A week after they discovered the backup channel, once again, the trail went cold.
Maren’s agents followed the ssages all the way to the Arcasedian border but after that they vanished. Without official papers, Maren’s people couldn’t follow them inside Arcasedia.
"We lost the trail at the border," Maren inford them. "A woman carried the ssage into Arcasedia. My agents can’t go after her without papers."
Austin sighed in frustration.
"Is there nothing we can do?" he asked.
"I’ve sent ssages to a few contacts inside Arcasedia, but it may take weeks to hear anything back."
"And Ashby?"
"He has gone quiet again. He is back to his usual self."
"Every ti we think we’re close, sothing pulls us back," Austin murmured. "It feels like they are suspicious of us."
"That’s because they’ve decades of experience," Maren replied. "I know it’s sounding repetitive but there’s nothing we can do except for waiting."
But the very next day, Ashby changed his approach. Instead of being quieter, he beca more visible. He appeared at every al, joined conversations he usually avoided, and visited parts of the castle he rarely went to.
Alina noticed the change and imdiately told Austin.
"Lord Ashby is trying to protect himself," she told Austin at night in their room.
"What do you an?"
"He is building his goodwill. He is making sure everyone rembers how kind Lord Ashby is. So that if we ever accuse him of anything, no one will agree, saying he is the kindest man in the castle."
"We don’t have much ti then. We can’t wait anymore."
But before they could make their move, Ashby moved first. He approached Austin after dinner one night.
"Your Grace," he said warmly. "A word?"
"Of course."
"I’ve heard the servants talking about the fire investigation. They say you’ve reopened it and found so evidence in the old accounts."
Austin nodded.
"Harrington found so old ledgers during the archive work. I asked him to review them."
"I see." Ashby smiled. "I’m only asking because I know how much that fire hurt you. You hardly talk about Cecily’s death..."
He didn’t finish, waiting to see Austin’s reaction. But Austin didn’t flinch. He didn’t let anything show on his face.
"Thank you for your concern," he said calmly.
"Always, Your Grace. You know how much I care about you."
"I do," he replied. "Good night, Lord Ashby."
"Good night, Your Grace," Ashby smiled and walked away
Leaving Austin standing in the corridor shaking with rage. On the other hand, Alina unable to wait decided to talk to Rosilyn.
She was Austin’s bed warr before. Maybe she knows sothing!
She imdiately went to her room and found her sitting on the bed, sewing a dress.
"Alina?" Rosilyn smiled as Alina enetered her room. "I wasn’t expecting you."
"I’ve been so busy lately," Alina said, sitting down beside her. "I thought I’d co see you."
"I’m glad!" Rosilyn replied.
They talked about castle life for a while when Alina slowly changed the topic.
"Rosilyn...when you were here did Lord Ashby ever speak to you?"
Rosilyn frowned.
"Lord Ashby?"
"Yes."
"The old scholar who is always in the library?"
Alina nodded.
Rosilyn thought for a while then shook her head.
"No. Not really."
"Not even once?"
"I an... everyone spoke to him occasionally. He was always around the castle. But nothing unusual."
"Was you family in massive debt?" Alina asked.
Rosilyn suddenly looked upset.
"I’m an orphan."
"I’m sorry. I didn’t know," Alina said, feeling guilty.
"It’s okay," Rosilyn shrugged. "But why are you asking this?"
"Nothing. Just curious," Alina smiled.
Rosilyn knew Alina was hiding sothing but she didn’t press further. And Alina left the room with even more questions than before.
The next morning, Austin received a ssage from Holloway.
I want to see you. It’s urgent.
They didn’t waste any ti. Every second was precious. They rode to his ho and found him in bed. He looked very sick and weak.
"Your Grace," he said. "I have to tell you sothing."
"I’m listening."
"Soone from the network contacted . They know you visited and you’ve reopened the fire investigation."
"How do they know?"
"Because Ashby told them. I told you he is a dangerous man. He knows everything that happens in that castle."
Holloway coughed. Alina offered him water but he refused.
"There’s sothing I didn’t tell you before," he said. "I told you I didn’t know about the fire. That wasn’t true."
They both froze.
"Before the fire, Cecily found so docunts in the old store room of her wing. Ashby found out and was terrified. According to him, it was sothing that could destroy everything."
"She was a child," Austin shouted.
"But still it was risky," he said. "Ashby set the fire to destroy the docunts. Cecily’s room was next to the study. The fire was ant to burn both the papers and her."
"He tried to kill my sister to cover up paperwork?" He growled. "I’m going to kill him the mont I reach Ravenmoor."
Alina imdiately held his arm, steadying him.
"And my placent?" she asked Holloway. "Why was I worth ten tis more than the others? Is it only because of my link to Arcasedia?"
"I really don’t know about that," he replied. "Your placent was arranged after I retired. But..."
"But what?"
"If network still exists it’s because of you."
"What do you an?" Alina asked.
"You’re not just a random piece on the board, Alina. You’re the reason they built the board."
Holloway’s words followed them the entire ride back to Ravenmoor. Just when they thought their lives were finally settling down, everything had beco complicated again. Every day brought a new discovery, yet none of the answers seed to explain anything.
Instead, each answer only created more questions. They no longer knew who to trust or what to believe. Every person seed suspicious, and every word sounded like it might be a lie. The closer they got to the truth, the more uncertain everything felt.
"If we can connect with their contact in Arcasedia, we can find out who the network leader is," Alina said after a while.
Austin nodded.
"But we already closed the Arcasedian Chapter," Austin said. "I don’t want you to involve yourself with that kingdom again."
Alina understood his reasoning. He didn’t want her to return to the kingdom that had taken her mother’s life. And asking help from the man who had ordered her death felt like too much. It was a sacrifice he couldn’t accept her making.
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