Page 88 of Chaos and Destiny
I wasn’t sure where the other entrance was other than somewhere on the opposite side of the castle. As I ran, I considered what River had said. Could it have been rebels just unaware of his eavesdropping, or did we truly have someone within the rebellion who was that careless with information? We would need to be far more careful going forward. The rebel compound would now be days from me, so I wouldn’t be able to attend meetings there. I wondered with it being a less central location if they would call meetings to different places scattered throughout the north.
I moved to the edge of the forest on the other side of the castle and searched for footprints in the snow. The soldiers had come to this entrance, so there must have been proof somewhere. I searched until I realized I hadn’t gone far enough. I could hear rather than see a group of males huddled together in the distance. They were hidden within the tree line, which meant if I went closer, I wouldn’t be able to watch the skies for Rhogan.
I crouched low behind a tree with a wide trunk and waited. Watched. There was movement ahead as soldiers exited. I recognized very few of them until Eadas himself walked out grinning like he’d won a crown. He carried a log chain over his shoulder, and I didn’t have to look to know what—who—he dragged behind him.
They had tied Rhogan’s hands in front of him and dragged him on his giant black wings through the thick forest. He had broken arrows coming out of every limb, and when I heard him groan, my body lurched toward him. I couldn’t save him though. There was nothing I could do. I’d never be able to fight all of the soldiers unarmed, and if I tried to free him, they’d know my involvement. Doing anything for him would be suicide, and the hardest part was knowing that it was my fault. I was the one who had sent him for more supplies. I had rushed him out the door before considering the king’s moves. Whatever happened to Rhogan from this point forward was on my hands.
I knew who they thought he was. A massive male caught trying to enter the tunnels with supplies? Eadas thought he had caught the rebel leader. Which meant his heart would be delivered to the king on a gods-damned silver platter.
When it was safe to leave, I snuck back to the castle, crossed the bailey, and waited behind the stables where I had told Roe to meet me. It took him forever. I’d begun to pace and rub my knuckles, worried he had been caught, but when he rounded the corner, my heart stopped as I took in his condition.
“It was only a tumble, Tem. All is fine.”
“The traps are set?”
“Just as you told us,” he answered. “The others are just waiting for the signal.”
“You’re sure everyone is in place and your friends were able to sneak back out?”
“Gron had a bit of trouble, but I made sure everyone is ready.”
“Are there still soldiers in the tunnels?”
“Yes, but there’s no telling how many. They weren’t guarding all the entrances anymore, but we could still hear them inside.”
“Okay, time to start the show,” I said. “Are their soldiers at this entrance?”
“There were three. They weren’t paying attention. I was able to get past them easily.”
We carefully moved toward the entrance he and I had always used, where three casual soldiers stood several paces away, drinking and laughing. We circled around them and snuck into the tunnel opening.
“This one has more than the others?”
He held up two fingers.
I struck the flint he handed me, and it sparked but missed the fuse. I held my breath and listened for the soldiers to rush inside, but they didn’t. “This lights, you run.” He nodded, and I struck again. The fuse sizzled, and the flame moved down the tunnel. “Hurry,” I whispered, pushing him forward.
We ran out of the tunnel and slipped off to the side undetected. Eadas’ soldiers were terrible guards. We ran back toward the barn and got about halfway before the explosion shook the frozen grounds. I’d given Roe and his friends access to dangerous chemicals, and when mixed with the flame, they would not only close off all the tunnels, ensuring no rebel was caught trying to reenter unaware, but it would also send a message to the king. The rest of the planned explosions followed shortly after, and the only tunnel left open was the one that led directly below the castle. The tunnel where Rhogan was taken prisoner.
“Better get back to the castle and join the others trying to figure out what just happened. The king is going to call me in to heal the soldiers they can pull from the tunnels. He’s about to find out I’m out of magic.”
“Meet me in your solar,” Roe called, heading toward the castle. “Try to beat the king, I have a plan.”
Chapter 26
KING TOLERO
The castle was silent as I moved. As they always did, the visitors reveled in the city the night before the Trials began. I left the gates to the castle and made my way into the boisterous crowd that danced and sang. Laughter filled the air like a song. I stepped back into a dark alley and closed my eyes, remembering my once youthful days. Life was so much simpler then.
I nearly crashed into two lovers deep in the throes of frantic love making, but I kept my eyes to the ground and swept past them as the female cried out. On this night, if you closed your eyes and listened, you would know what the land of fae was always meant to sound like. Alewyn was supposed to be a haven to faeries. A place to drink, celebrate and love as freely as the air we breathed. I wasn’t sure what it had turned into, but it was far from that.
I placed my hands upon a familiar shop door, and it let out a tiny squeal as it inched open.
“Finally,” Murtad called from across the space. “If I had to wait any longer, I was going to waste away. How are ya, King? Where’s your minion?” He looked behind me.
“Murtad,” I said in greeting.
“Oh, right. Right.” He gave me a superfluous bow, waving his hand nonsensically as he dipped.
