Page 79 of Crown of Iron
“The last rendering we have of it. A lot can change in thirty years,” Leif says.
I've studied Pliris' terrain and know the area of the Stigian capital, but I've never seen it in detail like this.
My childhood was full of rumors about our enemy. They said the Lucent capital was a hut compared to Stigian's, and our small villages archaic in contrast to the epicenter that was once Pliris' capital. We were common, and they were elegant. Lucent was complacent in old ways, and Stigian was forward-thinking. I always thought it was the workings of overactive imaginations, but it appears those stories are true.
I examine the map. The capital is surrounded by a vast terrain, some of it with strange lines that run from the middle of the city to the Lucent border. “What do these lines mean?” I ask.
“They're the underground tunnels Micah used to smuggle the Cyffreds out when things went to shit with the queen,” Greer says, following a path with her finger. “Some passages ran as far as Lake Holly. Micah had them demolished before the division treaty was signed.”
Leif tilts his head from side to side and lifts a brow. “He had them demolished on the Lucent side. I've found evidence that at least one tunnel was still in use until about fifteen years ago. I don't know if Esmeray blocked it on her end since then, but that tunnel fell just short of crossing into our land.”
My jaw goes slack. “I thought they stopped smuggling Cyffredswhen Micah left. Borin taught me how Esmeray made it too enticing for them to want to leave.”
Terro shrugs and says, “Or they imprison those who want to leave?”
“But that's against their agreement,” I say.
Greer leans forward and drops her voice. “Don't you find it odd how other than our dear general”—she tips her chin at Kyron—“no one has ever left Stigian? Is Esmeray offering something better than we have, or is it that once a Cyffred enters, they can never leave? You believe your father doesn't want to be there. Do you really think he's the only one?”
“Seems to me someone is painting an attractive narrative,” Leif adds.
I rub my temples and close my eyes. My time with Esmeray was very limited, but in that short time, I saw how conniving she could be. I wouldn't put it past her to bend the truth or blatantly lie. What I can't picture is her brother standing idly by as she does it.
“If that's the case, why wouldn't Micah do something?”
Kyron leans back, crossing his arms. “And so, we come full circle.”
I answer my question, saying, “We don't have the forces to beat the Stigians.”
“We don't have the forcesyet.” Kyron points to a gate on the outer wall. “This is the southeast entrance, and according to our surveillance, the least guarded entry point. It faces a body of water and isn't optimal for a large-scale attack, but…”
I stare at the map and contemplate how important this mission is for us all. We’re about to put in motion a potential means to an end, giving our kingdom a fighting chance. If all goes well, our troops will not only be able to defend our land but wreak havoc on Stigian. This is what my father sacrificed so much for, and I pray he’ll be here to see it all come crashing down.
“If we attack here in the middle of the night, we’ll minimize our losses. The battle will test the armor and prove to Micah its benefits for our soldiers,” Kyron says.
I pull my gaze from the map. “And how does my father's rescue work into this?”
He shoots me a sidelong glare, and the corner of his mouth turns up. “One could almost confuse you with a demanding princess.”
“Just a daughter who's ready for her father to come home.”
“I can empathize with that,” he says. “We keep it simple. Our menwill blow open the gate, either with their armor or their gifts, and you and I walk through. Well, we’ll walk in with you controlling my shadows.”
“How do we find him when we’re inside?”
“Where would you keep a prisoner, nanny goat?” Ulric asks.
The images running through my head pierce my heart. They’re all dark, damp, and dirty places that confine him to a small space and allow a queen to forget he’s in her keep. “She's holding him and others in cells,” I say.
Leif taps a structure that gradually changes to smaller squares, like it is sinking into the ground. “Everyone who has studied this map agrees that this is the prison. It runs several stories underground.”
My chin trembles, but I let my anger take control and conquer my tears. All I can imagine is my father alone and dying in the lowest pit of hell. His ruthless and cynical captor living in the lap of luxury with nothing in the five kingdoms to care about. She has a firm grasp on him, but that’s about to change.
Kyron laces his fingers with mine under the table. “Whatever it takes, you will leave Stigian with him, Raelle.”
I run the back of my hand over my eyes. His promise sparks hope and chases away fear. I have overcome so much to get to this point and gained even more in the process. My father trusted these soldiers with his life, and now, so do I.
Together, we will storm Stigian, blast down their doors, and deliver the king's general from the hands of our enemy.
