Owen ducked around a side corridor. If he could reach the end without being seen, he could vanish through a secret door. The sound of his pursuer’s boots grew louder.

“Come back here, little snot!”

Owen’s feet were going so fast he almost wasn’t touching the tiles. He could feel the vibrations of the pounding behind him. He wondered if he had enough time to trip the latch. But what if Dunsdworth saw him? How would he explain his secret knowledge?

Worry and fear mixed in his bowels.

Panicked with indecision, he veered around the corner and nearly slammed into someone. He caught himself just in time, but a firm and sturdy hand grabbed his shoulder. He twisted around in fear just as Dunsdworth came barreling around the corner, his face twisted with rage.

“Hold there!” Duke Horwath scolded. “Look at you two, racing about.”

Dunsdworth’s face was red and he was panting. “Lord Horwath!” he stammered as he stumbled to a stop. “I was . . . just . . . trying to catch him . . . he stole something from me.”

Horwath’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. It was obvious he didn’t believe it for a moment. “Get you gone,” he snarled at Dunsdworth. The lad’s ruddy cheeks paled and he turned on his heel and fled.

Owen had not seen the duke for weeks, and had not expected him to return to Kingfountain so soon. He tried to stammer out his thanks, but his tongue swelled in his mouth and he could say nothing. Frustrated with himself, he wiped sweat from his forehead.

“I just came from the kitchen,” the duke said gravely. “I was surprised you weren’t there. Everyone says that’s your favorite haunt.”

Owen bobbed his head, but he still couldn’t speak. His jaw was locked and he had no key to open it.

“I brought someone to be a playmate for you. I brought my granddaughter from the North with me.”

Horwath’s mouth bent into an affectionate smile.

Oh no, Owen thought darkly.

I have learned a great deal from Ankarette so far. In return, she asks me for information that is circulating among the Espion. Trivial things, really. She does not want any information that would jeopardize my position. It seems she has been away from court events for several years. I’m curious as to why she’s making an appearance now. Perhaps she intends to poison the king. That would not be a loss, and the people would thank her for it. He may be beloved in the North, but the people of Kingfountain believe he’s a monster. Ankarette wants gossip about the noble families. Like the Duke of Kiskaddon, for example. I told her the king is using the Espion to trick Kiskaddon into betraying himself by revealing his involvement with the enemy at Ambion Hill. Little things like that. Oh, and we have a newcomer to the kitchen now. Horwath’s granddaughter. She’s a water sprite if ever there was one! Very obnoxious, never stops talking. It’s going to be a pleasure tormenting her.

—Dominic Mancini, Espion of the Palace Kitchen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Elysabeth Victoria Mortimer

Owen knew he was in trouble when the duke’s granddaughter squealed upon seeing him for the first time. Loud noises always rattled the young boy, and she was a force of nature in her own right. The delighted squeal was followed by a hurricane of words, touches, and hugs that nearly made Owen flee the kitchen for his life.

“Oh, it’s you! It’s Owen! I’ve heard so much about you that I already feel I know you. Aren’t you just the most adorable thing ever! I love your hair! Grandpapa, you didn’t tell me about how cute he is! He’s absolutely adorable. Owen, we are going to be the best of friends. Look, we are even the same height! I had imagined you would be shorter than me for some reason. But look, our noses almost touch!”

Owen stood straight as an arrow, feeling overwhelmed by the intensity of the girl. She was holding his hand one second, then mussing his hair the next, then tugging him to stand in front of her, comparing heights.

How to describe the whirlwind?

It was true, the duke’s granddaughter was his own height. Her hair, gathered behind a jeweled headband that glinted, was a darker brown than Owen’s, and went just past her shoulders. She wore a velvet dress the color of red wine that had sable fur at the wrists and the neck. She could hardly hold still, and he noticed that she wore a sturdy pair of leather boots beneath her hem that swished and swayed as she moved.

She noticed him looking at her feet and grinned, hiking up her skirts. “Do you like my boots? I love these boots! Look at all the buckles and straps. You could try and pull these off, but it wouldn’t work. These are my exploring boots. Do you like to climb trees and rocks? I love to climb! There isn’t any snow down here at Kingfountain, but up in the North, there is so much snow! These boots keep me warm, but they are also good for tromping in the snow. You don’t talk very much, Owen, do you? Grandpapa said you were shy, didn’t you, Grandpapa! That’s okay, but I’ve just been so anxious to meet you!” She wrung his hand and nearly yanked it loose with her shakes.