Excitement filled her to see the progress she made. With the height nearly cut in half, the fear of falling was no longer as prominent, allowing her to move with more ease along the branch. It took less time to lower herself over the side, landing with a dull thud amongst the roots and leaves. Relieved to be back on solid ground she quickly retrieved her lost shoe, sliding it onto her foot as she began a cautious run toward the front of the house. She had made it. The hardest part was over. Now she just had to find Liurn.
The exertion of the escape was taking its toll on her body. Her hands stung, lungs burning, feet aching from the uneven surface of the ground she tread. When she reached the softer grass near the front of the property she nearly let out a joyous cheer, barely managing to refrain. There would be time to celebrate later.
Unwilling to look back at the house in fear of finding Sivar taking chase, she kept her focus on the road, gasping for breath, unable to take in enough air to satisfy her lungs. Upon reaching the gravel she allowed herself to pause, spots of white light dancing across her vision. She felt dizzy. Overwhelmed by it all. She couldn’t believe she was actually doing this. It was one thing to consider the idea but it was a completely different feeling to realize that she was bringing it to life. A rebellion against the Emperor. She was in over her head. A few lessons with the sword and a desire for justice and revenge didn’t seem enough to make her qualified to attempt something so outrageous. But Liurn had faith in her. And who else was going to do it? So many others would share the mentality Sivar demonstrated. Fear. Exactly what the Emperor wanted them to feel.
Back in motion, Kaori took off at a brisk pace down the road, catching sight of Liurn’s carriage waiting a short distance away. He was still there. The relief she felt at seeing him there was almost greater than that which she felt upon reaching the ground from her great escape. As she approached she could see the door open, Liurn’s face appearing from the opening to offer his hand. “Hurry,” he urged, grasping her slender fingers to assist her up the step. She accepted his help, grateful to finally be in the safety of the wheeled structure, the sound of horses’ hooves filling her ears as Liurn gave the order for the horseman to move.
Drained, she sank back against the soft, cushioned seat, feeling as if her body would melt into the expensive fabric. Nothing mattered in that moment. She was there. Safe. Even if Sivar noticed her missing now, he wouldn’t find her. He believed Liurn long gone from the home. He would never suspect them to have escaped together, although he was smart enough to consider the possibility that she would seek Liurn after their earlier conversation. “Where do you think we should go?” she asked quietly, still lost for breath. “Sivar will look for me at your home once he discovers my departure.”
“I thought the same,” Liurn nodded in agreement. “My cousin has a cottage just outside of Whitelyn, near the chapel where he was arrested. Sivar is unaware of its location and it seems more suitable given its close proximity to where the execution is to take place.”
“You have access to the cottage?”
“Of course,” Liurn smiled, almost devious in the way his amber eyes sparkled. “And we are more likely to find others in town willing to join us in our endeavor. Many families in Whitelyn had loved ones taken that day. Surely they must share our desire to see them safely from the Emperor’s prison.”
Kaori’s chest tightened nervously at the thought. “We have to be careful,” she warned. “Many of our people will want to see their loved ones released from captivity, but they will also share the same fear exhibited by my brother. It is likely a majority of them will let that rule their decision, and if they are frightened enough of the repercussions our people may face in the wake of our actions, they may be inclined to warn General Deliao of our intentions and get us all killed.”
“Leave that to me. I will make inquiries around town and test the waters with mere suggestions to those I feel are most amenable. If they take interest, I will inform them of the details. If they hesitate in the slightest, I will pass it off as nothing more than an idea voiced out of concern for my cousin.” Liurn’s eyes remained locked on Kaori. While his voice sounded confident, the expression on his face revealed a mixture of confusion and wonder. “You are an amazing woman, Kaori. No other girl I have ever met has displayed the strength and determination you have shown since this all began.”
“I may possess determination, but I am not as strong as you seem to believe,” she argued, modest in her reaction to the compliments bestowed upon her. She didn’t feel she deserved them. There was nothing brave about her actions. With enough purpose, any woman could have climbed a tree to escape their home. The true test would be in whether Kaori could stand up to the General. Discussion of heroism and bravery was one thing. She had yet to demonstrate her ability to follow through with the ideas she spoke of. Until that time, she couldn’t view her actions as anything so great. “If we are unable to find others to assist us, our path to victory will be near impossible. Two against a dozen or so soldiers would be suicide.”
Shifting his weight, Liurn leaned back against his seat, his eyes straying to cast a wistful gaze out the window. He looked thoughtful. Somewhat disheartened. “I have considered that as well. If we must go forward alone, are you still willing to go through with this?”
“I said near impossible. As long as there is a chance, I will see this through to the end.” It sounded more convincing than Kaori felt. Her voice was strong and unwavering while her heart sank to even think about taking on the soldiers alone. She had never seen Liurn wield a sword. She assumed he possessed some skill, much the same as any man of significant station in Carpaen. Her fear was in whether she possessed enough knowledge to be of any help to him. If only Therek was willing to join us… “Have you spoken with the Duke about the situation? You said something of him trying to speak with the Emperor to sway him from the executions.”
“I spoke with him briefly on the matter. In my haste to leave Eykanua, I did not have a chance to discuss it at length.”
“Do you think he would be inclined to aid us?”
“He cannot,” Liurn frowned, turning his eyes to look upon Kaori once again, forlorn. “I do not have to speak of it with him to know that he would never join our cause. His obligation to the Emperor runs too deep. Not only that, but he would be too easily recognized by the soldiers. He spends a great deal of time in Eykanua.”
“Can he be trusted?”
“I don’t know.” Liurn’s eyes lowered, deep in thought. Troubled by something Kaori couldn’t begin to guess. “The Duke is a fine man. A good friend. Reliable. A little rough around the edges, but his heart is typically in the right place.”
“Yet you doubt him,” Kaori pressed, curious by Liurn’s strange reaction. She’d always believed Liurn and Therek were close. It seemed odd that he was so quick to hesitate in granting his full trust to a man he called friend.
Liurn shrugged. Lifting his chin, he stared into the distance, a slow shake of his head revealing the internal struggle waged at the thought of trusting Therek. “No one really knows the Duke. He doesn’t let people close enough. I admit he hasn’t done anything which would make me distrust him, but I have heard enough rumors to make me cautious.”
Rumors. Again with the ominous mention of such gossip which added to the mystery surrounding that man. “Sivar spoke of rumors as well, but his concern was in trusting the Duke around women, not about trusting him as a friend.”
“Yes, that is true,” Liurn nodded. “But in the end I must remind myself of his friendship with the Emperor. Their past is far more entwined than anyone else’s when it comes to the Duke. No one can really know if he would be willing to betray Sulel, even for his own people.”
“That is unfortunate.” She didn’t know what else to say. Part of her was disappointed that Liurn failed to elaborate on the rumors. She was curious. In her presence Therek had never given reason to doubt his intentions were anything but pure. So why did everyone believe him so untrust
worthy around women? What had he done to deserve such a reputation? Sadly, now wasn’t the time to pry into the details of his personal life. If he wasn’t an ally to their current mission, she couldn’t waste time dwelling on him. “His skill with the blade would have been a valuable asset. Without him or my brother, I am at a loss as to anyone else who could be trusted in this matter.”
“I will find someone. We don’t have a choice.” Turning to face the window, Liurn’s tone made it obvious that he no longer wished to speak. Not that Kaori could blame him. Her own nerves were frayed from the constant anxiety of their situation. Anything they could say now would be mere speculation. Formulating a plan wouldn’t be possible until they knew how many people would be involved; if there was anyone else at all. The best thing to do now was rest. Regain their strength and resolve. Once they reached Whitelyn, they would have a more difficult task ahead of them than she liked to admit.
The next few days passed in a blur, sitting in the tiny cottage, waiting for Liurn to return with word of his findings. It was decided that it was safer if Kaori not be seen around town. Anything to divert suspicion. Her previous display with General Deliao in Rothdara would instantly make her name one of the first to fall from the lips of local gossips if an attack occurred at the execution. It was no secret that she harbored a deep hatred for the General. A valid motive for revenge. All the more reason for her to remain out of sight.
She was left with plenty of time to ponder their intentions. The best way to carry out their plan. For the sake of any others who might be involved, it seemed better to leave most of the work in the hands of herself and Liurn. Whatever they did, they would need to act fast. Once the first strike was issued, the element of surprise would only offer them a short window of opportunity. After the soldiers regained their senses, they would begin an attack. It seemed most likely that at least one guard would lash out at the prisoners. Hasten the executions while the others focused on the threat.
Her heart slammed against the inside of her chest at the thought of all the ways things could go wrong. What if she was incorrect in her assumptions that there would only be a handful of soldiers present? It was a larger execution than that of her parents. With more prisoners, there were likely to be more guards to keep them in line. They would be outnumbered. Kaori didn’t doubt that much. Her fear was in exactly how outnumbered they would be. With just her and Liurn, it would be two against the odds. The more soldiers General Deliao brought only heightened the chance of failure.
Anxious, she paced across the old wooden floor, oblivious to the warmth of the sun which filtered through the window of the small sitting room. It was a quaint home. One clearly lived in by a bachelor, not yet gifted with the loving care of a woman’s touch. While not dirty, it wasn’t exactly clean, a thin layer of dust visible upon the furniture and picture frames, more than seemed appropriate for the time Liurn’s cousin had been in captivity. Unlike her own home, there were no flowers to brighten the dull shades of the walls and fixtures, giving an almost barren appearance. Enough décor to make the house look lived-in while not enough to really make it look like a home.
The sound of the door clicking open caused Kaori to jump, turning toward the entrance in fearful anticipation. The main entryway led directly into the sitting room, allowing a wash of cool air to flow in from outside as Liurn made his way through the door, quickly pressing it shut behind him. “I believe it may rain,” he mused, oblivious to Kaori’s hopeful gaze watching him from the center of the room.
“Rain?” she asked, confused by the observation. “The sun has not been obscured by a cloud all day.”
“I can smell it in the air,” Liurn nodded, decisive. “The wind is picking up. We may see a storm before morning. With any luck it will pass before the soldiers arrive tomorrow.”
Tomorrow. Hearing him say the word reminded Kaori of how close the execution was. They were less than a full day from the moment they prepared for. And to this point they still had nothing more than a vague semblance of a plan. “Have you found anyone willing to assist us? Time is running short. We cannot wait any longer.”
“I am meeting with some old friends later this evening. They were quite keen on the idea of stopping the execution.”
“And you trust these people?”
“Enough,” Liurn sighed. “This is a different level of trust than I have ever been required to place in anyone before. While I would entrust them with information regarding the private affairs of my life, I have never had need to wonder if I could trust them with… my life.”
“Do they have friends or family facing death at the executioner’s hands?”
“Almost everyone in Whitelyn knows someone who is facing the block tomorrow.”
“Someone close then? Someone they would be willing to fight for?” Kaori held Liurn’s gaze, unflinching. She had to know if these people possessed the same interest in a rebellion as her. She was more willing to trust others who were at risk of losing a loved one if the plan failed. It gave them more reason to follow through.
Understanding Kaori’s concern, Liurn gave a faint smile, moving closer to where she stood at the center of the room. Gently he reached for her, letting the back of his hand lightly stroke the side of her cheek. “There is no reason for you to fret,” he replied calmly, his tone reassuring. Consoling. He was worried about her. A sweet sentiment, all things considered. “My cousin Davian is a strong fighter. If we are able to release him and provide a weapon with which he can fight, he will take some of the pressure off us.”
“There are a lot of factors which make that less than comforting,” Kaori exhaled, leaning in to Liurn’s hand, grateful to have him there with her. His presence alone helped bolster her confidence more than he knew. “What of your friends? I need to know who is fighting with us.”
Slowly Liurn lowered his hand from Kaori’s face, brow furrowed. “My friend Arcell Leuzen has assured me of his assistance. His daughter is among those to be executed. And while his wife is not much of a fighter, she has spoken with her brother, Mathious, who is quite adamant that a rebellion must be organized in order to protect our people.”
“So we have two?”
“Three,” Liurn corrected. “Arcell is bringing another friend by the name of Zacari. From the sounds of things, Zacari’s wife was also arrested and she is with child. I may not know the man personally, but that seems a sound reason to trust that he will be on our side in the matter.”
“I suppose that is better than nothing,” Kaori nodded, relieved to hear that their numbers would be increased, even if only by a few. They would be an army of five. Six if they were successful enough to release Davian from captivity. If they were lucky, a few of the others they rescued might have some skill with a blade as well. She just didn’t dare count on it. Many of the prisoners were women and children. Unlikely practitioners of combative arts.
Dark circles were visible under Liurn’s eyes as he allowed himself to slump onto a chair, leaning forward to rest his chin in his hand. He looked miserable. Exhausted. Equally stressed by the thought of what they planned to do. “Before I meet with them, we have to think of a plan. They expect me to provide directives and quite frankly, I am at a loss. We know nothing of the way things will be set up tomorrow. Number of guards, positions of prisoners… we don’t even know if there will be more than one executioner.”
“Just have them bring their weapons and be prepared to fight,” Kaori nibbled her lip thoughtfully. They knew too little to prepare much beyond that. “You and I will make the initial move. Although it sounds heartless, our first target should be the executioner. A single arrow will take one man down and allow us an opening to charge the scaffold.”
“I am more skilled with a sword than I am a bow, Kaori –”
“Then it is convenient that I am more confident in my ability with the weapon,” Kaori cut Liurn’s protest short. She never intended for Liurn to wield the bow. It was the only weapon she didn’t feel reservations about using. “O
nce the fight has begun, we must be on our guard and observant of who the most obvious threats are. We cannot worry about all of the soldiers at once or we will be overwhelmed. Work on releasing the prisoners while focusing on the men who stand in our way. Any other threats can be handled accordingly.”
Distracted, Liurn nodded in agreement, his eyes diverted toward a closet next to the entryway. There was no door, allowing a clear view of the items contained within. Cloaks. Trunks. Odd items placed inside for lack of a better place to put them. Idly Liurn stepped toward it, letting his fingers slowly sort through the clothing. “We should not allow ourselves to be seen,” he remarked, removing a smaller cloak from its hook on the back wall of the closet. “This may fit you. If it does not, I can return to town and seek a shop that sells women’s attire.”
“I am sure that will be just fine,” Kaori stepped forward, hopeful that she was correct. She didn’t want Liurn to leave so soon. The cottage was dreadful in its silence. Left to her own thoughts, she was sure to go mad thinking about the next day. So many people were sentenced to die there. Innocent people. Vor’shai. Gritting her teeth, she tried to push the thoughts from her mind. Anger wasn’t going to help. She needed to keep calm. Focused. They had a mission to complete and she wasn’t about to let emotions get the better of her. Desperate for a means of distraction, Kaori reached for the cloak in Liurn’s hands, feeling the thick, durable fabric between her fingertips as he released it into her possession.
He was watching her. Kaori didn’t have to look at him to know his eyes were upon her, following every movement she made. It was somewhat unnerving. Was he afraid for her? Worried that she might break and call the whole thing off ? Something about the expression on his face told her that she didn’t want to ask. There was more in the depths of his amber eyes than fear and uncertainty. Admiration, perhaps? He seemed almost enthralled by her. But why? She hadn’t done anything of particular note.
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 27
