Alistair didn't have a second to waste on his bone-deep exhaustion. He pushed himself to his feet, ready to go find Rowena right away.
But no sooner had he stepped out of the tavern's front door than a frantic shout stopped him dead in his tracks!
"Your Highness, Ninth Prince! Something terrible has happened!"
The estate steward came sprinting over, sweat pouring down his face and gasping for air, his features twisted with sheer panic. "The king has ordered the princess consort locked up in the dungeons!"
"What in the world is going on?" Alistair's heart dropped into his stomach, and he panicked instantly.
The steward hurried to explain, "All the generals guarding the border at this time are trusted subordinates the princess consort personally promoted. Now that the stronghold has fal
