former glory. Deal?”
They shook on it.
Back in the ballroom, the Royals were becoming impatient. As she entered, several glared at her, and several harsh comments split the air. She ignored them as she made eye contact with Brice and the general. A curl of her finger indicated they should accompany her. She stepped through a doorway and closed it.
In a few terse sentences, she repeated most of what Tranter had shared. She turned to the general. “You’ve been a good friend, so don’t take this wrong, but why didn’t you tell me about Eagle’s Nest and the mountain pass?”
His expression turned puzzled. “I assumed you knew. Everyone in Calverton knows the story.”
Hannah believed she had also heard the story from her mother—who was also from Calverton. The story might be told in the Palace of Wren, but she didn’t know. She hadn’t heard it while working in the Earl’s Castle, but the circle of friends there was small and disconnected from story-telling because they were so busy serving the Royals.
It might also be that since the mountain pass to reach Eagle’s Nest was closed ten months of the year, it held no importance to residents of Wren. In short, they had forgotten about it in the generations since the two brothers created Peermont.
She turned to Brice. “I heard the grumbling when I entered the ballroom. I suppose Jam has been filling your ears with his venom.”
“Jam? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
The statement took her by surprise. Jam was in the palace earlier. Had they missed him when they searched? It would be just like him to dress down and pretend to be a servant to escape. He probably had selected a bolt-hole when he arrived. He always planned his escape.
Hannah said, “Begin planning to depart immediately for Eagle’s Nest.”
She reentered the ballroom and walked among the crowd searching for Jam, but he was not there. She climbed the stairs and looked over the heads of the Royals with disgust. They had allowed King Edward to remain in office while they enjoyed the music, dancing, food, and parties held in the ballroom where they stood. If she also provided music, food, and wine, she had no doubt those Royals in the room would begin dancing and enjoying themselves—and support her if she promised to continue.
She said, “You may all leave and resume your lives.”
From their reaction, it was the last thing they expected to hear. Few departed. Hannah was the show of the day and the only source of information. They waited.
Hannah drew herself up and asked if there were questions.
There were. Each revolved around the Royals and how the future would change their comfortable lives. Hannah wished she could replace them, but knew better than to tamper with the political structure that had evolved over generations. She wanted to leave the ballroom as much as they did, perhaps more.
In terse details, Hannah told them King Edward had decided to move on, and the next two in line for the throne had abdicated. Their new Queen would be Elizabeth. Several cheered, more broke into smiles, and only a few appeared disappointed. She assumed those were the Royals who supported King Edward.
She found the general on the parade ground, rounding up his troops. He detailed orders to the officers, assigning tasks ranging from remaining in the palace to help the new Queen during the coronation process to another assigned to King Edward to escort him the Ansel. A detail would ride with Tranter to negotiate a peace treaty with the King of Ansel and to advise them of Wren’s involvement and support.
She said, “Excuse me general. I would like to depart for Eagle’s Nest as soon as you can make it happen. I appreciate all you’re doing here, but reaching Eagle’s Nest before my cousin Elenore knows I’m coming is imperative—and my old nemesis Jam is missing.”
“I see.” He turned to another senior officer and said, “Colonial, you know what needs to be done. Please take over here. I’ll assign the second company to ride with me.”
The general’s eyes searched the officers nearby and snapped, “Lieutenant, I want the second company ready to depart in an hour. Cold weather supplies, we’re crossing the Eagle’s Nest.”
She said, “I need to find Brice. Where should we meet you?”
“The main gate. I’ll have extra cloaks and boots for both of you. How are you at hiking?”
“I’ve done my share of walking.”
The general drew himself up. “No horses. You’ll carry a pack, and it will be steep. We can go no faster than you.”
Hannah quipped, “I’ll be ahead of you the whole trip.”
Brice appeared at her side. “No sign of Jam anywhere. One report has him escaping from a window and heading for the mountains.”
“In the direction of Eagle’s Nest?”
Brice nodded.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The two hundred troops were outfitted and waiting in formation long before the end of the hour the general had allowed. The heavy boots he provided fit Hannah, and the pack was close to the maximum weight she wanted to carry. Four rolled blankets were tied on top, as well as a waterproof cape in preparation for the cold they’d face at higher altitudes. She knew it was a two-day hike to the old monastery, but the supplies suggested far more food than required for two days.
Brice adjusted his pack. It was the same size as hers and perhaps heavier. He also carried a bow and quiver.
Hannah said, “If Jam hasn’t gotten there first, we may catch Elenore and Jeffery unaware.”
“Or, they may be waiting with a dozen personal guards.”
“We’ll have two hundred of our own. I doubt they’ll have anywhere near that number,” Hanna said.