Page 40 of Beholden
At my quiet statement, he backed away from Molly. From the severity of his expression, he clearly sensed the gravity of this moment.
“We must lead the slaves in an uprising tonight.”
He glanced at Molly and opened his mouth as though he might protest. But at her sharp nod in my direction, he narrowed his gaze upon me.
“I know it’s risky and past attempts have failed. But it’s possible we may win the overseers to our plight, and then we’ll only need to fight the guards.”
“If we don’t have weapons, we’re no match.”
I touched my sole. We had one knife against a dozen swords and countless arrows. Though Ty also had a knife in his boot, I refused to draw him into a battle of my making. “We have to calculate a way to steal their weapons, for our own use but also to immobilize them.”
“And I suppose ye plan to be the one stealing those weapons?”
I smiled but felt no mirth. “You’d be surprised what I can accomplish with my knife.”
Not only was I an expert with my seax, but I had desperation. And sometimes desperation was the mightiest weapon of all.
Chapter
14
Vilmar
I glanced upat the tower guardhouse. The candlelight in the upstairs room showed several guards around a table, drinking and gaming. From the open windows, they had a clear view of both barren-land and the bridge. While they were momentarily distracted with their cards and dice, they’d be at their windows the instant they heard or saw anything.
The moon overhead was a sliver in the sky, giving only faint light. So far we’d benefitted from the blackness as we worked for the past hour. In relaying the need to rescue Gabriella, Curly had gained the cooperation of several overseers. But he hadn’t been able to convince them all to join us in the rebellion. Those who resisted, we’d bound and gagged.
I’d given myself the task of eliminating the two guards standing watch at the southern and western edges of Slave Town. In sneaking up behind them, I’d been so silent they hadn’t heard my approach. I’d wielded my blade swiftly, jabbing into the weakest part of their armor before they could utter a sound.
In stripping them, we’d gained two swords and two daggers, along with their ill-fitting armor, which the others divided amongst themselves. Combined with the clubs and knives of the overseers as well as our mining tools and makeshift stone blades, I prayed we had enough to battle the remainder of the guards.
I eyed the dark span between the edge of town and the tower. The distance wasn’t far, but it was enough that the soldiers on duty could easily notice movement there. Would I be fast and stealthy enough to remain undetected? Even if I crossed successfully, I still had to make it up inside the tower and overcome the guards.
Such a battle would give them time to alert and awaken everyone in the soldier’s barracks. Additionally, if I didn’t gain control of the tower, the guards would pick off every slave who attempted to cross barren-land and would also have a clear shot at anyone who stepped onto the bridge.
Our escape hinged upon me capturing the tower and the three watchmen. If I could accomplish the feat, our battle against the remaining guards would still be difficult, but possible, although we needed every slave and weapon to earn our freedom.
But we had no guarantees. I’d pleaded with Curly that if anything should happen to me, he’d leave me behind and cross over so he could usher everyone else into hiding. I also made him pledge to stop Gabriella.
With another glance up at the tower room to ensure the guards were still busy with their nightly game, I skirted the hut closest to the edge of town, took a deep breath, and then sprinted forward into barren-land, keeping my steps light and soundless, praying the darkness would conceal me.
As I raced, I kept an eye on the room. At the sight of one of the soldiers rising and crossing toward the window facing me, I scooped up a large stone and tossed it as far as I could manage toward the ravine. At the clattering, the soldier paused and veered to the other side of the tower overlooking the bridge.
His two companions pushed away from the table and joined him, their bows at the ready. I had only seconds before they rounded their post and searched barren-land as well as the town beyond. Only seconds before one of their arrows pierced me.
I pushed faster and practically threw myself the last few steps against the base of the tower. I flattened my body to the stone wall and hoped the guards wouldn’t think to peer straight down, and that if they did, the shadows of the tower would conceal me.
At the soft puff of a breath beside me, I stiffened. In an instant I had my blade out and pressed against someone’s throat.
“It is I.” Ty’s voice was barely audible.
I dropped my knife and then held myself motionless. I couldn’t see the guards anymore, but from the quiet above, I knew they were still alert and searching for the cause of the clattering rock.
We didn’t budge. A short while later, when the guards’ voices drifted down to us, the sign they’d resumed their conversations, I allowed myself to breathe evenly. We’d escaped discovery, at least for now.
I leaned into Ty. “As I’ve put an end to my Testing, you’re no longer obligated to protect me.”
“I’m not protecting you,” he whispered back. “I’m helping you set these people free.”
