Page 84 of The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom 2)

She lost count of how many of them spoke to her, but she didn’t forget any of the names, which marched through her thoughts every time she closed her eyes, sleep a near impossibility beneath the burden of her guilt.

If Aren was being subjected to the same, she couldn’t have said, because she barely saw him. Partially it was because he spent every waking minute strategizing, but she knew the true reason was that he was avoiding her. And though she knew he hadn’t had a choice, his conversation with Aster had haunted her.

Not his wife.

Not his queen.

Nothis.

“You ready?”

Lara jumped, turning to find Aren standing behind her. He was back to wearing Ithicanian garb, but his hair was still long, dark locks brushing against his cheeks. A machete was belted at his waist and his bow was slung over his shoulder, along with a full quiver.

He handed over her sharp sword, the blade glinting. “It’s time.”

* * *

Lia,having recently rejoined them, stood in the boat. With the young woman were Jor, Aster, and three other Ithicanians, and beyond, another vessel filled with soldiers floated in the lagoon, waiting for them. Lara clambered inside, moving instinctively to where she’d be out of the way, Jor and Aster taking up the paddles to move them between the narrow cliffs.

A heavy mist hung over the calm water, reducing visibility to a few paces in either direction. No one spoke louder than a whisper as they meandered through the islands.

Aren knelt next to her, bow resting across his knees. His face was expressionless, but little signs betrayed his nerves to her. The way he bounced the bow against his knee. The way the muscles in his jaw tightened, then relaxed. The way his eyes jerked toward any sound.

Then his gaze came to rest on her, and Lara’s heart skipped as he said, “We’re going to take Gamire.”

Gamire was Nana’s island. “Why not Midwatch?”

“It’s where they’re keeping the prisoners. We’ll free them and take control of the island, then move on to Midwatch tomorrow.”

Midwatch was a strategically better target, but she understood why he’d made this choice.

Pulling a mask from his belt, he handed it to her. “For the fight. Once we’re on top of the bridge, keep close. Follow my lead.”

“Don’t stab anyone in the back,” Aster muttered. Neither she nor Aren reacted to his barb. Now was not the time.

The bridge appeared through the mist, a shadowy gray shape winding its way above them. The Ithicanians lowered the sails, the boats drifting toward one of the piers rising out of the ocean. Spikes jutted out from all angles, preventing the vessels from coming too close, and above those, the rock was so smooth that not even the best of climbers would be able to scale the slick surface.

But at the front of the boat, Lia was pulling off her boots, a length of slender cable looped around her neck and one shoulder.

“There’s an opening below the surface,” Aren murmured, his breath against Lara’s ear sending a slight shiver down her body. “She’ll swim up it, then climb the interior of the pier, where there’s access to the bridge top. She’ll drop the rope, and the rest of us will climb.”

“Why climb? Why not swim down?”

Leaning over the edge, Aren pointed as a large shadow passed beneath their boat. And it wasn’t alone. Fear prickled up Lara’s spine as she watched the enormous sharks circle the pier.

But Lia showed no concern, one hand resting against the mast as she watched the water. The other boat was some distance away, and Lara watched as they pulled still-flopping fish from a sack, along with a bucket that she suspected was full of blood.

“Lia’s fast,” Aren said softly. “She’ll only need a few seconds to get down and inside the pier.” His eyes flicked to the woman in question. “Ready?”

Lia nodded, and Aren lifted his hand to signal the other boat. One of the soldiers tossed the blood into the water, then they began throwing the dying fish into the mix, the creatures making splats against the surface.

Lara’s attention jerked to the depths below, the large shapes darting in the direction of the disturbance.

Lia bent her knees, ready to dive.

Then voices filtered down from above.

Lunging, Lara caught hold of Lia’s hand and pulled her back, slapping a hand over her mouth when she started to protest. With the other, she pointed up and mouthed, “Patrol.”

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