Page 41 of Beholden
My next admonition—for him to cease following me—stalled on my lips. After the past weeks in the mine pits and all the hardship we’d witnessed, was it possible that, like me, Ty could no longer remain passive but was compelled to fight for justice and mercy?
He ducked closer. “We will have a better chance at taking control of the tower with two of us working together.”
I nodded. Especially because Ty also had a knife concealed in the sole of his boot. Though I hadn’t seen him fight before, any amount of assistance would help, no matter how small. I also hoped to use the element of surprise to our advantage.
Ty and I would be outnumbered, and the tower guards would have time to sound the alarm and call for reinforcements. I had no choice but to take control of the tower if we had any chance of crossing the ravine. Hopefully, Curly and his men could hold at bay the other guards while everyone else made it across.
After long minutes elapsed and the guards began conversing again, I nudged Ty, and we rounded the tower until we reached the door. I tried the handle, but it was locked. I’d suspected it might be and thrust the tip of my knife into the keyhole, hoping to break it loose without making too much noise.
Ty pushed my hand out of the way. Before I could protest, he inserted the narrow tip of one of his quill pens. He fiddled for a few seconds before we heard the softclickof the lock turning. I moved to swing the door open, but he stopped me again, this time dripping some of his ink onto each of the door hinges.
Once he finished, the heavy slab moved soundlessly, and he stepped through. Surprised and grateful for his ingenuity, I followed on his heels, willing for him to take the lead, as he would need to use his ink to soften the squeal of the door at the top of the tower.
Through the dark, we climbed the steps with only the occasional squeak of a board. When we reached the landing, the light glowing from underneath the door illuminated enough of the stairwell to see that this entrance wasn’t locked. Even so, Ty used his ink on the hinges.
I held my seax at the ready. When Ty pocketed his ink pot and placed a hand on the door, I halted him. I motioned to myself, indicating that I wanted to go in first.
He shook his head and pressed a thumb to his chest. Then with a sharp nod, he pushed the door. It slid open, and he slipped inside before I could jostle ahead of him. With a burst of frustration, I prayed he wouldn’t get in my way or do anything to jeopardize this mission.
When I stepped in after him, he’d already crossed halfway to the closest guard before any of the three noticed he was in the room. At the sight of him, they sat up, uttered oaths, and began to scoot back from the table. But before they could stand, Ty flew at the first guard, silenced him, and was already diving for the second.
Concealing my knife, I lunged for the last one. He unsheathed his sword and swept it toward my midsection, clearly expecting to have the advantage against an unarmed slave.
With his arm upraised, I angled my knife into the weak spot of his hauberk, plunging it deeply and twisting hard before retracting it.
At the sight of my knife covered in his blood, his eyes rounded with disbelief. Then his gaze darted to his companions, both dead upon their benches and slumped on the table. He spun and fumbled for the bell rope dangling from the ceiling. Before he could touch the cord, I threw my seax, so it impaled his hand. He grabbed at the rope with his other hand, but another knife stabbed into him, this time into his neck.
With awhooshthat was likely his attempt at a shout, he crumpled to the floor, knocking his bench over, before lying listless.
Ty wasted no time in crossing to the man and making sure he was indeed dead. As Ty retrieved our knives, I peered out at the town, praying the other guards hadn’t been awakened by the ruckus. At the ensuing silence, my pulse surged with relief.
Was it possible we would be able to leave without a major battle?
I motioned toward the town, hoping Curly would see my command and start sending everyone to the bridge. A moment later, people began to step into barren-land, cautiously at first, but then faster as no one opposed them. At a sharp whisper from someone, they slowed so the noise of footfalls in the rocks wouldn’t penetrate the guardhouse.
As the first of the slaves drew near, I waved them onward to the bridge and prayed it would hold fast until the last person crossed to the other side—which I intended to be me.
Ty moved to my side and handed me my knife, wiped clean. His olive skin glistened with perspiration. He’d been small and thin before entering the mine and now was even more so. But he radiated strength as he held out a chain-mail hauberk and leather belt he’d taken from the dead. He’d already donned the gear for himself, along with a host of weapons.
“I’ll hold the tower until the last person crosses,” he said.
I tugged the other hauberk over my head, a veil of shame slipping over me at the same time. I’d underestimated Ty’s abilities. More than that, I’d scorned my need for him and had been nothing but irritated by his hovering presence. As I let the shirt of mail fall to my thighs, I met Ty’s gaze. “I owe you an apology. I have let my pride dictate my actions toward you. Instead of accepting you graciously as I ought, I have resented your presence during the Testing.”
“You have been nothing but considerate, Your Highness.”
“I only wish I’d realized my shortcoming earlier.”
“It is not entirely your fault, Your Highness. I have done my share of holding myself back so I might remain objective.”
I strapped on my belt along with the scabbard. “Let us vow to put aside the boundaries of the Testing now that I have forsaken it.”
“Very well, Your Highness.” He bowed his head. “Although, I should still like to record the details of our days, if Your Highness will allow it.”
I didn’t know what good such an account would be, and I didn’t know if I wanted my father or the Lagting to read about this revolt and my part in it. But ultimately, they would need to know the reason I’d neglected to follow through with the Testing.
“If you wish, you may continue your records.” I could no longer worry about disappointing my father and all the people who’d been counting on me to become the next king. “Perhaps through your accounts, everyone will come to understand—and even forgive me—for choosing to help these people over gaining the kingship.”
Ty gave a slight bow before he returned to the closest soldier and divested him of the remainder of his weapons.
