by Jody Hedlund
“Curly, I know what we must do to escape.”
At my quiet statement, he backed away from Molly. From the severity of his expression, he clearly sensed the gravity of this moment.
“We must lead the slaves in an uprising tonight.”
He glanced at Molly and opened his mouth as though he might protest. But at her sharp nod in my direction, he narrowed his gaze upon me.
“I know it’s risky and past attempts have failed. But it’s possible we may win the overseers to our plight, and then we’ll only need to fight the guards.”
“If we don’t have weapons, we’re no match.”
I touched my sole. We had one knife against a dozen swords and countless arrows. Though Ty also had a knife in his boot, I refused to draw him into a battle of my making. “We have to calculate a way to steal their weapons, for our own use but also to immobilize them.”
“And I suppose ye plan to be the one stealing those weapons?”
I smiled but felt no mirth. “You’d be surprised what I can accomplish with my knife.”
Not only was I an expert with my seax, but I had desperation. And sometimes desperation was the mightiest weapon of all.
Chapter
14
Vilmar
I glanced up at the tower guardhouse. The candlelight in the upstairs room showed several guards around a table, drinking and gaming. From the open windows, they had a clear view of both barren-land and the bridge. While they were momentarily distracted with their cards and dice, they’d be at their windows the instant they heard or saw anything.
The moon overhead was a sliver in the sky, giving only faint light. So far we’d benefitted from the blackness as we worked for the past hour. In relaying the need to rescue Gabriella, Curly had gained the cooperation of several overseers. But he hadn’t been able to convince them all to join us in the rebellion. Those who resisted, we’d bound and gagged.
I’d given myself the task of eliminating the two guards standing watch at the southern and western edges of Slave Town. In sneaking up behind them, I’d been so silent they hadn’t heard my approach. I’d wielded my blade swiftly, jabbing into the weakest part of their armor before they could utter a sound.
In stripping them, we’d gained two swords and two daggers, along with their ill-fitting armor, which the others divided amongst themselves. Combined with the clubs and knives of the overseers as well as our mining tools and makeshift stone blades, I prayed we had enough to battle the remainder of the guards.
I eyed the dark span between the edge of town and the tower. The distance wasn’t far, but it was enough that the soldiers on duty could easily notice movement there. Would I be fast and stealthy enough to remain undetected? Even if I crossed successfully, I still had to make it up inside the tower and overcome the guards.
Such a battle would give them time to alert and awaken everyone in the soldier’s barracks. Additionally, if I didn’t gain control of the tower, the guards would pick off every slave who attempted to cross barren-land and would also have a clear shot at anyone who stepped onto the bridge.
Our escape hinged upon me capturing the tower and the three watchmen. If I could accomplish the feat, our battle against the remaining guards would still be difficult, but possible, although we needed every slave and weapon to earn our freedom.
But we had no guarantees. I’d pleaded with Curly that if anything should happen to me, he’d leave me behind and cross over so he could usher everyone else into hiding. I also made him pledge to stop Gabriella.
With another glance up at the tower room to ensure the guards were still busy with their nightly game, I skirted the hut closest to the edge of town, took a deep breath, and then sprinted forward into barren-land, keeping my steps light and soundless, praying the darkness would conceal me.
As I raced, I kept an eye on the room. At the sight of one of the soldiers rising and crossing toward the window facing me, I scooped up a large stone and tossed it as far as I could manage toward the ravine. At the clattering, the soldier paused and veered to the other side of the tower overlooking the bridge.
His two companions pushed away from the table and joined him, their bows at the ready. I had only seconds before they rounded their post and searched barren-land as well as the town beyond. Only seconds before one of their arrows pierced me.
I pushed faster and practically threw myself the last few steps against the base of the tower. I flattened my body to the stone wall and hoped the guards wouldn’t think to peer straight down, and that if they did, the shadows of the tower would conceal me.
At the soft puff of a breath beside me, I stiffened. In an instant I had my blade out and pressed against someone’s throat.
“It is I.” Ty’s voice was barely audible.
I dropped my knife and then held myself motionless. I couldn’t see the guards anymore, but from the quiet above, I knew they were still alert and searching for the cause of the clattering rock.
We didn’t budge. A short while later, when the guards’ voices drifted down to us, the sign they’d resumed their conversations, I allowed myself to breathe evenly. We’d escaped discovery, at least for now.
I leaned into Ty. “As I’ve put an end to my Testing, you’re no longer obligated to protect me.”
“I’m not protecting you,” he whispered back. “I’m helping you set these people free.”
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 soft click of 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 a whoosh that 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.
The slaves were now crossing the bridge. Although the repairs to the slats seemed sturdy enough and had held the transporters bringing supplies and food to town, I couldn’t keep from thinking back to my first night at the camp, when the bridge had cracked, nearly sending Farthing to his death, and how Gabriella had raced out and saved his life. That had been the moment when I’d first started caring about her.
Affection for her pulsed through me, hurting me with its intensity. Heretofore, I’d wavered, hadn’t wanted to allow anything to interfere with the Testing. But how could I deny my feelings any longer? My ardor had been growing every day since the first. Now it filled me so completely, I couldn’t separate from it, even if I’d wanted to, which I didn’t.
“Do you have a plan for how you will save her when you get to the queen’s palace?” Ty asked quietly.
How had Ty known I was thinking about Gabriella? Was my passion that evident? “If I’m unable to reach her chamber, then I shall have to attend the ball.”
“And while dancing, you will simply tie her up and drag her off the dance floor?”
“Yes.”
“And you think the queen will allow it?”
“Let the queen or any man try to stop me.”
“They may very well try once they learn of your involvement in the slave rebellion.”
“I’m fully aware the queen will rise up against me. But I am prepared to suffer the consequences of my actions, including fighting without Scania’s aid.”
If the queen learned my true identity, I would assure her my father wasn’t involved in any way with my decisions. And if I had to single-handedly fight the queen’s army, I would.
“And what will these slaves do once they are free?” Ty peered out over the bridge, where people were crossing as hurriedly as they could.
Curly had assured me most of the slaves were shrewd and would find ways to disappear and avoid capture. For the weak and maimed, the task of obtaining refuge and staying safe would be much harder. Curly had suggested they go to Mercia. But I feared they wouldn’t be able to flee from Warwick swiftly enough.
If only I could take them back with me to Scania. I’d give them sanctuary in my homeland. There they’d be able to build new lives for themselves as fishermen and farmers. But how could I secret the people away without the queen knowing?
I sighed as I finished strapping on the last of the weapons. “For now, the people must escape north into Inglewood Forest. Once there, Curly assures me they will be able to hide in the thick woodland and live off the forest at least until winter. I will come for them when I’m able. But if something happens to me, I want them to seek out Kresten. He’ll show them compassion and come to their aid.”
Inglewood Forest covered hundreds of square miles in southern Mercia as well as northern Warwick, and I didn’t know how Curly and the others would be able to locate Kresten in so vast a wilderness. But I had to hold out hope that somehow, someway, our efforts to free these men and women from the mine pits wouldn’t be in vain.
A short while later, as the last of the slaves began crossing, Ty and I finally descended from the tower and hurried toward the bridge. At the edge of the ravine, Curly stood guard, constantly scanning the silent town and barracks.
I handed him the extra weapons and armor we’d gained in the tower. “When we reach the bottom of the foothills, I want you to lead the frailest north to Mercia.”
“Nay.” He paused in donning the hauberk. “I’ll be going with ye to Kensington to save Gabi.”
“Molly and the others need someone to guide them.”
“Molly knows the way.” Curly strapped on the weapons belt over the chain mail. “Her father was once a woodcutter in the north of Warwick in the days before the queen took away licenses and forced woodcutters into the mine.”
My thoughts warred within me. Curly was an honorable and good man, and I respected his desire to rescue Gabi alongside me. On the other hand, my mission was too risky. Even if I survived the fight with Grendel, the queen might still lock me—and anyone who fought with me—in her dungeons.
“Molly needs you.”
“And Gabi needs
all of us.”
At what sounded like the banging of a door in town, I realized now wasn’t the time to try to convince Curly to go with the others. Hearing the same, Curly motioned me ahead of him onto the bridge.
“Go.” I squared my shoulders. “I shall take the rear.”
He opened his mouth as though to argue. But at a shout from near the barracks, he spun and began to leap from slat to slat.
I pushed Ty to cross next. He resisted only an instant, apparently seeing the determination in my face and realizing that attempting to persuade me otherwise would waste precious seconds.
I hurtled after him, and the bridge swayed dangerously with the hasty movement from all three of us. At the sudden clanging of a bell and more shouting from behind, my heart picked up pace, and I made myself go faster, closing in on Ty.
An arrow whizzed too close to my head, but I ducked and pressed onward. On the opposite side of the bridge, the others called out for us to hurry.
“Start severing the ropes,” I commanded.
Several voices rose in protest.
“Now! Do it now.”
Another arrow soared over my head. Thankfully, Ty and Curly were low enough that it overreached them.
At the vibration of blades against the cords holding the bridge to the posts, I lengthened my stride, skipping slats. “Go, go, go!” I called to Ty and Curly, now only a few steps away.
The bridge wobbled even more erratically as soldiers stepped onto it and chased after us. I wasn’t sure how they’d been able to rally from their beds so swiftly, but I had no doubt they’d been trained for moments like this.
“Saw faster,” I called to the men now that the end was in sight.
As Curly jumped from the bridge onto land, he spun and reached for Ty. At the same moment, a last frantic chop into the rope released its hold from the post. The bridge tilted. Curly held fast to Ty and dragged him the remainder of the distance to safety.
As I slipped and grabbed on to the side to keep from falling, the pressure of the knives and swords hacking into the cord ceased.
