Rink slipped into the room and took the offered keyring. He fingered through them, pulled up one and inserted it into the lock. Metal clanked and then the door sprung free. “Lucky guess.” He shrugged. “Jessa would kill me if we left you behind, so you’d better come too,” the boy said to Blaine.
Emariya, finally free of her cell, rushed to Torian.
His arms only encircled her waist for a brief moment before he backed away, grabbing her hand to pull her out of the room. “Come on, we should hurry.”
“What are you doing here?” Emariya eyed Rink, still baffled at his arrival.
Rink just grinned and winked before heading out of the dungeon. He led the way down, around, and through a maze of corridors. Emariya barely had time to wonder how he’d figured out where they were going, or if he actually knew where they were going, before Torian shoved her into a room. She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it without saying a word.
Heavy armored boots scrapped stone. From the sounds of it, there were at least three guards making their way toward the dungeon.
It appeared they’d slipped into a chamber that hadn’t been used in quite some time. Dust coated every surface, from the modest bed to the washbasin on the nightstand. The drapes, which might once have been a rich blue, as deep as the sea, now appeared the color of sand with flecks of blue occasionally showing through.
Tension built in her forehead as the dust tickled her nose. Wary of the guards in the hall, Emariya put her hand over her mouth, trying to keep silent. Her chest burned and at last she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
When she sneezed, each of them turned fearful eyes toward the door. The footsteps paused in the corridor.
By The Three, please keep going. Don’t come in,
Emariya prayed silently.
“Did you hear something?” A guard’s muffled voice came from the other side of the door.
Emariya glanced around, searching for any sign of fire. This room had sat unoccupied for so long there weren’t any ashes in the hearth, much less a fire. Weak light filtered from a high window, enough for her to see several unlit candles and lanterns. Sconces had been lit along the corridor. Was that close enough for her to harness if needed?
“My stomach. We’ve been patrolling since the Council session started,” another voice whined.
“We have our orders. No one is to go near the Council until further notice.”
So the Council is still in session. Would Terin be with the Council in the hall? Or would she have
returned to wherever they were holding her?
Emariya’s mind raced, trying to formulate a plan.
“But the Councilor’s retinues are all in the other wing; why are we patrolling here?” the whiny guard said.
If the wing where the Councilors were staying was so heavily occupied, it would make more sense to go straight to the Council. She could deal with her brother and his lackeys, and then seek out Terin if she wasn’t there.
“If you want to go ask Lord Damphries why, be my guest.”
Emariya held her breath, hoping they’d move on. The dust was still tickling her nose. It was only a matter of time before she would sneeze again if they didn’t get out of this room. After a long, agonizing moment the guards could be heard continuing away from their hiding spot.
“They’re going to know we’re gone soon,” Blaine whispered.
“The tunnel is just ahead.” Rink cracked the door, peering into the corridor again. “It’s clear.”
“Aren’t we headed to the Council in the ballroom? Terin is most likely in there, with Reeve.”
Torian’s hand tensed in hers. “No. The most important thing is getting us all out of the estate, alive. We didn’t sneak in to confront them, we came to rescue you. When we finally end this with Reeve, there will be nothing secretive about it.”
Emariya jerked her hand away, backing into the room. “If you want to run, do it. But I’m not leaving without finishing this, here and now. We have a chance to save your sister and stop my brother. That bastard claimed that
I
killed my father. I’m not running away.”
Torian growled. “I didn’t say I was giving you a choice. Please, Emariya, for once don’t be so difficult.”
His rebuke stung, but she didn’t waver. “I’m going to get your sister. You can come with me, or you can meet me outside.”
Garith didn’t say anything, but she thought she saw a half a smile as he stood between her and Torian.
“Lady Riya, I’m worried about Princess Terin too, but if we don’t go now, we may not be able to get out of the estate. When they realize we are gone, someone will block off the tunnel to trap us in here. All of the Council knows about the tunnel, it is how they were planning to enter the estate if you hadn’t gotten the mass outside to agree to let the Council through.”
Emariya put her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t planning to sneak out. The people outside are depending on us to be their voice, to make things better for them. And your sister,” Emariya paused, pointing at Torian, “is counting on us to do what’s right for her even if she doesn’t know it yet. What was it you told me? A ruler often has to save their people from themselves more than anything else?”
Garith’s voice was quiet, but firm. “I remember the prince who rode foolishly into the camp of thugs, rescuing the girl he hadn’t even met yet. Draw on that stubborn confidence now, and listen to what she’s saying.”
Torian sighed. “It’s different now. If it was Emariya...well, we came rushing in here after her, didn’t we? We never had any misconception that we could save them both.”
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Emariya stood her ground. “We don’t have time for this.
You’re either with me, or you’re not, but I’m going.”
As she hurried to the door, she saw by Garith’s face that he would be with her all the way.
When his hand clutched at hers, she turned back while her other hand rested on the door latch.
Worry haunted his eyes as he looked at her, pleading without a word for her to follow him out of the estate to safety. She couldn’t help wondering if part of him wasn’t ready to face whatever the future held for Terin and him.
“Together?” she whispered. “No one has to die here today, Torian. Let’s get her out, and let the future unravel itself. Maybe... Maybe the reason you saw what you did, was because we would have left her here this day, and she felt abandoned. Maybe this one choice can change things.”
His shoulders sagged and he squared his jaw before nodding.
“It will be dangerous. I won’t think any less of anyone who wants to leave now. It might be good to send a message to those outside about what is going on in here, anyway,” Emariya said.
“And miss all the fun?” Blaine said.
Emariya looked pointedly between Blaine and Rink.
Understanding crept through Blaine’s eyes. “Rink, can you show me this tunnel? We’d better make sure that no one can get out, or in. We’ll also make sure they don’t close it off to us, in case we need to use it to get out.”
Rink balled his hands into fists at his sides. “I’m not a little child anymore! I don’t need to be hurried off and protected.”
Emariya wanted to crouch down in front of the boy, hug him, and reassure him that she valued his contribution. Unfortunately, she just couldn’t spare the delay. “Fine,” she said.
Swallowing back her nerves, she flung the door open. Once in the corridor, she saw the heavy, thick wall of a split just ahead. Looking left to right, she couldn’t remember which direction headed to the grand hall.
“Left,” Blaine whispered. “I think, anyway.”
Hoping he was right, Emariya turned to the left, keeping her eyes open for any of the Councilors or the guards.
Soon after they made the turn, Emariya’s heart surged into her chest. Two guards had just turned into the hallway. Preoccupied with talking to each other, they hadn’t noticed Emariya’s group yet, but they would any moment. When they did, they would only be a short corridor away.
Blaine grabbed Emariya’s hand, pulling her back around the corner. Through the pulsing of blood rushing in her ears, she heard the guards footsteps cease.
“Did you come to relieve us?” one asked.
Belatedly, Emariya remembered Torian and Garith were both wearing Damphries uniforms.
“Yes,” Garith said.
“Wait...who are—”
The guard
thumped
to the ground and Emariya peeked around the corner just in time to see Torian with his elbow around the neck of the second. Garith bent over the first guard, searching his pockets.
Unable to speak as Torian applied pressure with his arm, the guard’s eyes darted around wildly in fear. He clawed at Torian’s muscular arm.
“Wait!” Emariya cried in a loud whisper. “Don’t kill him.”
Torian nodded. “I’m not, just making sure he doesn’t wake up for a bit.”
“Does he have any weapons?” Blaine asked Garith.
Torian dropped the now unconscious guard to the floor and unbuckled his sheath to toss it to Blaine. “Here, take his sword.”
“This one’s got a knife,” Garith held it up for display. “Which do you prefer?”
Blaine grinned. “Sword. Longer reach. Maybe give her the knife?”
Garith chuckled. “Riya doesn’t need a knife, she
is
a weapon.”
“I’ll take it,” Rink said, holding out an open palm.
After looking to Emariya for confirmation, Garith handed it over. “We should hurry.”
As she followed them away, Emariya spared one fleeting moment to look back at the two guards lying on the ground. Technically, they were her people, too. They’d only been following their orders.
How many more would she have to raise arms against today in the name of protecting them?
Putting sentimental thoughts out of her head, Emariya prayed the hearth would be lit in the hall.
“What are we going to do about those that have been living inside the walls for protection? I don’t think they are just going to let you take over their estate.” Torian asked.
“Well they can’t continue to live in Lord Damphries’ protection at the expense of the citizens of the Uplands.”
“Can we worry about that later?” Blaine said. “The hall is just ahead. Turn right there, and the door will be on our left.”
Garith and Torian both positioned themselves in front of her, and Emariya glared daggers at their backs. Garith, slightly in the lead, paused with his hand hovering over the latch. He looked at Torian and held up three fingers.
Emariya stiffened her back, wondering who all would be on the other side of the barricade.
Garith dropped a finger. Two.
If she didn’t know better, Emariya would think everyone could hear her heart beating even from inside the hall. Torian seemed as anxious as she did, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. His sword whistled softly as he drew it from its slumber inside the sheath on his hip.
Garith dropped another finger. One.
A quick nod from Torian, and Garith sprung open the door.
Reeve jumped to his feet, cursing. “This is a closed meeting—”
“I’m tired of waiting for an invitation. I thought I’d invite myself,” Emariya said, sweeping into the ballroom on a cloud of confidence. The other Councilors stared in stunned silence. It only took her a moment to scan for a source of flame. Not only was there a hearth warming the room, several candles flickered on the Council table. Plus, the sconces lining the walls of the vast hall had been lit.
Each of the candles surged spectacularly, announcing her entrance.
“W-who let you out?” Reeve spat. The other five Councilors all stood also, and Lord Ralston began moving toward the other door, on the far side of the room.
“I did,” Torian said, his voice razor-thin.
Emariya warred with her own instincts. Part of her wanted to assault her brother before he could form a plan of his own. But she couldn’t suppress the part of her that had to know. “Why?”
“For you! For all of us. We deserve more than to be the smallest land, cowering from Thalmas and Sheas. They owe us peace.” He cut his eyes toward Torian, then looked to Blaine.
Blaine had been slowly inching around to get behind Reeve and the Councilors, but when Reeve looked at him, their mental fog lifted and they realized what was happening. Lord Damphries lunged for Blaine, his sword hungering for blood. Emariya, not wanting Ralston to escape and summon guards to the hall, sent a nearby candle’s flame searing across the doorway, blocking it off with a wall of fire. The Councilor jumped back in surprise, turning like a cornered boar. Lord Calkirk intercepted his frenzied charge, and began to restrain him.
“Watch out,” Emariya commanded. As soon as Rink cleared away from the door behind them, she sent a matching wall of flame to barricade that door as well. With the exits and entry covered, she focused her attention on her brother.
Torian, sword in hand, started toward Reeve with murder in his eye. Though her heart ached, she accepted what must come.
“No! Don’t hurt him!” Terin’s cry came from the back of the room, jerking Emariya’s attention to her.
Who does she mean, Torian or Reeve?
Her confidence in her ability to get Terin out unharmed shattered—who did Terin care about more? Torian or Reeve? And would the pull let her make a choice at all?
Alrec, seizing the momentary confusion, snatched Terin’s arm and pressed a knife to her throat.
Emariya froze. She couldn’t send flame to Alrec without hitting Terin too. Terin’s peril had also caught the attention of both Reeve and Torian. Simultaneously they turned, darting toward the terrified girl. As much as she wanted to use his unguarded moment to assault her brother, she worried he could be Terin’s only hope.
A commotion at the front of the room called Emariya’s attention away from Terin. Lords Felton and Bosch had backed out of the way. Felton was trying to guide Bosch away from the fight, but the old man’s bewildered state made that more difficult. “It is a dark night indeed when a Warren assaults the Council. Darkest night indeed. Dark night! Dark night,” he screeched, growing progressively louder and more hysterical.
The old man had grabbed his cane like a sword—Emariya noted that of all the Councilors, Bosch was the only one without a scabbard and an actual weapon—and he began jabbing it toward everyone indiscriminately. First Blaine, then Felton, and then Blaine again.