After two more days of traveling hard, they reached the north side of the mountains. The path they traveled intersected a wider dirt path leading directly from the mountain, cutting through the jungle, and going straight north. The gate into Telmena was supposed to be about ten miles north of there.
“We can’t just stand around waiting for the wagons to go rolling by,” Ari said.
No, they couldn’t. Climbing a nearby tree wouldn’t work because the trees didn’t provide enough coverage. Savenek wanted to be farther away, especially once they destroyed the wagons. He didn’t know if the poison would contaminate the air or not.
“Let’s climb the mountain just high enough to see above the tree line. Then let’s find a spot where we can see the path and sit there and wait.”
“What about the horses?” Ari asked.
“We’ll leave them somewhere safe.”
“I’ll find a spot for the horses, you scout out a place for us to wait.”
Savenek hated the idea of being separated from her, but he agreed. He stayed off the path, not knowing if it was being watched or how far away the Kepper Mines were. Thankfully, the vegetation wasn’t nearly as dense on this side of the mountain, which made traversing the area much easier. He climbed the rocky mountain until he was above the trees and could easily see what was going on below him. The path came from his left, having been cut into the mountain in a snake-like pattern. When the path reached the bottom, it veered northward. If he and Ari stayed on this side, they would be able to see the wagons coming. However, once the wagons reached the flat path, they’d have a hard time from this angle. Which meant he needed to go higher so they’d have a direct shot.
Glancing up, he saw a few rocks that formed a cave-like area not too far away. That spot would provide the cover they needed. Although, it would make their escape difficult, unless he could come up with something to aid in descending the mountain. There were enough vines around that he could tie them together to make a rope.
After climbing down the mountain, he used his sword to cut several vines from the trees. Once Ari found him, she handed him one of the bows. He slung it over his shoulder and showed her the way up the mountain and to the small cave he’d found.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” she mumbled. “It’s so small neither one of us can stand.”
“But it’s cool, out of the sun, and well-concealed.” And there was enough space to stand on the rock beside the cave. That was what he needed in order to pull this off. A clear line of sight to the path below.
They spent the rest of the day tying the vines together. Once their makeshift rope was long enough, Savenek wound one end around a boulder and let it unwind down the mountain. He tested it out, and the vines held strong as he climbed up and down.
That night, Savenek and Ari slept curled up next to one another in the cave. Their feet stuck out the end, but at least they were protected from the elements. The next day, Savenek went hunting for food. He killed two rabbits and cooked them well away from the path. Once he’d finished, he climbed up and joined Ari. They ate in silence, always watching the path. They didn’t see a single person the entire day.
Hopefully, they hadn’t missed the wagons.
Savenek spent the second day modifying the bows.
One of the things he had learned at the academy was how to make weapons. While these two bows were decent, he needed to ensure they would do what he wanted them to do. Ari gathered the kindling and arranged it in the cave. When she was done, she ripped the bottom of her and Savenek’s shirts off, wrapping a piece of fabric around the tip of each arrow.
When the modifications were complete, Savenek and Ari went to the bottom of the mountain and practiced shooting with the bows. They had to be careful not to lose any of the arrows—they needed every single one of them.
Ari managed to hit the target every time though she was usually a little wide and to the left.
“Adjust your aim so you hit dead center.” He released another arrow and it struck right in the middle.
Ari sighed. “I know. That’s what my friend is always telling me. You actually shoot almost as well as she does.”
He blinked. Did she just say her friend—who was a woman—had a better shot than he did? How was that possible? He hit dead center every single time.
“Don’t look at me like that,” Ari said, smiling. “She’s the best I’ve seen.”
He intended to prove her wrong.
“Does it matter whether I hit in the middle or not?”
“No,” he replied. “I just need you to strike the wagon. I’d like for you to get as close to the middle as possible. The wagons should be traveling slowly so I imagine it won’t be too difficult.”
“I’m not used to shooting something so far away. I usually only use a bow at the archery range.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine.” She had to be. Savenek couldn’t strike all the wagons on his own. He needed Ari to hit as many as she could. Otherwise, the soldiers escorting the wagons would be able to spot the source of the attack. The key to making this work was to hit the wagons before the soldiers accompanying them knew what was going on. Then Savenek and Ari would get the heck out of there before someone saw them.
That night, they stretched out in the cave, lying next to one another, staring up at the ceiling.
“I’m too worried to sleep,” Ari admitted. “What’s your excuse?”
She was too close and tempting for Savenek to sleep. He wanted to reach out and touch her, trace the side of her face with his finger, kiss her soft lips. “I’m going over the plan in my head.”
“How long do we wait here?”
He’d been considering that very question. “I’ll give it two more days. If the wagons don’t come by then, I’ll go and find the Kepper Mines. I’ll do some recognizance until I discover whether they’ve left yet or not.”
“You mean we.”
“Yes, we.” He’d intended to go by himself. However, if he treated her like a woman incapable of accompanying him, she’d be furious. And he couldn’t belittle her like that. Normally, he had a hard time trusting someone else. For some reason, it was easy to rely on Ari.
“Well, goodnight.”
He’d been wanting to give her something. Now that it was dark, he decided to do it. That way, if she didn’t like it, he wouldn’t have to see the look on her face. So how to go about it? “Ari?”
“Yes?”
“I want to thank you for helping me out.” He sounded lame.
“Oh, of course. Likewise. I’ve enjoyed working with you.”
“I made this for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the wooden key he’d whittled while sitting awake during his watches over the past few nights. He set it on her stomach.
She picked it up, holding it above her face, examining it. “Is this a key?”
“Yes.” Maybe he shouldn’t have given it to her. “You’ve been the key during this mission. Without you and your unique talents, we wouldn’t have discovered Apethaga’s secrets and made it this far.” He decided to shut up. If only he was as adept at speaking as he was with a sword.
“Thank you.”
He closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.
“Ven?”
“Yeah?”
He felt Ari’s hair tickle his cheek. Opening his eyes, he found her face above his. She leaned down, pressing her lips to his in a gentle kiss.
“This means a lot to me,” she whispered as she laid back down beside him. It took every ounce of willpower to remain there and act like a gentleman.
The early morning sun shone brightly in the cave. Savenek rolled over, shielding his eyes. A low, rumbling vibration echoed through the ground. He bolted upright and climbed to the edge of the small cave. The wagons were making their way down the side of the mountain.
“Ari,” he said, shaking her. “Wake up. I need you to get into position.”
She scrambled to her feet, rubbing her eyes. “It’s about t
ime.”
He went outside the cave and separated the arrows into two groups.
“Okay,” Ari said, standing next to him. “The tinder and kindling are ready.”
Savenek knelt and reached inside the cave, starting the fire. It took on his first try. He blew into the flames and they grew. He pulled the bright green ferns and rocks to the side of the fire, ready to douse the flames as soon as they were done.
“They’ve reached the bottom,” Ari called out. She picked up a bow and nocked an arrow.
Savenek stood and grabbed the other bow. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
There were six wagons trudging along. They had twelve arrows—more than enough to do the job. “The wind is blowing to the east,” he said. “Make sure you adjust your aim accordingly.” If this poison was the same as what he’d found on the ship back in Emperor’s City, then when it caught fire, it would explode.
All six wagons were on the flat path now, heading north. Savenek plunged his fabric-tipped arrow into the flames, lighting the end of it. Standing with his feet shoulder width apart, he aimed the arrow toward the last wagon. “I want you to aim for the first wagon,” he told Ari.
She lit her arrow on fire and aimed. “I’m ready when you are.”
“In three, two, one.” Savenek released his arrow. It soared through the air and landed in the side of the last wagon, just where he’d intended.
“Blimey,” Ari cursed. “I missed.” She’d already nocked a second arrow and shot, missing again.
Savenek grabbed an arrow and dipped it in the flames. He aimed at the next wagon and released his arrow, striking it. Ari released her third arrow, hitting the first wagon. She gave a cry of joy and grabbed another arrow. Savenek struck his third wagon. Ari hit another one, leaving only one more wagon. The soldiers escorting the wagons were running and hiding behind trees, not sure what was happening.
Ari released another arrow, striking the last wagon.
“Time to go,” Savenek said, dousing the fire in the cave and shoving palms across the opening to conceal the smoke.
Ari clutched the vine rope and started to descend. Savenek crouched down and watched the wagons. Panic started to set in—not a single one had erupted in flames. He didn’t have enough arrows to shoot all the wagons a second time.
“Ven!” Ari called. “Let’s go before a soldier sees you.”
He started to climb down, trying to figure out whether there was another way he could destroy the poison.
A wagon exploded, wood flying everywhere and a red haze filling the sky. People screamed and shouted. Another boom resounded as the second wagon exploded.
Savenek reached the bottom and ran after Ari to where she had the horses tied up. The third explosion hit. They mounted and steered the horses north, wanting to skirt around the soldiers. Originally Savenek had thought they’d go east and back around the mountain that way. However, after further consideration, he realized it would give any surviving soldiers time to head them off. The only logical way to go was in front of the soldiers, making sure to keep a wide berth so the poison wouldn’t affect him or Ari.
The fourth wagon exploded followed by more screams of panic. When he estimated they’d gone a mile north, they steered their horses west. They crossed over the path and into the jungle on the other side. They pushed the horses hard, not slowing despite the vegetation.
In the distance, the fifth and sixth wagons exploded one right after the other. They’d gotten them all. Savenek whooped and slowed his horse so he was riding alongside Ari. She smiled the most brilliant smile he’d ever seen.
“We did it!” she said.
“We did. And I don’t detect anyone following us.”
“Neither do I.”
“Excellent. Then it’s time for us to get the bloody hell out of this forsaken kingdom.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.” Ari laughed and urged her horse faster.
Savenek followed close behind her, a new lightness to him that he hadn’t felt in quite some time.
The next day, the first indication that Savenek and Ari were near Emperion was the blessed rain, cooler air, and pine trees. Savenek wanted to jump off his horse and kiss the ground—except that they still had to make it past the gate and travel a day in Telmena before they’d finally reach Emperion. Since Lakeside was only a couple of days from there, he intended to make sure Ari made it safely home before he continued to Emperor’s City.
The light rain picked up, coming down harder, making it difficult to hear. Amid the patter of raindrops hitting Savenek’s clothes, the ground, and the leaves of the trees, he could have sworn he heard a horse. He waved, getting Ari’s attention. He gave her the signal to halt. She froze, cocking her head to the side. Her eyes widened, indicating she heard it too. He led them off the path and into the cover of the trees. He was tempted to leave Ari there with the horses while he doubled back to investigate.
Savenek dismounted and tied his horse to a nearby tree, Ari doing the same. Then he waved her on and she nodded, following him. The two of them carefully crept around the trees back toward the path. Had they stumbled upon a patrol? Or was this something else? He couldn’t determine what their next move should be until he knew what they were facing. Since destroying the poison, he’d seen no signs of pursuit.
It sounded as if several horses were approaching from the path to the right, thirty yards away. Savenek pushed Ari against a tree, placing his body over hers, holding still. They were on the other side of the tree, concealed from anyone passing by on the path. He tilted his head to the side in order to catch a glimpse of the riders.
Six horses approached, Apethaga soldiers sitting astride them. Their uniforms were the same as the ones Savenek and Ari had seen when they first entered the kingdom. These must be the soldiers responsible for guarding the gate in the wall—which meant they had to be close to the entrance to Telmena.
The men passed, and Savenek relaxed. He looked at Ari, suddenly realizing how close she was and that his body was pressed against hers. He abruptly took a step back.
She licked her lips. “What do you want to do?” she whispered.
Kiss you. “The wall has to be nearby. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
“What about the horses?”
“Leave them tied up. I don’t want them wandering into the soldiers’ camp and alerting them of our presence.”
He led the way north, out of the cover of the trees, keeping his eyes and ears alert. After a quarter of a mile, the wall came into view, looming up ahead, the only thing separating them from their freedom. It was higher than he remembered. Not seeing anyone nearby, he approached the wall, examining it. The stones were fairly flat which would make climbing difficult. He reached up, trying to get a good grip. There wasn’t enough of a ledge anywhere for his fingers to find purchase, and with the rain, scaling it would be almost impossible.
“What are you thinking?” Ari asked.
“I can’t climb it,” he said, hating to admit that out loud. But the wall was at least thirty feet tall, the stones too smooth and slick with water for climbing.
“Good, because neither can I. So we’re going to cross through the gate then?”
“Yes.” They needed to find it before night came so he could see how many guards were on duty, what the cover was like, and what they were up against. Once he had that information, he could formulate a plan.
Going back to the path, they headed west, the same direction the soldiers had been riding, parallel to the wall about a quarter of a mile away.
When Savenek saw a building in the distance, he turned off the path. Weaving between the trees, he made his way closer to the guard station. At a fallen tree, he crouched next to the trunk, Ari beside him, and they observed the area before them. There was one main building where the barracks and cells had to be, and a small building off to the side which looked like the stables. Two men stood at the top of the wall. How had they gotten up there? There had
to be a ladder or stairs. Two men stood guard at the bottom, next to the locked gate. Another two were stationed outside the building. That was six men. Which meant there were probably another six somewhere, either sleeping or working inside. Savenek glanced back at the men on top of the wall. It took him a moment before he saw the ladder attached to the side of the wall. One option was to climb to the top and take out the guards. Then Ari could climb up and they could rappel down the other side using a rope or vines tied together. Another option was to take out all six guards, hoping the other six remained unaware. Then he could pick the lock and open the gate and walk into Telmena. Or, he could cause some sort of disturbance to the east, drawing the guards away from the wall. Then he and Ari could make a run for it, pick the lock, and enter Telmena. It would be easier if he knew ahead of time what kind of lock was on the gate. Whatever he decided, they would have to do it tonight under the cover of darkness.
Savenek reached out and took Ari’s hand. “This isn’t going to be easy,” he said. “We’re going to have to fight our way through.”
She squeezed his hand. “Then it’s a good thing I have you by my side.”
Savenek and Ari went deeper into the woods. Up ahead, amaranth grew on the ground. Savenek plucked a few and handed half to Ari. They each quietly ate the weed while keeping an eye out for soldiers. When they finished, they continued walking until they came to a small stream.
Ari knelt and drank as much as she could while Savenek kept a lookout. When she finished, they switched and Savenek dunked his head into the water and drank his fill.
“Now what?” Ari whispered.
“We rest until tonight.” And come up with a solid plan. They moved away from the stream in order to better hear if anyone was approaching. At a wide tree with its branches hanging low, Savenek stopped. This spot was well concealed and would allow them to comfortably rest. He sat and stretched out his legs, Ari doing the same beside him.
Oath of Deception Page 23
