Merrick tried to take on his cousin directly but a large torrent of power knocked him off his feet before he had the chance. Priscilla and I raced forward with our halberds and got the two mentors to surrender before they could cast out anything else.
As soon as the mentors had said the words Priscilla and I went back into the safe house while a Restoration mage came forward to escort the two out of the city. The woman bore a red silk robe that proved she wasn't a part of battle in case any of the others came across her while she escorted the surrendered apprentices to the palace infirmary.
"Erik, do you have any more of that healing balm? It looks like Ry needs some for her leg and I need you to see to my shoulder."
My head swiveled to Priscilla. I couldn't keep the surprise from showing on my face. Now that we were out of danger she was still helping me.
"Don't look so surprised, lowborn, I'm not about to let my disgust for you as a person keep me from trying to secure a victory." Priscilla's tone was anything but kind.
Well, that at least made sense. She wanted to win, even if it meant playing nice.
I took a steadying breath as the Restoration apprentice treated the deep gash on my leg. It had happened when I'd tried to save Phillipe, my second-year partner. Much good it had done me. "How long have you been hiding out here? Have you seen any of the others?"
Priscilla sniffed. "I got here a half hour before you did. And no, I haven't been reckless enough to risk my neck without backup. I have no idea where the others are."
"I think we should go find them." I helped the apprentice finish wrapping my leg.
"Are you mad? You only just got here!"
"But what about Ray and Ella? What if they didn't find each other like we did? We can't let the mentors pick us off one by one! Like Eve said, we only have strength in numbers when we are going up against the mentors!"
"We should wait for them to find us. How do you know they aren't already together? Maybe they are with Darren and Eve."
"Priscilla, don't be a coward."
"I helped you, didn't I?"
"Well, help me again. Help our whole team."
"I am helping the team. I'm helping the ones in here right now."
Ruth interrupted Priscilla. "You know Ry is right. You two have to find the others. Eve's plan stated you were only to use the safe houses if you were injured or alone. Once you have help you need to go back out there and fight."
****
Priscilla kicked a pebble across the street, sulking, as she studied the houses behind us. We were back-to-back scouting as we made our way through the southern streets of Devon. Both of us were looking for any of our teammates, another safe house, or potential enemy mentors.
"I hope you know what you are doing."
I didn't respond. All of my senses were focused on the path in front of me. If we came across a pack of mentors we needed to spot them before they us. We could not afford to get caught off-guard. Again.
"Don't think that I didn't know you were trying to steal Darren away from me in Port Langli."
That caught my attention. It took all my effort not to divert focus as I said quickly, "Priscilla, now is not the time."
"But it's the only time I don't have to worry about running into you with your pack of friends. So, yes, now is the time."
I felt my face start to heat up. My blood was racing and I knew it had nothing to do with the stagnant landscape in front of me. I forced myself to swallow. "It was a mistake - I thought he loved me." It hurt to say the words aloud. Especially because if I said much more I knew the pain would come flooding back, and I'd be powerless to stop it. No matter what I said or how I acted, I still loved him. It was a disease I was fighting to cure.
"Let me let you in on a little secret, lowborn: he doesn't love me either."
I stumbled and barely had time to catch myself.
"He never has. Probably never will. But that's the way of the Crown and you of all people should know better than to try and change him. If you want proof, just look to Shina – excuse me, Princess Shinako - the next time the two of them are together." Priscilla sounded bitter.
"What are you talking about?"
"People like Darren place power – and wealth - above all else. If Blayne hadn't secured that princess Darren would have done so himself. It doesn't take a fool to see what he's after."
"You don't love him?"
Priscilla laughed. "Love Darren? Of course not. Love is for fools not smart enough to see the path in front of them. That's the difference between you and I, Ryiah. I see the truth and accept Darren for what he is. You just see what you want to see. It's why I will wear the crown and bear his children while you are left wondering why you were never good enough."