Page 102 of Oath of Rebellion

John pointed to the map. "As for the wasps, they're not real. They're mechanical. They can get into the castle and inject sleep dust with their stinger on anyone in our path. I can send them in first, then the rescue team can follow while the distraction team works here."

Knox frowned, leaning back in his chair and listening as his people formed a plan. They were wasting daylight, and his skin itched. It had taken them the rest of the day to ride from the dwarves to Vidrland. The need to move clawed at his stomach, twisting and turning ever since he'd left Eirwyn's side.

His leg bounced under the table, and most of the Robins ignored him. He thought of Eirwyn and killing the king. Vidrland, the Robins, Scarlet, everything else was all irrelevant.

When their plans were made, Knox stood slowly. All eyes turned to him.

"We created this place as a haven, a safe, peaceful place of freedom and equality. The king threatens the forest, he robs from his people, and when we do something about it, he retaliates tenfold. Not only that, but he's killed the princess."

Gasps echoed through the wooden lodge. Knox' jaw clenched as his stomach spasmed.

"In the past, we've tried to reason with him. We sent the petition to him, pleaded in the newspapers. Hells, we even sent letters to the Counsellor. His reign of tyranny ends tomorrow night. If given the chance, I will kill him. This isn't just a rescue mission for our people. It's a full out rebellion, and we will succeed. The first step is the rescue. Second step, rebellion. Third step, peace."

No one breathed as his voice went louder and louder. A soft breeze blew through the room, and he got goosebumps. Green smoke curled around his nose and sank to the ground. Those closest to him shuffled a few steps away, then Ashur slapped one of them on the back and grinned.

"Aye, well said, your highness. We ride at dawn if we're going to reach Demerel before dark. Tonight, we feast. Tomorrow... To the rebellion!" Ashur said, raising a fist in the air. Everyone joined in and began to chant and laugh as they walked out the door.

Little John remained behind, staring over the map and tapping his chin.

"Do you really think it'll work?" Knox asked the dwarf. He'd left his seven brothers in the north for adventure years ago, and Knox wasn't sure what he'd do without him.

John frowned and nodded. "I do, with a little luck and ingenuity, we can save them all, bless be Borga."

Knox sank heavily back in his chair. He didn't feel like joining the feast outside. He just wanted to curl up on his bed and dream about Eirwyn.

****

The next morning, they rode into Demerel two at a time, the distraction team staggering arrival times and from which direction they entered.

Knox rode along the edge of the forest away from Demerel and then turned to lead the rescue team.

He walked with Ashur, Will, John, and a few others into the forest until he couldn't see the edge of it anymore. Then he closed his eyes and called on the vines. A bird tweeted to his left, and he turned, somehow pulled to follow it.

The bird danced on a branch, and Knox looked down. At the base of the tree was a metal grate. He smiled and pulled on the metal, grunting with effort. Will dropped in first and lit a torch, then Ashur said a prayer and joined him. Another made a protection sigil and dropped in.

One other stood guarding their horses while John pulled out a metal, hand-sized box. He pushed gems on the side and they lit up. John nodded, ready to control the wasps.

Knox went down the metal ladder into the darkness below. A few seconds later, his eyes adjusted and the dizziness of the tight space passed. They were in a short hallway, the walls cold and wet stone. The hallway steadily went down deeper into the earth.

How had Eirwyn used this path to escape the castle time and time again, coming into the forest before turning to go back into Demerel? How had she done this multiple times, and he never knew or met her before?

Would their story be different if he had? Would they have spent years as mates? Would he have recognized her as the other half of his heart and swept her into the forest to live happily ever after?

He took a shuddering breath, green smoke curling out and sinking to the ground. Will waved to them, and they came to a stop in front of a wooden door. He handed the torch to Knox, and then knelt and pulled out two small metal pins from his pocket.

Knox arched a brow and reached for the handle, opening it with a loud creak. Will's brows rose, and he looked at Knox in surprise.

Knox grinned, and Ashur struggled to muffle a snort laugh. Knox pushed past Will and took the lead into a large room stacked with boxes.

They had found the cellar. Rows and rows of wine lined walls and shelves, and they walked past.

According to the map they'd memorized, there were two more doors. One led up to the kitchens. The other led down to the dungeon. They turned and went deeper, leaving one of them to guard the cellar.

When they reached the bottom of the stairs, another wooden door stood in their way. Knox reached for the handle, but found it locked. A small crack was in the peep window, but he couldn't see anything.

He stepped back and waved for Will and Ashur, wiping sweat from his brow. Ashur opened the jar and released the wasps, who wiggled through the crack and into the next room. He had no idea how John was controlling them with the little box, but he didn't care, as long as it worked. Will dropped to his knees and picked the lock.

Knox stood in the stillness, his stomach twisting and his forehead beading with more sweat. They were now deep underground, and he couldn't feel the forest. It was like the air had grown still and damp with death. His breathing turned shallow before Will pushed the door open.

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