Silence followed afterward, then Drystan slowly pushed himself upright despite the weakness in his body. "She has to be found," he said immediately.
Cedric stared at him quietly.
Because for the first time in years, he sounded like himself again.
"If Merovia falls completely," Drystan continued while pressing a hand weakly against his head, "other kingdoms will take advantage of it..." His voice trailed off.
Cedric could still see traces of the king Eryndor once loved still surviving beneath everything Alaric had done to him. "I will try to gather more information," Cedric promised quietly.
Drystan nodded faintly before lowering his gaze again.
Unfortunately, neither of them noticed the guard silently watching from the shadows.
****
Alaric had long grown paranoid toward betrayal and trusted almost nobody anymore. Every movement inside the palace was monitored and eventually word reached him about the soldier secretly contacting Drystan.
