I waited until Nyx knocked on the door, conferring the results of that night’s interrogation and distracting Paige for the moment I needed. “I am…” My breath hitched and I couldn’t speak.
The knight shifted against my brother’s casting, and his fingers touched my wrist. I started against the movement, and my eyes shot to Tallus’s face.
“D-don’t b-be s-sorry.” The words were crumbled and bare. “S-save u-us a-all.”
My brother placed his hand on top of Tallus’s and my own. “You aren’t alone.” His gaze conveyed everything he was too afraid to speak aloud.
I swallowed, my throat raw. My eyes stung from fighting so many tears. When did I become the villain of my own tale? Why should anyone place so much faith in a girl as flawed as me?
“I promise.” Could I honor that vow? Or would it—and all our dreams—go up in smoke the moment the lies fell away?
6
“It shouldn’t be you.” Ella’s beautiful face was splotchy and stained. “It shouldn’t be you, Ry.”
Darren and the rest of our guards were waiting by the horses while I said my good-byes. Alex stood next to his wife, clenching and unclenching his fists. He refused to say anything. He just gripped me tightly, his heart beating heavily against my own. Now that the rebel was healed enough to make the two-week trek to the palace, the Black Mage’s procession would be on its way.
I knew Alex regretted how fast things had come to an end and that he wanted to say more, do more—make amends. We’d shared two meals since Sir Maxon’s squad arrived, a bit of venison stew and then cold porridge the following morning, but there had been no opportunity to slip away. Not after Tallus. And now I was leaving. If looks could convey a word, then there was a story writing itself.
Some foolhardy part of me had hoped, upon hearing Darren’s plan for the keep weeks back at the palace, that I’d have the entire stay with my twin and his wife. But fate had a mind of its own.
So many tiny details were at play, and I knew it would be selfish to prolong a visit when the Pythian ships were closer to reaching our shores with every day that passed.
No, now I needed to focus on Tallus’s escape.
*
Freezing rain turned the entire mountain to slush. Snow melted away, leaving behind dark puddles and patches of ice. Mud splattered against our horses’ hooves, a splish-splash as the procession crawled up and down steep switchbacks on an ever-winding trail buried knee-deep in pine.
I couldn’t ask for better circumstances if I tried.
Storm clouds continued to roll across the cold winterscape, turning day into night and night into black. Thunder rolled in the background like the gods’ angry roar.
A couple more hours and we were forced to dismount and carry on by foot. Even war steeds weren’t immune to lightning, much less pelting hail and a slippery slope that grew worse with each step we took.
Eventually we were forced to make camp, several hours ahead of schedule, to wait out the worst of the storm. The King’s Road was adjacent to a meandering stream, one that had turned into a coursing river within the span of a day. It was a good source to wash in during the summer, but the current now was strong enough to overtake a man.
The group of us sat huddled around a hissing fire—it only held against sleet thanks to an alchemy potion that kept wood dry.
“Here.” Paige handed me an empty mug so she could pour steaming cider from a hot kettle nearby.
“Thanks.” I shot the knight a grateful smile before blowing on the steam and curling my fingers around its heat. The rest of our group was busy in conversation and Paige was never one for talk. Right this moment, neither was I. I was counting down the minutes, waiting for the moment my plan took effect.
“Do you think I should offer some to him?” The girl’s lips curled as her gaze slipped to Tallus, bound and gagged at the edge of our camp. “That filth that calls himself a knight.”
I flinched and made myself look away, focusing on Hadley, one of the mages who was preparing our dinner of dried herbs and hare stew. “He’s cold like the rest of us.”
“Humph.”
“It might prove useful if the prisoner doesn’t freeze. We need him alive.”
My guard grumbled as she poured another cup, cursing as she dripped hot liquid on her wrist, and walked over to Tallus with barely restrained disgust.
The only thing that spared Tallus of the fists of our party was the information he carried.
Two more hours, three at most. I made myself get up and join Hadley at the fire.
“Let me take over. I cooked plenty of meals for camp during the apprenticeship. You deserve a break.”
The Combat mage gave me a small smile. “It’s no bother. Cooking gives me something to do with my hands, and I’m never cold here.”
“Paige has a kettle of hot cider there.” I pointed to the second fire. “And truly,” I lowered my voice to convey my request, “I need a distraction. Thinking about that rebel after my brother…”
“Say no more.” The woman laid her rough hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I will make myself scarce. Call on me if you need help.”