Renegades (Hotbloods #3)

I kept my anxious thoughts to myself as we continued across Southern Vysanthe. After creeping through the barrier, we took an immediate left, clinging to the shadows of the mountainside and taking the less-traveled route to Regium. I missed the familiar sight of the fighting pits, even though it wasn’t a particularly pleasant landmark. Still, it was one that would have centered me, where I felt entirely disoriented. Everything below us looked the same, the landscape unchanging in its flat hostility, making me wonder if Korbin even knew where he was going.

An expansive plateau stretched out into the distance once we moved out of the protection of the mountain range. Barren wasteland rushed beneath us, the ground frozen and cracked, glistening with permafrost. Now and again, I’d catch sight of a twisted tree, its skeletal arms reaching to the sky as if in prayer, its leaves long since gone. There were settlements too, scattered around the flat landscape, though we were careful to give them a wide berth, knowing they might sound the alarm if they saw a squadron of soldiers approaching.

An hour later, the jagged peaks that surrounded Regium appeared in the distance. Their snowy caps glinted in the harsh sunlight, each one looking like the silvery tip of a spear, protecting the people within its guarded center. Instead of traveling toward the city, Korbin led us over a neighboring mountain range, before coming to a halt on a narrow ledge overlooking a black lake. Its frothing waves crashed against the slick cliffs that curved all around us.

Catching my breath, I stared down at the churning water and recognized the spot immediately. My head snapped up, and I felt a refreshed sense of panic as my eyes caught sight of the crystalline edge of the Observatory peering out just above our heads.

“Half of you are going to make the climb up to the Observatory to fit explosives along the underside of the building and in the joints that run along the wall,” Korbin explained, keeping his tone low. “This should cause the crystal structure to collapse in on itself, but we want to ensure maximum damage. So, I want the other half of you to get into the building itself and masquerade as citizens. Set explosives anywhere you can, though ensure they are well hidden. If we are discovered, it is unlikely we will make it out alive. Do you understand?”

Everyone nodded, though I longed to shoot back up into the air and keep flying until I was as far from everything as it was possible to be. I looked at Navan, and from his grim expression, he felt the same way. And yet, there was nothing we could do. If we betrayed Queen Brisha, our friends would suffer. And pissing off Brisha could potentially piss off Orion, if it would affect our standing with her. If we didn’t betray her, innocent southern Vysantheans would suffer. It was a terrible situation no matter which way we turned.

“You two need to stay outside the Observatory and stick to the outer perimeter,” Korbin declared, his gaze shooting toward Navan and me. “You’re too recognizable here, even in civilian clothes.”

I wasn’t sure if that was good news or bad news, but at least I wouldn’t have to look anyone in the eye as I set an explosive I knew would inflict pain and suffering on so many. Did that make it better? For me, perhaps, but not for those whose lives it might take.

“Of course, Commander Korbin,” Navan replied, while I’d lost all ability to speak.

“The explosives are self-sticking. All you need to do is place one on a surface and press the blue button once. This will keep it in place,” Korbin went on, his gaze darting around the assembled group. “Now, you need to press the button a second time to start the timer. Once you have done that, a light will flash. That means the explosive is primed and will detonate after a set amount of time. I have set the timer on each one. You have an hour to get out once the light starts flashing. Any questions?”

The group shook their heads, though I could see a glimpse of fear on each of their faces. It comforted me slightly to know they weren’t eager to do this either. And yet, nobody was mounting a rebellion, nobody was calling for it to stop, and I knew nobody would.

“Right, then get going!” Korbin said, separating the team into two groups. “Civilian team, make sure you fly up to the main entrance, so you look like you’ve come from the city. Outer team, keep yourselves hidden!” he added, ushering our group up the side of the slippery cliff face, while the others removed their military fatigues, revealing the civilian clothes beneath.

Our group was the smaller of the two, but I could sense the relief coming off my fellow trainees as we flew upward at a slow pace. I realized they were probably thinking the same as me—if they didn’t have to look their enemy in the eye, then surely that made it easier? I couldn’t entirely convince myself that was true, but I could understand the comfort that might come from it.

A few of the soldiers stopped at the underside of the Observatory, the steel base jutting out over the water. I grimaced as they removed a few of the explosives from their belts and fixed them to the outer surface of the structure, pressing the buttons in twice, as Korbin had instructed.

“Shall we head up?” Navan murmured, taking my hand.

I nodded, feeling wretched.

We clambered over the edge of the clifftop and crawled along the grass until we reached the outer wall of the Observatory. Through the transparent crystal, I could see all the people milling about inside. There were hundreds, if not thousands. At the very far corner, staring out at the choppy waters of the black lake, I saw the faces of coldblood children pressed to the glass, pulling faces and pointing out at the horizon. Nothing about this was right. Gianne had attacked her sister, and lives had been lost, that was true, but that didn’t make retaliation fair or just. Brisha was supposed to be the better one, the one whose side I thought I could take. But not now. Definitely not now.

“They’re all going to die,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. “There are children here, Navan!”

“There are so many coldbloods,” he breathed, seemingly in a world of his own as he gazed in horror at the building. “I… I didn’t think there would be this many.”

“There has to be something we can do,” I urged.