Trial by Fire

Actually, I do.

Juliet sent Lily images of where the scientists were. She walked Lily through how to get from one cell to another, as if she had been down in those dungeons many times. Lily saw that each scientist was being kept on a different level of the dungeon, as far from each other as they could possibly be.

You’re the best. One last thing. Are they going to be in their cells all night?

I think so. Should I ask what’s going on, or should I just keep out of it?

You’d better keep out of it. I’m sorry, Juliet.

It’s okay, Lily. Just don’t do anything stupid.

How are you? You seem strange.

Um … you just worry about yourself, Lily. I’ll be alright.

Lily felt Juliet break the connection and frowned.

“What is it?” Rowan asked.

“It’s my sister,” Lily said. “She’s acting all cagey and weird. I don’t like it.”

“Did she tell you where the prisoners are?” Tristan asked.

“Yeah,” Lily said, distracted. The guys shared a look.

“Do you think we can trust her information?” Caleb asked. Lily glared at him. “I’m just asking, Lily,” he said, backing off. “It seems to me like she’s hiding something.”

“Shh,” Tristan hissed.

There’s someone behind you.

Lily and Caleb shut their mouths, and they all turned to stare conspicuously at the man and woman loitering behind them until they moved off. The sachem had ordered that the rescue attempt be kept top secret. There were spies on both sides of the walls and you never knew who had been turned or when. Esmeralda had proved that.

What did Juliet tell you? Rowan asked.

Lily showed them all the images of the dungeons that Juliet had shown her, and in a few seconds, they were discussing strategy in mindspeak. There were still a few more hours until dark, and the team used that time to gather the supplies they’d need, then eat. Rowan spent half of supper arguing with them in their heads.

I still think Lily should stay here. She can charge us with enough energy to get over the wall and back, Rowan thought.

Tristan looked at Rowan angrily and answered him. If something goes wrong in the dungeon—if we have to fight our way out and we use up what she gave us—Lily won’t be able to give us any more energy with all that granite in the way. We’ll be trapped, Ro. And we’ll all hang, the scientists included.

I’m going, and that’s final, Lily thought as gently as she could. Rowan’s eyes flashed, but Lily shook her head, stopping him. I mean it, Rowan. I’m going or this isn’t happening.

Rowan pursed his lips in an expression that Lily was getting to know quite well.

Let’s go over how to detonate a pocket bomb again, he thought.

Lily saw Caleb roll his eyes and laughed, but went through the sequence of pin, lever, clip for the hundredth time anyway for Rowan’s sake.

The camp settled down for the evening. There was a heightened tension in the air. As Lily walked back to her tent to change out of her dress and into darker wearhyde clothes, she could hear music being played around the campfires. Some songs were rousing, martial songs, others sad, like the singers were already lamenting the people who would be lost in the pending battle.

As Lily neared her tent, she paused to listen to one woman with a haunting voice. She sang with her eyes closed, her back arched slightly and her head tipped back, as if the music were trying to leap right out of her heart and into the sky.

“I love this song,” Rowan whispered in Lily’s ear.

“It’s beautiful,” Lily agreed. She felt Rowan take her hand.

Thank you, Lily.

For what?

For proving me wrong.