Y5: Paladin

Title: PALADIN
Genre: YA Fantasy
Word Count: 91,000

When the enemy tortures seventeen-year-old Grey and she betrays
secrets that can destroy her kingdom, she must fight to redeem
herself, except her only chance will condemn her people and saving
them means her death.

Hidden in the secret passageways, I knew two things: sound meant
danger, and in the midst of war a palace was never quiet. Heightened
security drew home soldiers and knights alike, to protect their king
with heavy bootsteps and drawn swords. The courtiers fought with
words, the squires dreamed their battle cries. And underneath it all
ran an endless whisper from kitchen scullions to paladins.

Will the war reach us? What will happen?

But today was different. In the early hours of the morning, the whole
world slept. The guards stood watch on tiptoe. The palace kitchens,
usually bustling, were quiet, and the cellar door didn’t creak when I
pushed it open and peeked through.

The kitchens spanned the entire western wing, three large halls clad
in darkness. Four escape routes, though only one within reach.

Across the room, a young cook’s mate slumbered next to the dwindling
flames with North, the fat red cat, draped over his knees.