by K. F. Breene
“That’s a problem, yes.” Xavier lowered down to his butt. “We’ll wait until nightfall, like Marc said. Then we’ll work our way in and see what there is to see. The kitchens are bound to shut down at some time, and we can grab a bite then.”
“I hope you’re as good as you think you are,” Alexa said to Leilius. Leilius’ eyes widened and his face sagged under her scrutiny.
“He’s better,” Xavier said forcefully, his confidence returned ten-fold. “He was hand-trained by S’am.”
Alexa eyed Xavier before her gaze roamed over his bristled stance and flexed muscles. Unperturbed, she shrugged, letting it go. “Why do you call her S’am?”
“Long story,” Marc said. He sat at the base of the wall, his stomach doing flip-flops with what was to come. They were no match for the fighters inside those walls. Some of them would be as good as S’am, maybe better. They’d have stealth, eyes in the backs of their heads…
He looked at Alexa, willing her to suddenly tense up and rattle out more directions. Instead, her head swiveled until she was staring back at him. “What?”
Marc sighed and looked at his hands. He felt sick with what was to come. “Nothing. I guess I’ll try to get some more sleep. I’ll probably need it tonight.”
As dusk approached, Cayan stared out at the land before them, a sweeping area of marsh that led up to a hill supporting a dilapidated castle, and in the distance a stretch of sea. The sound of waves crashing surged rhythmically. Cayan bet they’d be smashing against a cliff nearly impossible to scale, let alone get a boat alongside.
“Smart.” He rested his boot on the springy ground, lightly applying pressure. A small amount of water circled his sole. “Very smart. He’s chosen his location well.”
“Too well.” Sanders waited behind him, his face closed down in consternation. “He’ll have rigged this place to kill, you can bet on it.”
“Yes he will. What are the odds that he learned of Maggie’s explosives?”
“Good, probably. He seems to know every other damn thing, including that we’d be in Belos. He had his men waiting around for her, waiting for an opportunity. He got one. He took it. Now we’re in this shit hole.”
“Yes, thank you, Sanders.” Cayan glanced back at those who were with him. Especially Burson. “Do you know how to get through this?”
He shook his head solemnly. “I only know that one of us will die to do it. Don’t ask me who. The face changes with the path.”
“This stuff again. It was so nice when you were in another town,” Sanders growled at Burson.
“I agree.” Burson smiled at the sky, earning a dark look from Sanders.
“What is your best guess on the arrival of the rest of our army?” Cayan asked Sanders.
“Tomorrow night, earliest.”
“Boas may have alerted them, then taken whoever was ready,” Sonson said, staring out at the swamp with a furrowed brow. “He thinks quickly in a bind and races toward danger when he can. He’ll bring the animals, you can bet. We may have some help here by dawn.”
“Help won’t matter if we can’t get through the swamp in any significant numbers.” Sanders scuffed at the ground. “If we thread our way across now, I can probably pick up some tracks. Maybe the kids even left more shirt sleeves to help us. A lot will be guess work, though, if they went through larger pools. The enemy aren’t fools. Sadly.”
“I can get us through this.” Sonson swiped at some tall reeds. “I’m no stranger to wetlands. And I can do it without losing anyone.”
Burson shrugged. “Who’s to say?”
“You, apparently.” Sanders glanced at the sky. “Do we go now, or do we wait for daylight?”
Cayan stared at the castle, feeling pain and fire from Shanti. Not hopelessness, though. She’d had a fresh surge of determination not that long ago, amid some physical suffering. Knowing her, she had picked a fight when she wasn’t strong enough to back it. That was good news. Having her in a fighting spirit meant hope. She’d hold her own, at least for a while.
“Can we approach this from another side?” Cayan asked.
“I’m sure we could.” Sanders looked away from the ocean. “But making our way there would take time, and we don’t know if the path will be better or worse.”
One thing they didn’t have was time.
“Dawn,” Cayan said, coming to a decision. “As soon as we have enough light, we’ll pick our way through. Hopefully we’ll have help by then.” Something occurred to him. He turned back to Burson. “You said one would die crossing this swamp. Are any of the faces yours?”
“Yes. In which case, your probability of succeeding in Shanti’s rescue falls dramatically. You’ll be exposed to the largest collection of high-powered Inkna in the land.” Burson stared up at the castle. “I wonder how the young people made it through. They must’ve received a guiding hand.”
“Hopefully they will live long enough for us to ask them.” Cayan shook his head and started back to the horses.
Leilius motioned everyone through the small hole in a crumbling part of the castle wall. The place was a mess of disrepair. If the captain could just make it through that swamp, he would be able to get in without any problem. There was no way the Graygual could defend all the entrances for long.
Silent and agile, every one of the Honor Guard passed by like ghosts in the night, not disturbing the rocks that lay scattered around. A dark shadow on the wall down the way stood quietly, looking out. Ruisa had been right—Inkna didn’t often patrol their living quarters unless a known threat existed. With S’am no doubt hidden from their powers, they wouldn’t be troubled. Hopefully.
A pockmarked wooden door separated them from inside the castle.
“Alexa, is anyone on the other side?” Xavier whispered.
She shook her head slowly before holding up a hand. The shake turned to a nod. “Just walked in,” she said softly. “A man. Cunning. Probably a fighter.”
Xavier leaned back and looked around. “Anyone know where we might be within the interior layout?”
“Does it look like I build castles for a living?” Rachie moved along the wall and disappeared around the bend.
“What’s he doing?” Maggie asked.
“Probably looking around.” Xavier stared at Alexa. “Any chance you can make one of those premonitions come?”
“No. I don’t have any control, or any memory of them. I wouldn’t even know I had them if someone hadn’t told me.”
Xavier blew out a breath as Rachie came back. “There’s another door up the way. An Inkna is on the wall in front of it. He seems bored. Not paying very much attention.”
“That might be too close for a group of us.” Xavier motioned Rachie away again. “Scout out a little further.”
“Yes, sir.”
“He called you sir.” Gracas nudged Xavier. “Big day, huh?”
“Would you focus?” Ruisa shoved Gracas out of the way. She stepped up to a rustic handle. “This door probably makes a lot of noise when you open it.”
“The person inside is…leaving—gone. He’s out.” Alexa motioned her through. “Go.”
“No.” Xavier put his hand on Ruisa’s shoulder. “Wait a moment. We can’t rush with warriors of this caliber.”
Leilius, standing on the edge of the group, felt his gut pulling him upward. “We should climb to the second floor,” he said without thinking.
Xavier stepped back and looked up as Rachie rushed back toward them. Urgency covered his expression. “We have to go,” he whispered furiously. “There’s a Graygual coming. I don’t like the way he moves.”
In consternation, Xavier looked at the door, and then upward. His gaze fell on Leilius. “We’ll split up. You climb. Now. Get going. Gracas, Ruisa, and Maggie, you go too. The rest of us will go through the door. Marc, stay close to Alexa just in case she says something. Be prepared to muffle her voice.”
Without another thought, Leilius was jogging down the way a little, eyeing the rough stone. H
e chose a place with divots and pockmarks and dug his fingers in. This would be a challenge, to say the least.
“Are you kidding?” Ruisa asked under her breath. Metal clinked and rusty hinges squeaked back the way they’d come. The others were going through the door. “Crap. That is going to draw attention.”
She took to the wall like she was born to climb, gripping anything she could and digging in her toes to find purchase. Gracas started under Leilius, quickly losing grip and sliding back down. Maggie grabbed him and tried to push him back up before giving up and following after Ruisa. She didn’t fare much better than Gracas.
“I have to find another way,” Gracas said, hurrying down the wall.
“I’ll go with him. No way am I getting up there.” Maggie jogged after him.
“Wait—” Leilius saved his breath. The two were already out of sight.
A shout rang through the night in a familiar language, though he couldn’t understand the words. It was back near the door.
“I didn’t hear the door close, did you?” Ruisa asked through a strain-filled voice. She clung on, looking for grip.
“No,” Leilius wheezed, pulling himself up to a window. It was open, no glass. Good news.
Another shout rang out. Footsteps sounded, fast and heavy. That couldn’t be the advanced Graygual. Probably Inkna.
“Let’s go, let’s go!” Leilius pulled himself into the window and turned back for Ruisa. Expression intense and focused, she worked her way closer. The footsteps stopped for a moment. The hinges from the door squealed.
Leilius stuck out his hand. “Almost there.”
Breathing heavily, Ruisa nodded slightly and kept working. One handhold at a time, clinging to the surface. Her foot slipped, dragging her weight down. She gritted her teeth, barely seen with the shadow across her face, but held.
Loud talking accompanied boot falls, coming closer. Walking.
“They’re coming! Grab my hand.” Leilius shook his hand in the air, reaching down for her.
She dug her foot into a divot and moved closer. Her arms shook with strain. Slowly, carefully, she reached for his hand.
The footsteps moved closer.
Leilius bent further and grabbed one of her hands as her other gave way. Her feet gave away. She slid down the stone, scratching her face. All her weight tugged at Leilius, threatening to drag him through the window.
His turn to grit his teeth, he held on with everything he had. She swung her free hand up and grabbed his wrist. He pulled as she did, shortening the distance between them. Thank God she’s strong.
Leilius leaned back, his heart hammering, a body coming into view. Black uniform but slightly jerky movements; it had to be an Inkna. Giving it everything he had, hoping the Inkna wasn’t patrolling with his Gift, Leilius hauled a squirming Ruisa into the window and fell backward. She pushed off the window ledge, falling on top of him.
They were up a moment later, turning around and looking out through the window at the Inkna passing below. The Inkna looked away right and veered toward a hole in the defense wall. He bent, glancing around it, before straightening. As he turned, Ruisa fell away and jerked Leilius with her.
“You shouldn’t move!” Leilius whispered, so low he could barely hear himself. He couldn’t read her expression, but she shook her head.
Leilius waited, not daring to repeat himself. No pain seared their minds. The heavy footfalls kept going, slowly. Checking things out.
He heaved a big sigh, clutching his chest where his heart was still trying to get out of his ribcage.
“Hey.” Ruisa tugged on his sleeve. “We need to get out of here.”
Looking around for the first time, Leilius realized that everything was extremely orderly. The bed, a four-poster affair, was made with precision. The furniture was placed in an organized way, with not even the chair angled slightly. A stack of black uniforms sat atop a small chair, perfectly folded.
Ruisa bent, looking closer at those uniforms. “A red circle on the breast, completely filled in. I don’t think that’s Inkna.”
“No. We don’t want to be in this room when the owner of those uniforms goes to bed.”
Ruisa rushed to the door and bent to the keyhole. After looking through for a moment, she straightened up and grabbed the handle. She turned and pulled. The door didn’t budge. “Oh no.”
“What is it?” Leilius met her there, staring down at her hand.
She looked at him with somber eyes. “It’s locked. We’re trapped.”
13
“Hurry!” Alexa motioned wildly for Marc to get away from the door. It was still standing wide open. “There’s someone coming!”
Before Marc could protest, Xavier ripped him away from it and thrust him at a shadow in the corner of a large kitchen. Xavier ran across the room, folding into another shadow just as a Graygual stalked in carrying two trays.
He noticed the door and slowed, his brow crumpling. After dropping his trays on the large wooden table, the Graygual moved slowly toward the opened door. A second Graygual entered, his trays holding the remnants of what appeared to be a large supper.
“What’s the problem?” one of the Graygual asked, hesitating near the table.
“Did you open this door?” The other pointed at the door, standing next to it.
“No…”
The Inkna they’d been running from outside poked his head through the doorway, clearly having the same question on his mind as the Graygual.
“What are you doing spying?” the Graygual near the door said angrily. “Get out of here, you mind raper.”
“All that training to be a cook.” The Inkna sneered. “You are so low your belly scrapes the floor.”
“The master allows us in his presence while your kind are put outside like dogs.” The Graygual flung his hand at the Inkna. “Get out, dog. Go back where you belong.”
The Inkna shouted something Marc didn’t understand before taking a step back. The Graygual slammed the door in his face, bristling with rage.
“Filthy,” the other Graygual said, disgust in his voice. “It’s too bad they have their uses.”
“C’mon.” The first Graygual headed for the interior door. “Let’s finish up.”
Marc let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Adrenaline coursed through his body. He’d thought they’d get caught. They should have been caught. Marc had no idea the Graygual and the Inkna hated and mistrusted each other so much, but it was a damn good thing they did. Alexa held out a hand in the stop gesture.
The Graygual entered again, carrying more trays. Not paying attention to anything but their task at hand, they stacked up the dirty dishes. This time, only one left, and the other busied himself organizing a tub for washing up. He wasn’t going anywhere.
Xavier stared at Alexa for a moment. She pointed at the Graygual, and then drew her finger across her neck. Xavier nodded once, slowly, clearly not realizing that trying to kill this sort of Graygual was a death wish for anyone but the captain and Shanti.
Slowly, carefully, Xavier extracted a knife, utterly silent, thank the heavens. Alexa followed suit. Then Rachie.
They were all either extremely dumb, or utterly insane. There was no other explanation. If they didn’t get killed, they’d alert the whole castle that there were enemies in their midst.
Besides, what if everything went according to plan? Which never happened. Then what? Did these nitwits assume no one would notice the absence of a cook? By breakfast time, the whole place would be hunting down their food.
Marc waved his hands to get Xavier’s attention, and when he did, shook his head and mouthed, “No.” Big no. N-O.
Xavier scowled, sinking into a ready crouch.
“When the sun is at its zenith, chaos will keep the hero alive.”
The whole room froze. The Graygual turned toward Alexa’s hiding place, confusion on his face. Marc and Xavier shared a quick look, and both surged forward at the same time.
The Graygual reacte
d, one moment washing dishes, the next standing in a relaxed sort of crouch with his sword in his hand. It meant very bad things.
“Don’t play with him. Kill as quickly as possible,” Xavier said, moving with speed the captain would be proud of.
Play with him? Xavier obviously didn’t have a firm grasp on reality.
Rachie came from the side, his sword in hand. The Graygual met Rachie’s lunge easily and countered, slicing a line down Rachie’s arm. Rachie bit his lip and retreated as Xavier barreled into the Graygual, Sanders-style. His bigger body took the man to the ground, trapping the Graygual’s sword under them. Xavier jabbed his knife into the Graygual before being body flipped off. He knocked against the table. A tray wobbled and then fell, clanging on the ground.
Marc dashed in and struck twice before flinging himself away, knowing that if he stuck around, that Graygual would carve letters into him. Xavier was back again, tackling the bleeding Graygual and jamming his knife into his neck. Xavier rolled away as the Graygual jerked, the strength leaving him as fast as the gushing blood.
“That’s the last of the trays—” The second Graygual cut off as he entered the room, hesitating as his gaze fell on the downed body, a move that took away his only chance at survival. Alexa was on him in an instant, thrusting her sword through his middle. She yanked it back and then stabbed him through again.
He looked down at the sword tip sticking out of his front as he sank to his knees. Alexa pulled the blade out of his back. He fell forward onto his face.
“Who’s going to make breakfast?” Marc asked, out of breath. “Because if people don’t get their breakfast, they’re going to be pissed, and guess who they’ll go looking for.” Marc waved his bloody knife over the two guys lying facedown. “Yeah. These guys, that’s who.”
“Ouch.” Rachie inspected his arm.
“What did she say?” Xavier pointed at Alexa.
“She said that when the sun is at its zenith—noon—chaos will keep the hero alive.” Marc looked at all the dirty dishes. “We need to get these squared away, because if someone comes looking for a midnight snack and sees all this mess, guess who they’re going to go looking for?” Marc raised his eyebrows at the others. He waved his knife over the dead guys again. “Exactly. These guys.”
