Page 41 of Seven Ways to Kill a King
Cass realized that she was not merely asking about the killing of the king. Ginger had, somehow, suspected Miri was more than simply the trader girl Bean.
“Myrina,” he said, voice broken by an emotion he was too exhausted to name.
Ginger swayed and moved forward a step to keep from falling to her knees. “Myrina,” she whispered, her eyes going damp at the sight of the poor, broken princess. “Hugh, leave if you need to, but I will stay.”
Hugh crossed his arms. “I’ll not leave a daughter of the queen. What do you take me for, woman?”
“Then bar the door.” To Cass, Ginger ordered, “Take her to the bed. I’ll bring water and supplies.”
Cass collapsed into a chair beside the narrow mattress where he’d lain Miri, his arms so shaky and limp that he wasn’t certain he would be able to draw a sword.
Hugh was suddenly beside him, flask in hand. “Drink it,” he said.
Cass took one quick draw, coughed, and wiped an arm over his brow.
Hugh grimaced at the blood that covered Cass’s arms and face. “I’ve got the shutters drawn, and no one expects us to be about today, since we’ve just returned from the road. I cannot promise they’ll not send scouts, searching the houses for sign of the girl.” He gave Cass an appraising look. “Did you carry her all the way from the castle?”
Cass nodded but said nothing else. Hugh was right. They needed out of Ironwood before the queen ordered Edwin’s murderer found. But it was not the kingsmen who worried him. It was the sorcerers—Miri was covered in blood.
“Do you have a plan?” Hugh asked.
Cass stared up at him. “I have… I had friends.” He didn’t know if they were still alive.
Hugh nodded. “Aye. I’ll help you find them. If not, we’ll get you free.”
Cass’s aching hands curled into fists as feeling began to return to them. He’d just asked Hugh and Ginger to give up everything—their home and life and everyone they knew.
“Out!” Ginger ordered Hugh. “This wretched corset is coming off, and you’ve no business in the presence of a half-dressed princess.”
Hugh frowned at her but turned and did as she ordered.
Cass started to get up, but Ginger shoved her supplies into his arms. “Not you. You’re helping.”
* * *
Cass staredas Ginger wiped the blood from Miri’s wounds. They’d cut the dress from her body. Half the gown had already been torn to shreds and was thick with blood. But it had not all been hers. She lay beneath two thin blankets in nothing but her underclothes, the thin shirt, which—inside of her hem—held the trinket Miri’s mother had given her. It was the last possession of the dead queen, the only thing left aside from two daughters, who were captive to their fates.
“It’s not deep,” Ginger murmured of the cut beneath Miri’s neck, “but she’s lost a good deal of blood.” She held a hand out to Cass. “I’m ready for the needle. I’ll stitch this one up, check her over once more, then heat another batch of water so you can clean up yourself.” As Cass handed Ginger the supplies, she glanced back at him. “Do you have fresh clothes?”
He shook his head. All of their possessions, the horses and supplies, were at the manor near the castle.
“Light,” Ginger said.
The sunlight from the window was not enough, so Cass leaned forward with the lantern.
Ginger added, “We’ll get Sarah to find you something. She’s a good girl. Smart.”
Cass opened his mouth to protest, but he’d already put the girl in danger by her association with Ginger and Hugh.
“She’ll come with us,” Ginger said.
The thread tugged at Miri’s skin, and Cass had to look away. He’d seen a thousand battle wounds and injuries, but none had unsettled him as much as watching Miri tumble from the side of the tower. Not even when the sorcerers had taken Stormskeep, but Cass had only been a child then. He hadn’t realized what that day would cost him and everyone in the realm.
“The girl’s mother too,” Ginger said. “We’ll take you north and, once we’re in the mountains, head east. Hugh has family at Blackstone. We’ve an ample supply of jewels.”
“You will be repaid,” Cass promised.
Ginger cut him a sharp look. “Don’t insult our generosity. This is our duty as much as it is yours.”
