“Is Lady Isobel with Adora?” a knight asks.
“As far as we know, she’s still at the estate.” Rasha looks at King Sedric. “Supposedly awaiting your decision regarding her Dark Army. Although it’s clear she’s supporting Adora.”
The king nods but I’m not certain he’s heard. He just keeps looking at Eogan. And Eogan just keeps looking at me.
Blood pools in my lungs, echoing my trainer’s name from a cavern that is still screaming his betrayal, his guilt. I straighten my shoulders and move toward the high-up window just as something very large rams the door beneath.
CHAPTER 32
YOUR HIGHNESS,” ROLF CLIPS, “I RECOMMEND we attempt to move you to the back quarters until we can clear an escape route.”
The battering ram thunders against the door again, making the wood squeal just as a man’s sharp whistle erupts from behind us, beyond the door I came through. The captain of the guard solicits the king’s nod before releasing the handle, and another Faelen knight comes tumbling inside. The sounds of shouting and sword fighting ricochet around the room, dimming as soon as the wood’s slammed shut and the plank dropped in place.
“How many are there?” demands King Sedric.
“At the moment, forty to our twelve.” The newcomer sweeps an eye over me. “Thirteen if you count the girl.”
“Count the girl.” Eogan pulls two knives from his boot and glances at Rolf. “How fast are your men at climbing?”
“We have to help Colin and Breck,” I say.
The captain ignores me. “Fast enough, but the cliff is blocked.”
“It won’t be for long. I’d advise you to pick your two best guards to send with King Sedric and Princess Rasha up the ridge,” Eogan says. He looks back at me, his gaze gentle. “Are your horses up there?”
“They are. But what about Colin and Breck?”
“We’ll help them as soon as we’re able, Nym. Right now we’ve got to protect the king.”
He tips his head to King Sedric. “Your Majesty, I’ve no time to make apologies nor assurances other than to say I am not my brother, nor do I condone his actions. But I suggest you prepare to scale the mount—”
“I’ll not scuttle from a fight,” the king interrupts. “Especially one for my kingdom.”
“Your Highness, I respect your courage, but if you fall, so does Faelen. As long as you’re alive, your people have hope.”
King Sedric looks to argue further but instead turns to Rolf, who dips his head in agreement. The king pauses, followed by a firming of his jaw, and he turns me a look that seems to convey his agreement to our earlier conversation. “Fine. Let it be done.”
“When you reach the ridge,” Eogan says, “Princess Rasha will know how to find our warhorses. Take them and ride.”
The princess nods as the clamoring outside grows louder. She draws a knife from beneath her cloak, as if ready to take on the entire Bron force herself, and steps near the king.
She flutters a smile my way.
I swallow and nod, and try to ignore the sudden fear lurching up my spine.
“Aen, Frederick, you’re with the king and princess.” Rolf beckons two of the knights. “The rest of you come with me. We’ll hold them back until you’re safe, m’lord.”
He strides to the door, then peers back to ensure we’re all with him. The pounding outside is deafening.
I pull a knife from my boot and catch Eogan’s attention long enough to wish I hadn’t. Because what I see there looks very much like an emotion I don’t want to feel.
He tips his head at me and then stoops as the captain wrenches the door open.
As if on cue, the battering ram thrusts into the room along with four Bron soldiers. Eogan puts a knife through two of their throats before either gets beyond the first step. The other two are dispatched by Rolf’s men as three more appear with swords drawn. The captain and Eogan take them down.
Abruptly, the entire courtyard breaks into chaos.
“They’re over here!”
“It’s the king’s men!”
“King Sedric is over here!”
Clattering footsteps reverberate off the stones as excited voices ring out and the clang of steel shifts our direction.
In one morphing unit, our group scrambles over the battering log and dead bodies, surging out into the cold just as the evening sunset flares and flecks my vision with white and black spots. Half blind, I launch through the door only to feel a metallic edge swipe at me. I lash my blade out, but Eogan’s broadsword has already felled the man by the time I can see again. I jab my dagger toward another, but this time Rolf is there first. A helmet cracks above a chain-metal chest, and a spurt of red blossoms out on the fortress’s stones.
Oh litches, I don’t know how to do this.
I don’t know how to fight this way.
I glance around.