A Soul for Vengeance

Chapter 31



The sun was setting when Kell caught his first glimpse of Trivinus. The castle still sat on top of the hill, silhouetted by the dying light. It was strong, resilient, having survived dozens of kings and a handful of takeovers over the centuries. And it was the one place he called home.

An army flanked the city’s north side. Ortono had arrived and was positioning his men as ordered. He looked to the west, expecting Fermo’s men to be approaching, but saw nothing. A wad of unease lodged in the center of his chest. Zara had always been suspicious of the duke’s loyalties. Had Fermo finally betrayed them?

Bynn’s jaw hardened as he took in the same scene. “I expected Fermo to be on time.”

“So did I. We need his men if we want to have any chance of reclaiming Trivinus.” Kell scanned the heavily armed walls using a spyglass. “The Thallians are ready for us.”

“But are we ready for them?” Dev asked, coming alongside him with Arden. “Something tells me we may have to shift our plans.”

The lump in his chest grew larger, pressing on his lungs. “I hope Zara was successful in carrying out her plan.” And I hope she’s still alive when I find her.

Bynn nodded, his face tense with the same worry. “Niestro said she’d been feeding them the nightmare dust. Now that we’re here, she’ll stop and send them into the withdrawals.”

The combined armies from Bynn’s camp and Gravaria continued their march toward the city. By nightfall, they’d come as close as they dared and set up camp. Ortono joined them for a sparse meal as they discussed their options. No one dared to mention the missing ranks over the meal, but the cautious light in everyone’s eyes showed they were all thinking about it.

“We’ll need to spread our men out thinner than we’d planned to make sure we can encircle the city,” Kell said, rearranging the figures on the map that represented their army.

Bynn merely nodded, but Ortono’s cheeks flushed. “And what about Fermo?”

Kell closed his eyes and massaged the pounding artery along his temple. He’d threatened the duke, and this was the consequence. “Once we capture Trivinus, I’ll deal with his treason just as I said I would. Right now, we need to take advantage of our current situation.”

“There were at least ten thousand Thallian soldiers in the city at last count, Your Majesty, and the gates have all been sealed with magical barriers.” Anger laced the young captain’s voice. “I was there when they invaded. I saw what they were capable of doing, how quickly they destroyed our forces. We can’t take them on with our current numbers.”

“Then we lay siege to them,” Bynn countered. “Winter’s over, and we can be quite comfortable outside these walls for months.”

“Until the Thallians send more soldiers to surround us.” Ortono circled the figures on the map. “Besides, if we lay siege to the city, we won’t only be starving the Thallians—we’ll be starving our own people.”

Redness crept up Bynn’s neck. “Do you have any other suggestions, Captain?”

Ortono’s face hardened, his experience as a member of the Royal Guard adding weight to his voice. “The tunnels.”

Dev shook his head. “We can’t take those. Arden caved them in when she battled Sulaino.”

“She caved in one of them.” Kell crossed his arms, mulling over Ortono’s suggestion. “There is a tunnel from the river to the inside of the castle, but I worry the Thallians might have already sealed it.”

“There’s only one way to find out, Your Majesty,” the captain replied, daring him to try.

“It’s too risky, Kell.” Bynn traced his finger along the river on the map. “You’d have to come in this way and escape the notice of the Thallian guards on the wall. The river’s too swift at this time of the year to swim.”

“You can always use a small boat with a tarp over the top.” Parros’s suggestion silenced the hot tempers. The old knight joined them at the table and stared at the map. “Lady Zara used that ploy more than once with success. A hollowed-out log would work in a pinch.”

At the sound of her name, Kell was reminded that the one person who understood how to make the most of their resources, the true leader of the rebellion, was locked inside the castle. His chest tightened with worry. What he wouldn’t give to have her next to him right now.

Voices shouted outside his tent. Shadows moved, depicting a scuffle between the guards stationed outside and someone else. “I have a message for the king.”

The king. Him. The title was still too new to him. Without the castle in Trivinus, Kell was nothing but an imposter, a man who wore the title but had nothing to show for it. “Let him in.”

The guard brought a boy too young to be called a man and yet old enough to draw a sword into the tent. Mud caked his clothes along with blood, both fresh and old. When they released him, he fell to his knees and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I come bearing ill news from the Duke of Fermo.”

Kell’s chest tightened. What did Fermo want? More land? Titles? Zara? He kept his voice steady as he asked, “What is your news?”

The boy’s voice caught as he tried to speak, but not from fear. Agony squeezed his face, and his words came out as a sob. “My lord is dead, Your Majesty. The Thallians intercepted us on our way here.”

The silence of shock filled the room. Even Kell needed a moment to take in this information. Fermo hadn’t betrayed him.

“My lordship fought bravely, giving his own life for the kingdom, Your Majesty. So many of our men perished by his side.” A tear streaked through the filth on his cheek. “Before he drew his last breath, my lordship ordered me to come here and warn you.”

Kell knelt beside him, placing his hand on the boy’s shoulder to comfort him. He’d misjudged Fermo—badly. “How far away are the Thallians?”

“Two, maybe three days, Your Majesty.”

A whispered curse hissed through Bynn’s teeth, the only sound in the tent other than the messenger’s grief.

Kell turned his attention to the leaders gathered with him. Time was running out. They needed to act now, and act as one. He leveled his gaze with each of them, not leaving until he had confirmation they would stand behind him. Once he had it, he stood and addressed the guards. “Please see that he’s taken care of.”

The guards escorted the messenger out while he returned to the map. He stared at the bend in the river that cradled the castle. Zara’s plans always seemed to border on madness, yet they’d always been successful. Ortono’s plan had the same vibe to it. It was crazy enough that it might actually work. “Do you know where we can get a boat?”

A hint of a smile played on Ortono’s lips. “Yes, Your Majesty. We used every one we could get our hands on to cross the river on our way here. I have the perfect one for this mission.”

Bynn stepped in between them. “You’re not seriously considering this, are you?”

Kell pushed him aside on his way to Arden and Dev. “I’ll need some magical backup.”

Arden grinned, the green ring in her eyes glowing brighter. “You’ll have us and more.”

“Think about what you’re proposing.” Bynn tailed after him as Kell threw on an extra tunic to keep him warm. “This borders on suicide.”

“You said that about Zara’s plan, but she managed to infiltrate the palace and feed the nightmare dust to the Triumvirate.” And I pray she’s still alive when we get there. He stopped his friend’s protests by turning to him. “I’ll need someone I trust to watch my back. Someone who’s good with a lock pick. Are you in?”

Bynn’s mouth opened, then closed.

“Your sister’s in there, Bynn. She’s risked her life to smooth the way for us. Now, it’s our turn to follow through.” He held out his hand. “Are you with me?”

Bynn stared at his hand for several long seconds before accepting it, pulling Kell into a hug. “I’m with you every step of the way, old friend.”

“Thank you.” He pulled back, addressing the remaining men in the tent. “Ortono, Fane, Parros, I’m leaving you in charge of the army. If we fail, I’m turning the rebellion over to you three.”

Ortono stepped forward, accepting the responsibility on behalf of the other two knights. “We won’t let you down, Your Majesty.”

“Now, tell me we can get my hands on that boat.”

Zara never thought she’d welcome death with open arms.

Ermane had chained her to a chair in the center of the room. The cold metal was the only thing that kept her from slumping to the floor. The day of torture had battered her body, filling it with the cold sting of metal followed by the searing streams of blood, but so far, she’d managed to keep it from breaking her mind and spirit.

Ermane circled her like a wolf, twisting a long thin blade in his hand. He’d given up on using magic to hurt her hours ago. His eyes blinked irregularly. His mouth jerked at odd moments. His body twitched like there was a mouse crawling under his robes. But he seemed to be oblivious to signs of the withdrawals, even though they hadn’t completely claimed him yet. “Where is the prince?” he asked again.

She refused to think about Kell, refused to give Ermane the slightest hint of information when he plundered her mind. If she didn’t let that information rise to the surface, then hopefully, it would continue to elude him. She gave him the same response she’d always given him. “I know nothing.”

“You’ll have to break soon.” He laughed manically, swiping the blade along her arm to produce a fresh stream of blood.

Zara gritted her teeth. The sting of pain was nothing new. He’d cut her before, letting her blood seep from her veins. His magic always followed, healing the wound so he could repeat it all over again. “I know nothing.”

Shouts filtered down the hallways along with the rattling of distant doors. Hope swelled inside her, only to be squashed a second later. She was deep in the heart of what had been the king’s private chambers. Ermane had cast layer after layer of magical barriers when he brought her here. No one would be able to get to them. No one would be able to rescue her.

He pulled her head up by her blood-matted hair. “Perhaps we should try something different. Where is the prince?”

“I know nothing.”

This time, he plunged the blade into the right side of her chest. Her breath froze, and her eyes popped open. Her mind burned, screaming for this to end.

Ermane laughed, twisting the knife inside her and sending new waves of agony pulsating through her body. He pulled it out with the sick slurp and dangled the blood-covered steel in front of her. “Did you like that?”

She struggled to swallow air, her vision growing dimmer with each frantic breath. “I know nothing.”

A sheet of magic surrounded her, easing her pain and healing the injured lung. Ermane stared at her with a feverish glow of sick curiosity, still holding her head up by her hair. “No, don’t you go dying on me yet, Zara. You see, the glory of magic is that I can take you to the brink of death over and over again, only to heal your wounds enough to bring you back. I can do this,” he said as he stabbed her chest again, renewing the hot poker of pain, “as much as I need to until you break.”

“I. Know. Nothing.” Those three words had become her meditative mantra. As long as she kept saying them, she knew Ermae would never discover what he wanted.

He pulled the knife out, healing her again. “We’ll see about that.”

Each time he stuck the blade in her chest, her stomach, her side, a little piece of her life force slipped away from her. His healing magic came sooner with each injury. He knew she was dying bit by bit, but he refused to let her surrender to death. “Tell me where Prince Kell is, and I’ll let you die.”

Zara met his gaze, wondering if he meant what he said. Death would be bliss compared to what she was going through now. She’d never tell him the truth, but would it be worth giving him a lie so this would all end? The cold, numb abyss of death beckoned to her. She wrestled with her conscience before replying, “I know nothing.”

Shouts now came from the courtyard below, rising through the open window and bathing her with a moment’s respite. She hung on the words she could make out. Slaves. Revolt. Ranellians. The corners of her mouth rose. She might die, but others would carry on her mission.

Ermane paused long enough to listen to the same shouts, his face twisting with fury when he turned back to her. “You never stood a chance with your little rebellion.”

She let her grin widen. Time to give him a different answer. “You’re wrong.”

A howl of frustration spilled from his mouth before the blade swiped across her throat.