“Got it?” Em asked Mariana.
Mariana blinked, throwing a baffled look at Weldon and Nic. “When did you start giving orders?”
“When I executed this entire plan while you were all hiding and running away.”
Mariana turned to Aren. “She really did all this?” He nodded. Mariana still didn’t look convinced.
“Get in position or get out of the way,” Em said.
Mariana hesitated for a beat, then gestured to Nic and Weldon. “Let’s get in position.”
THIRTY-SIX
CAS FOLLOWED GALO through a tall metal gate, a chilly wind causing goose bumps to rise on his arms. Fort Victorra cast a shadow over the lawn, and Cas raised his head to look at it. He hadn’t been to the fortress in years. It already felt oppressive, and he wasn’t even inside yet.
Lera soldiers and guards swarmed all over the lawn, and every head turned to watch him. A chill raced down his spine. They all took orders from him. They were all expecting him to have the answers.
He forced a smile as a familiar guard’s face lit up at the sight of him. Galo pulled open the thick wooden doors, stepping back to let Cas go first.
The guard to his right straightened as Cas stepped into the building. There were no windows, so it was dark and cool. The entryway was small and cramped. Cas went through a second door and found himself in a large, mostly empty room. Lanterns hung from the walls, casting a soft glow onto the stone floors. The stairway to his left led up to most of the rooms, if he remembered correctly, and also allowed access to the two towers. Several guards stood nearby, one positioned at each wall.
“Where are my mother and Jovita?” he asked.
“Upstairs in the east tower,” a guard said.
“And the prisoners? Is anyone besides Olivia down there?”
“No, Your Majesty. Just Olivia Flores.”
Cas leaned closer to Galo, lowering his voice. “Will you go down there and relieve any guards? Tell them they’re needed out front. I’ll meet you there in a minute.”
Galo gave Cas a questioning look, but he nodded and headed out of the room. Cas walked to the stairs, jogging up them and into the east tower. His mother and Jovita stood by the window in the small room. They both turned when he walked in.
“Tell me what’s going on.” He moved to the window, nudging Jovita aside. The sun was setting, and a soldier was lighting the torches around the building. It was quiet, the air thick with fear and tension.
“We’ve spotted some movement in the woods,” his mother said. “We think they’ll be attacking tonight. They were probably waiting for us to get here.”
“We’re their target,” he said.
“It might have been safer for you to stay hidden in the jungle,” Jovita added.
“Safer, maybe, but not a very brave choice considering we’re at war.” He cracked a knuckle as he said the word war.
“Why do you have a warrior’s sword?” Jovita asked, eyeing the blade at his waist.
“I took it from one after I killed him.”
“Did you come all this way by yourself?” Suspicion crept into her voice.
“Does everyone have orders?” he asked, ignoring the question. He gestured at the soldiers outside. “Do they . . . know what to do?” He knew nothing about leading an army into battle, and the question sounded stupid as it left his mouth.
“Colonel Dimas is the highest-ranking officer here,” the queen said. “I’d hoped General Amaro would make it in time, but she hasn’t arrived.” She paused. “Or she’s dead.”
“There are already plans in place to defend Fort Victorra in case of an attack,” Jovita said. “You should know that, Cas.”
He vaguely remembered those plans, and he rubbed his fingers against his head. “Forgive me if I can’t remember everything clearly right now, Jovita. I didn’t have guards to escort me through the jungle. I’ve barely slept since we were attacked.”
“Your Majesty?”
Cas turned to the source of the voice to find a short guard standing in the doorway. He looked at Cas nervously.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Your Majesty, but I’m not sure who I’m supposed to be reporting to right now.”
“It’s fine,” Cas said.
“We were just told to leave the dungeons—me and the other guards—and I just wanted you to know that we don’t usually leave Olivia with less than three guards and—”
“Is she dangerous?” Cas interrupted.
“Well, no, not anymore, but—”
“Then we need you fighting.”
The guard nodded and scurried away, mumbling an apology as he went.
The queen and Jovita regarded him with matching suspicion. He tried to keep a neutral expression on his face.
His mother touched his arm. “Cas, let’s get you something to eat and hide you in one of the rooms. Jovita and I can handle any problems that arise.”