Page 24 of Wicked Thieves
“And so, what now? You’re all going to march right up to the castle’s gates and demand they turn over the book based on our feeble number growing by one?”
“We’ve had a plan on how to find the book for some time now. It’s been months in the making, but I believe we are ready now,” Henry said.
“What changed from then to now?”
Zara’s smile was bright and hopeful as she looked to the boy then to the Vedran. “They came along.”
“Here it is again.” The Vedran crossed his arms over his chest and gave the woman a grin. “Go on, then. Tell her how I am the best thing that has ever happened to you, how I’m destined to save the day. I do so love to hear it.”
From the table, the boy shook his head with a smile, though he did not say a word.
Zara sent the Vedran an admonishing look, though it came off half-heartedly. Their familiarity only serving as further proof of their alliance. Then she looked to the young man and said, “Would you like to formerly introduce yourself, your highness?”
Your highness…
The boy cleared his throat before saying, “My name isCastian Amaranth. Though, as of late, I do not care to hold that name. No need for formalities, Miss Yarrow.”
Anelize stilled. Blinked at the boy as he smiled at her almost timidly before dropping his gaze. The prince who was said to have died only just recently…
“How? I heard you…”
“Died? Sorry to disappoint if you were one of the many who wished death upon me.” Castian winced. “It is a bit of a long story.”
Her tone was scrutinizing when she turned to look at the Vedran. “And this one is with you because he’s a Watchman. How convenient. So, tell me, how does a Vedran manage to live amongst our enemies, sworn to kill us all?”
“When she puts it like that, you do sound like a bit of an ass,” Idris remarked as he patted him on the shoulder before sauntering over to the table where Castian was sitting, reaching for the bottle in the center of the table, refilling a ceramic cup with a vibrant red liquid that sloshed as he brought it up to his lips. The moment he breathed out, she caught the strong scent of cherries and pure alcohol.
The Vedran hummed as he kept his eyes on her, tapping his fingers incessantly over his arm as he steered the conversation elsewhere. “As much as I’d love to talk about myself, this meeting isn’t about me. This is about the situation you currently find yourself in. I may be a Watchman but there is little sway I have over the influence the king has had on the rest of the men and his people. With your aunt proclaiming your secret to half the port, you’ve now been effectively ostracized. Watchmen are patrolling the street day and night, posted outside the shop in the case that you’d be foolish enough toreturn. Should you choose not to ally yourself with the likes of us, then, by all means, don’t. None of us will force it upon you. But know that you cannot return to the life you once had.”
As much as she loathed to admit it, he was right.
And what life would she possibly want now when the only person that she’d cared about had been taken from her? Anelize wasn’t foolish enough to think for one second that the Vedrans stood a chance against the Moroior the king. But…
If she could find Enid and bring her back, she would take it. There was no questioning that.
“If you’re a Watchman with access to the castle, why haven’t you taken this book yet?”
Prince Castian was the one to answer this time. “My father has it in safe keeping. Only a select few are privy to its exact whereabouts. Me being one of them until recently.” Before she could ask why he was no longer residing behind the safety of the walls of Castle Rime, he continued. “It’s heavily guarded deep beneath the castle in the tunnels he had built in the case Elvir was invaded during the war and he needed to escape. Once that was ruled out, he tasked his council to hide it away where no Vedrans could possibly dare to enter. There are no elements, no torches, no way to go in or out, save for one. If Vedrans were to one day—by sheer luck—attack, then it would be without the use of their gifts whatsoever.”
“Then why not just attack?”
Adan and Idris chuckled as if she’d just asked a foolish question.
The Vedran silenced them with one glance before he said, “Because we are only three men. And we all rely on the use of elements. Put us in a room without them and we’re quiteuseless. If we were to attack with brute force, we would all be executed within mere moments.”
“We must act when the time is right. Luckily, the Senin is in a few weeks, every noble and member of the court will be invited to celebrate another year of the king’s great rule,” Adan said with disgust. “And every Watchman will be forced to partake in the ceremony. All save for the ones in the tunnels.”
“That is when we will strike,” Idris then said with determination. “It will be our only opportunity to dispatch the guards long enough to destroy the Loom once and for all. The only problem is…”
“What?”
“All Watchmen are to stay during the ceremony for the first hour. Then they can return to their duties. That is the only window we will have. Given that the three of us are Watchmen and the prince is believed to be all but dead, it creates a complication,” the Vedran said dryly, tapping his fingers against his arm once more.
A thought suddenly occurred to her. The rebels had a plan, that much was certain, but if they couldn’t get to the book in time, then this would have all been for nothing. Lives would be lost, and the king would continue wreaking havoc upon them all. The Vedran prisoners would likely be executed, and they would all lose what little they still had. Unless…
“I’ll do it.” She said.
The Vedran’s eyes flickered to her. Held her in their unwavering stare. Everyone looked at her, confused.
