"Thank you for helping get me out," Sven responded, meeting Ashur's eyes. "I won't forget."
"We didn't do much. Adara and Jacob did the heavy lifting. Along with the other two phoenixes you guys picked up in the city."
"Even so, I appreciate it," Sven said. "Where are Morris and Aag?" he asked.
"They were given rooms in a different building with guards to keep an eye on them," Ashur explained. "Just in case."
"I see. Thank you again. We'll take them with us when we leave."
"Speaking of leaving...Adara was thinking the next step should be taking back the capital," Mia interjected. "Is that still the plan?"
Sven looked over at me.
"I thought it would be a good place to start—a symbolic victory as much as a territorial one," I explained. "And being helped out of the city by people there just shows that the whole city won't be against us. Emberich already has his focus split between protecting the city and guarding against the people already there."
Sven said, "He's trying to wrest back control without a majority to support him. That is a difficult position to be in. That's why he has to use such harsh measures—only fear will keep everyone in line." He shook his head. "It's a recipe for disaster, as has already been demonstrated."
There was no arguing against that.
"Yes. But now that you're free, everyone has something to fight for. They'll have hope again—something to counteract that fear." Of that, I was certain.
"I think the fact that Emberich is so terrible will work more in our favor than any real love the phoenixes have for me," Sven said with a slightly cynical lift to his brow.
"Don't underestimate yourself," Ashur countered. "You've done a lot to cement good ties with your people. You're not in the same place you were when you first took the throne."
He was right about that.
Sven shook his head and moved on, not willing to dwell on the subject.
"Be that as it may, first things first. Have you contacted Siro and her family?" Sven asked, turning to me. "They need to be taken somewhere safe. Somewhere that they can't be used against you. Against us. I don't want to take a chance that Eli might make that suggestion to Emberich."
My stomach dropped. He was right.
"No," I whispered. "I was so focused on just getting you out..."
Of course that was a danger. They'd already used Siro to trap me once. How could I have missed this?
Sven covered my hand. "You couldn't think of everything all at once," he reassured me, his eyes kind. "You've done an excellent job of triage in this situation. And don't worry—we’ll figure out a way to get them away."
"Aaden's flock is still holding strong," Reelin updated us. "Got word from a friend I have there. But Emberich's forces are still in the vicinity, regrouping maybe."
That was a problem. We'd have to get someone through—
"I can get them out," Jacob volunteered, interrupting my thoughts.
"You've already done enough, Jacob," I protested.
He shrugged. "Just keeping my skills sharp," he said easily, his eyes serious. "I've done a lot of questionable things in my life, Adara. Doing a few good ones could only help balance the scales." He gave me a sudden cocky grin. "Besides—it'll be fun."
"You're crazy," I said, a grin tugging at the corners of my mouth in spite of myself.
"It's what you need in his situation."
"We'd really appreciate it," Sven said seriously. "You've already proven you’re good at this kind of mission."
"I've had a good amount of experience," he agreed.
I still tried to deter Jacob, but he wasn't having it. And he was still the best one to pull something like this off. So, in the end, he wore me down and I contacted Siro. It was stupid not to take help where it was offered.
Siro,
I'm sending Jacob to take you and your family to the city dome so you'll be safe. I don't want a repeat of what happened before.
Can you convince your parents to go?
Love,
Adara
She was always on her devices.
I got a message back almost instantly.
Adara!
I'm so glad you're all right! If you think it's a good idea, I'll convince them. I may have to bring up the "incident", which is what they call it. Won't make them love you any more, but what else is new?
When is he coming? Where are we meeting him?
Love you! Stay safe!
-Siro
I messaged her back with the instructions Jacob gave me after being briefed on the location and the city itself.
He left directly after, already rested.
"No point in waiting around. I have nothing to do here," he said, giving us a salute before getting into the car Ashur had brought out for him.
Okay, that was done.
Then Sven commandeered my phone.
"I think Adara's initial plan to take over the capital is a good one," he told what was left of our group. "But we're going to need reinforcements."
"I have a list of the people who've managed to stay out from under Emberich's thumb. Well, as of the last time I checked," I admitted. A lot could change in just a few hours.
"I'm going to contact everyone who I know is loyal," Sven said, his fingers moving quickly. "Once we know who's in a position to help..." He looked up from the screen, gaze steady. "We'll take back the capital."
He didn't hesitate. He said it like it was already a done deal. That surety, that confidence, even managed to buoy my own spirits. We were going to do this.
Emberich wouldn't know what hit him.
Chapter Eighteen
Sven contacted everyone.
He could have simply reached out to a select few, and the result would likely have been the same. This was not information that people were prone to keeping to themselves. News that the rightful Phoenix King had escaped from under Emberich's nose spread like wildfire. The results were immediate and sweeping.
I read through messages that were coming in top of one another, feeling excitement rise.
"Ray's back in power," I informed Sven. "As is Reyan."
They were only the latest to regain their Chieftain status. Emberich-leaning Chieftains were being forced out of power left and right, the minorities that had rallied to push out the old guard not strong enough to maintain power against strong opposition from the majority. Now that the majority had woken in reaction to Emberich's actions.
"Emberich will have to kill too many to solidify his hold on the throne," Sven said from next to me. "Too many to accomplish easily if they're fighting back."
Not that he wouldn't try.
I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes to soak in the glaring sun. We were still positioned on the roof, per doctor's orders for Sven. Food, rest, and plenty of sunshine had done him good.
The door leading to the roof opened and the doctor showed up with his quiet nurse.
"Speak of the devil..." I muttered to myself.
"The devil will tempt you, whisper to you in your times of weakness," the doctor said, obviously having overheard me as he made his way across the roof. "I prefer a more direct approach." He turned to Sven. "Time to have your stitches out."
"Not my only fashion accessory," Sven protested, completely deadpan. He was dressed in a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else to soak in the sun as much as possible.
I didn't mind the view.
"I'm sure you'll acquire some more in the near future," was the absent response, his deft hands already moving with the small scissors to cut through the stitches. "You don't strike me as the kind of man to have the good sense to wait on the sidelines while you heal."
Sven looked over at me with suppressed mirth. I shrugged. If the man wasn't a good doctor, he'd more than likely have been punched in the face a long time ago.
Rolling my eyes, I looked back down at my phone, running through the messages. I paused on one that wasn't from one of my usual sources. It was Kara. I had a v
ague impression of a quiet, industrious woman with magic hands when it came to pretty desserts and confections. Her work was sought after by more than the palace.
And she was still in the capital.
Adara,
Forgive me for not reaching out to you sooner, but I was too afraid to do so before now. Recent events have made my fear of not contacting you greater than inaction.
I am glad Sven escaped. Many of us trapped here are. But Emberich did not take the blow well. He is expending his rage on those around him, those closest to him. I fear for his very sanity. And for the city. If you plan to take back control here, I urge you to do so quickly.
Time is of the essence.
Or there may not be a capital left to save.
-Kara
My mood was grim as I finished reading through that message. And two more like it from others in the capital. That was when Reelin spoke up.
"Some of the guards are contacting me. Emberich is not stable," he said, looking over at Sven and me.
The doctor finished up his ministrations.
"I'm done," he informed us, stepping away. "You may speak freely among yourselves soon enough," he said, his eyes shrewd. "Rest is the best medicine for you, Phoenix King," he said, turning his attention to Sven. "Though I know circumstances may make that particular medicine difficult for you to indulge in." He turned to encompass us all in his look. "I wish you all luck." With a slight bow, he left.
"Thank you," I said along with everyone else, surprised at the doctor’s good wishes. Shaking it off, I focused again. "I'm getting similar reports," I informed Sven, nodding at Reelin. "Emberich didn't take your escape well. And I think that's an understatement."
Ashur and Mia showed up on the heels of that statement, their faces worried.
"I'm hearing disturbing rumors coming from your capital," Ashur said, his eyes scanning us. "Reports of bodies."
"Where are you getting your information?" Sven asked with a raised brow.
Ashur smiled slightly. "Can't reveal all my secrets," he said lightly.
"That doesn't matter," Mia said, waving her hand to push the matter aside. "We're also hearing multiple flocks are back under your control, Sven. Is that true?"
Sven looked over at me.
"Most of the Chieftains that supported us and were recently taken down by a minority in their own flocks have taken control back," I confirmed. Then I looked over at Sven. "At last count, we now have a majority of the flocks back under our banner."
Sven nodded, his face pensive.
"We're almost at the point we can move forward," he said. "I don't want to waste time. Especially if Emberich is losing control of himself." He got to his feet to pace. It did my heart good to see his body already filling out, powerful muscle moving fluidly under his mostly healed skin. "But we can't rush things either. We will have one shot at this. And everyone is counting on us."
That was true. Sloppy work right now could cost us dearly.
"We need to have a good idea where Emberich's forces are stationed, if they're moving, how many are at the capital...Sven is right. We're not ready to move yet."
Sven made a frustrated sound.
"Soon," he said firmly, looking over at us, his eyes stopping on me.
"Soon," I agreed grimly.
I hoped the capital was still there to save by the time we got there.
Chapter Nineteen
Soon, the dominoes started to fall even harder.
It started with Cates.
Sven and Adara,
I realize this may seem insincere, but it is not. I implore you to read this message with an open mind.
I have had a change of heart in terms of my allegiance. I no longer wish to fight for Emberich's right to the throne. I do not believe it to be in my flock's best interest or in the best interest of the phoenixes.
My reasoning is simple—he came back wrong. Or perhaps I was just too blind to see that he was not mentally intact before he was killed. I am not certain which is true, though I suppose it does not truly matter at this juncture. In any case, recent events have shown he is not fit to rule. Not only is he not fit for the throne, he is a danger to us all.
I do not say so lightly, not after everything I have risked by throwing my lot in with him. I know that there are others who are beginning to feel this way as well but are afraid to reach out, afraid it is too late to come back from a bad decision.
I am writing to you in the hope that they are wrong. I will let them know what response I receive to this message.
Sincerely,
Cates
Sven was watching me as I looked up from the message, frowning.
"What do you think?" he said.
I pressed my lips together and set the phone down. My emotions were all over the place after reading it. Cates was a greedy and selfish Chieftain, one that flourished under Emberich's previous rule. Did that mean we should turn our back on her now? What about her flock? Did we blame all of them for her actions? That didn't seem fair either.
"I don't know," I replied honestly, thinking my reaction through. "Cates was one of Emberich's biggest proponents and gave you such a hard time..."
"But?"
I sighed. "But she's selfish when it comes down to it, as are a lot of the others in that group. I could see her turning around on this if she feels like she and her flock are vulnerable with Emberich in charge." I tapped my fingers on the table as I thought.
"Perhaps she and the others are finally realizing that everyone is vulnerable when you put a mad man on the throne," Reelin said in a low voice. "Idiots."
I heartily agreed with that.
"Just so," Sven agreed, nodding. "But if we don't take the risk and hold out a helping hand with Cates..."
"We might not get the others who are on the fence about abandoning Emberich," I finished. "We could be leaving numbers on the table." Not smart.
Sven nodded thoughtfully, reading the message again.
"All right," he said, his fingers moving to send a message back. "I'm going to take the risk, but she will have to earn our trust." He rubbed at his mouth.
"That's fair. I don't think she'll be expecting anything more than that." If she was, she wasn't as smart as I thought she was. This could be a ploy to infiltrate our camp, to attack from the inside. I wouldn't put it past Emberich, though I also didn't think Cates would take a risk like that. Again, selfish.
Sven sent out the message.
As he did, I read through the other missives I'd received. None of the news was good. Word from the capital was disturbing. Rumors swirled and much of what I received was hearsay, but something was going on.
There were too many reports, not just from those contacting me. There were reports of random people going missing. Of people being pulled out of their homes in the middle of the night even though they hadn't disobeyed the curfew or any of the other ridiculous rules Emberich had instituted when he took over the capital. There were reports that lights were on in the palace night after night, and that there were sounds coming from the place that didn't exactly make for a good night's rest.
The picture being painted was bleak. Emberich was self-destructing. But he wasn't just hurting himself, which I wouldn't have lost any sleep over. He was hurting everyone around him.
I heard an incoming message and looked up to see Sven on the phone Ashur had procured for him. He looked up at me.
"It's Jayna," he said.
And then there was another ding. And another. All from other Chieftains who'd been supporting Emberich. As if they'd been waiting to see what response Cates would receive.
"They want to pledge their allegiance to me," Sven said, not looking impressed at the turn of events.
"You can't always choose your supporters," I said, sympathizing with his lack of enthusiasm for those flipping over to his side now that things were getting tough. Now that they were reaping the fruits of what they'd sown. "But we have to keep our eye on the reason we need them."
&nb
sp; They were selfish, the lot of them, but that didn't mean they couldn't be useful. At the very least, taking them would mean Emberich wouldn't have them, weakening him further. Assuming they were coming to us honestly. That was still an assumption I wasn't completely comfortable with.
Sven nodded, reaching out to wrap strong fingers around my wrist. I let him draw me over to sit on his lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Reelin and Amna politely faded into the background. They'd been giving their input while guarding us. Some of the other guards in the original group that had come with me had stayed in the city dome to watch over Siro and her family. The rest had arrived in Ashur's territory not long ago and were taking turns on the rooftop with us, though Reelin and Amna refused to leave at any point. They'd used the other beds in the row set up for patients who might need sun up on the roof. The other guards were already at a distance that allowed us the illusion of privacy.
Sven buried his face against the side of my neck. I slid my hand into his silky hair, cupping the back of his head.
"I'm worried about those in the capital," he said in a low voice.
I nodded. The fact that Emberich's own supporters were turning on him told me the stories I was getting weren't as exaggerated as I'd hoped.
"They're not going to be left at his mercy for much longer," I reassured him, not knowing how else to comfort him. I felt the same way. Those were our people over there—and Emberich was hurting them. "We'll make sure of it."
He nodded, his arms wrapping tight around me.
"Yes," he agreed quietly. "We will."
Chapter Twenty
Court of Flame Page 11
