She glanced over her shoulder to see the four warriors in a huddle, talking among themselves. Miguel kept throwing his arms around in annoyance.
“Come on,” Em said, jumping to her feet and extending her hand to Cas. He glared at it. “You have to get that wound clean.”
He struggled to stand on his own, almost falling over in the process. He blinked, obviously light-headed from the loss of blood. “Why? Just kill me and get it over with.” He let out a strangled laugh.
“No one is killing you.” She gestured for him to walk in front of her, because she didn’t trust that he wouldn’t take off running. He didn’t stand a chance out in the jungle with that wound and no sword.
He walked past her and toward the river, casting a quick glance at the warriors. They all followed him with their eyes, and Em kept careful watch on Miguel’s bow and arrow. There were four warriors, and only she and Aren. Em didn’t think she could count Cas on their team, even if he weren’t injured. She had Aren, at least. He made their odds much better.
“Tell them you want to offer him as a trade,” Aren whispered to Em.
She looked at him quickly. “What?”
“Tell them you want him alive so you can trade him for Olivia. Fort Victorra will be well protected by Lera soldiers by the time we get there—tell them you have doubts that the warriors will be able take the area. He’s your backup plan.”
“That’s a good idea. They may actually go for that.”
“I think you should kill him, for the record,” he said. “But if you really can’t, I trust your decision.”
“Thank you,” she said as they approached the river. Cas stood near the water, a muscle in his jaw twitching. He looked at them suspiciously, obviously wondering what they were whispering about.
“How do you expect to boil water out here?” he asked.
Aren snorted. “How sad. Prince Casimir doesn’t even know how to build a fire. Life’s a bit tough without Mommy and Daddy’s maids, isn’t it?”
Cas flushed, his eyes sparking with fury, and Em cleared her throat.
“Aren, would you mind gathering some branches and kindling?” she asked. She pointed at Cas. “You. Sit down.”
He stood there for several seconds, like he wasn’t sure he wanted to obey her. But then he slumped to the ground, blowing a piece of hair out of his face. The warriors hadn’t moved; their heads were still bent together as they talked. She knelt down in front of Cas, careful to keep the warriors in her sight.
“What. Are. You. Doing?” He spit out every word, like it pained him to talk to her. “Why are you helping me?”
“It looks like you need it.” She knew what he meant, but she didn’t think she had the words to explain why she was helping him. Because I have feelings for you was too pathetic now, given the utter fury on his face. “Where are your guards?” she asked. “Why are you alone?”
“I imagine most of my guards are dead, thanks to you.”
“And almost everyone I ever cared about is dead, thanks to you,” Aren said as he dropped an armload of branches off.
“Aren,” she said softly, in a warning tone. He stomped away. She passed Cas her canteen. “You should have some water.”
He snatched it from her and took a few gulps.
Miguel turned away from the group of warriors, planting his hands on his hips. “Why are you giving him water? What do you expect to do with him?”
“He’s coming with us,” Em said. “As our prisoner. When we get to the Southern Mountains, I want to trade him for Olivia.”
Cas laughed, a hollow, almost manic sound. “Your prisoner. Wonderful. It’s so lovely to meet the real you, Emelina. You’re just how my father described.”
Em struggled to keep a neutral expression as she ignored him.
“Trade him and Lera will have their king back,” Miguel said.
“No, they’ll have a new king. A powerless one, since Olso will have full control of the country by then, I assume?”
Miguel just frowned.
“I’m not letting you kill my biggest bargaining chip. I made it clear when we entered into this agreement that my most important goal was to get Olivia. Once I have her, you can resume hunting down the royal family, if that’s how you want to spend your time.” After Cas has had time to get far away from you, she added silently.
“And if he tries to kill you again?” Miguel asked.
“Then I guess I’ll be dead.”
Miguel took the bow and an arrow off his back. He pointed the arrow straight at Em. “Enough of this. Koldo, Iria, grab her before that other one comes back. Move her out of the way.”
Koldo strode toward her and Em scrambled to her feet, reaching for her sword.
Iria jumped forward, grabbing Koldo by his jacket. “Wait, wait, wait.” She moved between Em and Miguel, extending her arms in either direction. “Let’s just calm down.”
Koldo stopped in his tracks, looking worriedly from Miguel to Iria. Miguel didn’t lower his arrow.
“She is not our prisoner,” Iria said. “We have control of the Lera capital because of her. All of this is because of her.”