Page 14 of A Deception of Courts

I waited for some reaction. All I could hear was the thundering beat of my heart in my ears. Urgency propelled me forward, looking toward Seraphine and the figures of her fellow Asps as they had wormed their way around the crowds to prepare for the last hurdle.

“Freedomisclose,” I repeated, hoping those at the back of the crowd would hear me once my words spread through it. “I promise.”

“I’m sorry, Robin. They fought through me,” Seraphine said as she came to stand beside me.

“You did everything you could,” I replied, thankful for her help.

“I have instructed a small group of Asps to go searching for any strays. Forgive the fey for taking a chance to run, something we cannot blame them for. They’ve spent so many years down there, contemplating this day.”

“I just don’t want to fail them,” I admitted.

“You haven’t. It’s not over yet.” Seraphine shifted her gaze and whistled. The high-pitched sound cut through the murmuring crowd and stilled them into a state of momentary silence. More Asps began calling out with simple instructions and guidance about what was to happen next.

I stepped back and allowed the assassins to sink their claws of control into the fey and gather them in an orderly fashion that would see us toward the shoreline at the back of Lockinge Castle. To the boats that should stand by, ready to collect us and take us all home.

“You can’t worry about everyone,” Duncan said. I’d not heard him join us until his hand was upon my shoulder and his voice warming my soul from the outside in. “There comes a time you must accept that responsibility is something fragile.”

“Whilst I accept the Icethorn crown, I can’t accept that.”

“I just don’t want to watch it wear you down.” The determination that crackled across his face had that effect on me. What had I done to deserve his loyalty after everything my presence had done to him?

I winked at him, feigning a confidence that was becoming second nature to me. “I like when you worry about me.”

“Shall we turn the tables? I could go and help Seraphine’s Asps in the city and see how you like it.”

“I trust you don’t need me to tell you how foolish you would be to approve that,” Althea added, cheeks flushed as she interjected her opinion.

I nodded softly in agreement with her. “Duncan, you stay with me. I cannot save people if they don’t wish to be saved.”

“Then I wish them luck.” He offered me a sympathetic smile, then lifted a gaze toward the expanse of fey the assassins had begun shepherding toward the direction of the castle’s docks.

“They’ll need more than luck,” Kayne offered, still clutching at his nose. I could tell from the shadow behind his gaze that he meant every word with little sincerity. Already the freckles beneath his eyes seemed to disappear beneath the darkening bruise the fey woman had gifted him. Blood spread between his fingers, some even smudged across his chin.

“You know, mate, you should really get that looked at,” Duncan said, knocking his friend with a bump on his shoulder.

“Fuckyou,” Kayne replied, searching the skies for Lucari, who would have squawked with shared anguish at his broken nose.

We made it around the castle without another issue to deal with. My mind, although still locked on the group of fey who left us, was thankful that those who stayed were not under threat. There were no Hunters who came out to stop us. The presence of Kingsmen was also non-existent. The further we made it toward the rear of the castle, the more dread settled within me. Amplified by Althea, who seemed to pluck the worry from my mind and speak it into existence.

“This should not be so easy,” she said, keeping her voice low to prevent the fey from hearing her concern. “It doesn’t seem right.”

“Thank Altar it is,” I replied, trying to force confidence into my tone whilst clinging onto the presence of my magic in case the moment required it.

“Admit it, something is not right about it,” she continued. “The castle istooquiet. We have met no resistance when there have been many opportunities for it. I can’t help but feel that Aldrick wants this to happen. He practically opened the door and allowed us in. He may as well have offered us a warm meal and a soft bed to sleep on.”

I didn’t wish to agree out loud for fear that what she spoke was true. Instead, I kept my gaze fixed on the mass of fey that thundered through a corridor deep within the castle. As Seraphine had previously confirmed, we passed heaps of humans who looked as though they slept on the floors, others in a deeper slumber with throats sliced and bodies covered in blood.

But where was everyone else? Where was the human king, who had become a puppet for Aldrick? He’d not been previously confirmed as another number of the dead in the days that followed our initial escape. What about the servants who should have filled a castle? Perhaps they were hiding within many of the rooms, or they had run when the first signs of our ambush had occurred. It could not have been the latter as the Asps hadn’t seen anyone flee the castle when we’d been deep in the prison beneath. And the castle, as Althea had said, was far too quiet to suggest that anyone was within it at all.

Burying the dark thoughts deep in the pit of my being, I focused on keeping one step ahead of the other. We were so close to the promised freedom, the plan almost over. Focus was important to seeing it through to the end. Not looking back, but forwards.

“We cannot afford to contemplate failure,” I said, pinching my nails into the skin of my palms. It was the only thing to keep them from shaking. “It’s not an option. I won’t allow it.”

“Tell me that again when we are safely aboard our ships. I wish to never look back at this place again,” Althea replied. “I’m ready for a proper bed, a nice meal and something to wear other than fighting leathers.”

“I get the impression you still don’t forgive me for refusing to return to Wychwood.”

“It would have been a lot easier than this.” Althea glanced my way, lips pulled into a thin line as she contemplated her next words. “But not nearly as thrilling. This will forever be the bravest thing I’ve known someone to do. I admire your decision, Robin. I only wish it never had to happen. All these years and the courts… we continued on, complacent with the shared belief that they’d all died. We failed them, over and over.No more.”

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