Page 13 of Claws of Death

The carriage slows at the edge of the forest, navigating a route off the main road and into the denser greenery where we can slowdown and take a breath.

“The towers above the tunnel are unmanned for that brief period of time when the guards change,” Pouly reassures me when the carriage stops and he hops into the cabin, making me look away from the opening door. “If they’d spotted us, they’d already be on our asses by now.”

He cuts a nervous glance at Lady Andraya, who grins in return. “Don’t mind me and my noble ears. We have enough foul-mouthedassesin our own ranks.”

The smirk on Pouly’s face allows me a glimpse of the man he would be under circumstances less dire and dangerous than this rescue mission he seems to have taken upon himself. “Well, I’ll assume those don’t look half as good in a uniform as mine.”

A hysterical sound bubbles up my throat, and both Pouly and Andraya give me their full attention.

“Ever since the demise of the Milevishja bloodline, there have been rumors that one of them survived. Rumors whispered only behind closed doors for fear a Jelnedyn could hear them and go after the supposed heir.” Lady Andraya’s gaze meets mine as she pauses, waiting for a reaction or for a verdict, I can’t tell.

In my chest, my heart races at the mere thought of someone knowing about my father—potentially about me—and never saying a damn word.

“Keep your calm, Ayna,”Kaira warns, her mental tone as weak as her posture as she rests her head against the back of her seat.

I force patience into my veins until Pouly places a gentle hand on my forearm, his dirt-streaked fingers familiar afterhim carrying me through the tunnels beneath the palace.

“A group of loyalists has been biding their time until the day a sign of the true heir emerged,” Pouly continues, and a shudder rakes through me at the meaning of his words.

“A sign?” Just to clarify.

Andraya nods. “A sign that it is time to step out of the shadows and fight for the rightful king or queen.”

“Queen,” Kaira throws in as she gives me a pained smile. With everything else going on, it’s easy to lose track of the countless cuts and bruises marring her person. How she can stay so calm and collected with Pouly’s and Andraya’s revelations is beyond me.

“While you were sleeping in silk sheets, Pouly and I had time to plot an escape,” my sister supplies, grimacing at me. “But that’s beside the point.”

“You’re safe with us,QueenWolayna,” Pouly reassures me, and my heart makes a heavy thud at the claim they put to my name.

Queen.Not of Crows but of Tavras.

Stars dance in my vision, and before I can demand to know how they pulled off preparing the rescue mission, I black out.

Stars illuminate the night as I wake to the absolute stillness of the carriage. I can’t tell how long I’ve been out, only that it must have been several hours. Across from me, Kaira’s head rests in Andraya’s lap like a child, and the lady’s handstrokes back the woman’s hair in a soothing motion that has nothing to do with the fierce noble whom I’d met at court.

“She’s been through a lot,” Andraya whispers when she notices I’m awake. “Erina and that Crow bastard were ready to break her. Had I not pulled her out of her cell, today might have been the day she would finally fall apart.”

“Why did you free her?” It should be a simple question, but the way the lady’s forehead creases tells me it isn’t.

“Anyone whose presence in Erina’s dungeon gives him such leverage over my queen needs to be saved.” Her hand stills on Kaira’s forehead, gaze drifting to the darkness outside the window. “When Pouly and I managed to sneak down to the dungeon this morning, she told us everything about how the two of you ended up in captivity.”

“She knew? About the rebellion?” My head hurts from more than just the aftereffects of the drug.

“Not before we met. But I’m convinced she’s all in, now that she knows.”

“Where are we?” Bracing one hand on the wall of the carriage, I sit straight, scanning the darkness outside. My stomach is upset just like it was after my first escape from Erina’s palace. Only this time, I don’t vomit right away. The drug is slowly leaving my system.

Beside me, Pouly is watching the outlines of the trees, his human eyes probably struggling to make out individual branches in the semi-darkness. My own eyes, however, see colors and shapes in the forest that make even this part of Eherea appear magical. Twigs weave into each other, reaching through moonlight like fingers through a cobweb. Wemust have stopped only recently, for the landscape looks nothing like the outskirts of Meer that were still visible when we entered the forest.

“North. You look better,” Lady Andraya notes, carefully reaching under the bench with her free hand to extract a bundle of gray cloth. “Here, eat some of this.”

When I don’t react, Pouly grabs it and unfolds the cloth, revealing a loaf of rye bread. “It’s as fresh as our plan allows.”

The glance he gives me makes me tilt my head to examine the round loaf. “You still need to tell me all about that plan.” I take the chunk Pouly tears off and nibble for a moment before I need to stop and wait for my stomach to settle.

“I was about to when you passed out.” Pouly’s grin is buoyant, but his posture is tense, as if he’s expecting an ambush any moment.

“I’m awake now.” I force down another bite of bread. If I want to get back to strength, I need food. And water.

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