She pantsed the guards, leaving them naked and lying next to each other under some trees.
“They definitely won’t say a word. Let’s get out of here.”
The two moved through the castle’s garden, Brighten still amazed at what he’d seen. “You were following me?”
“I was watching you,” she answered.
Brighten had thought that he and Kris knew how to move silently, but he’d never seen anything like Riley could do. The woman moved as if she had no weight, her feet simply gliding over the ground.
“I’m no good to any of you,” he told her. “Had you not been there to save my ass, they probably would have beat me to death. I don’t even know why I’m involved.”
Riley stepped off the path, pulling Brighten with her. She said nothing just then, and neither did Brighten. A moment or so later, two guards walked by.
Brighten had completely missed them. His mind had been so focused on what he was saying that his senses had failed him.
Riley’s hadn’t, though.
She winked at him and stepped back on the path. “None of what you just said is true. I wasn’t following you to make sure you were safe. I was following you to make sure you had the courage.”
“Huh?” Brighten heard the words, but he didn’t understand.
“I don’t need you to be able to fight like me. Only I can fight like me. I don’t need you to be able to use magic like Worth. Everyone here with me has their own talents. What I needed to make sure was that you had the courage to be here.”
They’d reached the edge of the garden and the end of the castle’s grounds. A tall wall towered over them.
“Why does courage matter?” Brighten asked.
Riley turned to look at the young man. “Some things matter to me. Loyalty, and you have that. You didn’t turn my friends in even though you might have received a reward. I know you’re poor, and I know that kind of reward would have been huge for you.”
Brighten stared at her for a moment, then looked down. “I never even thought of doing that. Kris didn’t either.”
“I know.” Riley nodded. “The other thing I value is courage. You’ve done a lot so far, but it’s usually when someone is with you. I needed to understand if you could do it on your own. When the chips are down, will you fold or stand firm? You sat there for hours watching those jackasses, and when you realized you were running out of time, you went forward. You were scared, but you marched up to them anyway, and you did your best. You almost had them leaving, too.”
Riley took Brighten’s chin and raised it so they were looking each other in the eyes.
“You were brave in the face of overwhelming odds when no one was watching. You could have walked away and told everyone you did what you said you would. We wouldn’t have known until it was time to set off the explosives. You didn’t. I followed you, and you know what I found out? That you belong with us. I’m glad you’re on my side.”
Brighten nodded, pride welling in his chest. It was the first time anyone had told him something like that. It was the first time someone had said they wanted him.
He turned to the wall, embarrassed. He hadn’t realized which way they were walking, and this thing was entirely too high to get over.
“We’ve got to find another way,” he told her, hoping it would change the subject.
“Nah, we’re good,” Riley responded.
“How?”
“Are you scared of heights?” Riley asked.
“Why?”
She grinned, her eyes turning red.
Brighten looked down. His feet were no longer touching the ground.
“Remember, Brighten—lean into the fear. See you on the other side.”
Chapter Ten
Kris looked at her head in the mirror and wanted to scream.
“I can’t believe...” Her voice trailed off.
She rubbed her hand over her skull.
There wasn’t any hair on it. None.
Worth stood behind her with a razor, long hair around his feet. He was smiling broadly.
Kris whipped around and looked at him. “I hope they string you up when we get there. Hell, I hope they catch me too if it means they get you.”
“Not so bad,” Worth observed. “Look like me now. Just skinny. No one notice. You look like boy.”
Kris shook her head. How long would it take for this shit to grow back? She groaned, not wanting to think about it.
“Holy fuck.” Brighten’s voice filled the room. “I promise you, Kris, you ain’t gonna have to worry about getting a date anytime soon.”
Kris looked to her right. Brighten stood in the doorway, with Riley behind him. Both were smiling. “Say another word and the next date you have is going to be with a doctor, trying to save your balls that I broke.”
“It’s not so bad,” Riley added. “I always keep my hair short. It’s easier for fighting.”
Kris glared at both of them. “This is ridiculous. I should have never gotten tied up with the likes of any of you.”
“Too late.” Worth was still grinning. “Time to go. Worth want to be done by happy hour. Wine cheaper.”
Kris looked in the mirror again, still hardly able to believe what she was seeing. She had agreed to it, but only because Brighten had come back after finishing his task.
She wasn’t going to be outdone by him.
Yet, he hadn’t had to shave his fucking head.
Kris stood up and looked at her friend. “I’m gonna go do this, but if you say one more word about my head until my hair grows back, you’re going to be coughing up blood every time you talk. Understand?”
Brighten grinned but nodded. Kris could tell he was doing his best to keep from laughing.
“Damn it all to hell. Come on, fat man. Let’s go see if we can’t get ourselves killed.”
She stomped out of the room. Worth followed, laughing.
Riley sat in the basement with William, Verith, and Lucie.
Her core group. The ones who represented New Perth.
“Erin and Brighten both dropped off their explosives,” Riley confirmed. “Verith, you were able to as well?”
The general nodded.
“And now we’re waiting for Worth and Kris. It worries me some, them doing it in broad daylight,” Riley told the group.
“If anyone can create confusion enough to hide something on those grounds, it’s Worth,” William volunteered. “Plus, the girl is a force of nature herself. They’re going to be fine.”
Riley nodded. “I agree. We need to focus on two things, then: getting Mason before the explosions and setting off the explosions.”
“What about the people in the castle?” Verith asked.
Riley’s eyebrows raised up some. “What do you mean?”
“I hadn’t brought it up yet, because war means that innocents die. We’re definitely at war, but I figure we should understand what we’re doing and be okay with it.” Verith grew quiet for a second before continuing, “Not everyone in the castle is guilty. Not everyone serves Rendal. There are a lot of people who are innocent, and when we bring down those walls, they’re going to die.”
Riley swallowed. She’d been so concerned with how they would save Mason that she hadn’t considered anyone else.
“Don’t worry, skinny,” William commented, clearly seeing her concern. “I know you think you’re the only one who can do somethin’, but I’ve been workin’ on that.”
“You? Working?” Lucie raised one eyebrow. “That seems farfetched.”
“Don’t you have food to cook or something?” William told her before looking at Riley again. “Kris spread the word to her brother, the one who guards the castle. He’s going to let the guards who are loyal to Sidnie know. They’re spreading it through the castle; all they need to know is go time. They’ll be cleared out.”
William turned back to Lucie.
“See, old woman, that’s called usin’ your brain.”
“Hell, got to have one to use it,” Lucie re
plied, although it was clear she approved.
“That solves that problem, then,” Verith said.
“Kind of. We still need a go time. How are we going to set the damned things off?” Riley asked.
“I’m going to do it,” Verith told her.
The room grew gravely still.
William finally spoke. “To hell with that, Verith. None of us are dying during this little endeavor.”
“No, no,” Verith told him. “I’ve set the charges correctly. They’re all placed at very specific spots so that when I light them, the fuses will burn at the correct speed. It’ll give me enough time to light them all and get out.”
“You’re sure?” Riley asked. She didn’t want any of her people getting hurt during this.
Verith nodded. “Yes. I did it all purposely. I know where each of them is. I’ll light them and be out before anyone knows it’s happening.”
“Okay, then. The last thing is Mason. That’s going to be me, and me alone,” Riley told the group.
“What the hell you mean, ‘you and you alone?’” William asked. “That’s the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard.”
“Oh, is it?” Riley grinned. “Because you calling Erin ‘my lady’ all the time seems pretty dumb to me.”
“That’s got nothin’ to do with this,” William responded, his face growing red. “We’re talkin’ about savin’ Mason, and you ain’t doin’ it alone.”
“She has to,” Lucie said.
William looked at the older woman. “Why are you here? Go cook somethin’!”
“Talk to me like that again,” Lucie responded, “and you’ll be the next thing I put in a pot to cook.” She calmed a bit. “Riley has to do it alone because everything has to happen at the same time.”
William’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”
“If we go get Mason now, Rendal’s going to know. The walls have to fall at nearly the exact time she’s grabbing Mason. It’s the only way to create enough confusion that the bastard doesn’t know what’s happening.”
“So? That don’t mean she has to do it alone. She’s still going to need help,” William shot back.
Lucie sighed, shaking her head. She looked at Riley, a slight grin pulling at her mouth. “Strong, but he’s never gonna be bright, is he?” She turned to Verith. “Tell him what’s going to happen when the castle comes down.”
“Debris and rock are going to fly forth at deadly speeds,” the general said. “The castle walls will keep them from going too far, so the populace is going to be safe. The square won’t be, though. It’s too close, and the destruction is going to make it out there.”
“I don’t give a damn.” William wasn’t going to give up. “I’ll outrun the rocks and whatever else is there. Riley isn’t going to get Mason alone.”
“You’re not understanding,” Lucie stressed. “You can’t outrun that much force. It’s too fast. That’s why she has to go alone. She’ll be able to protect herself and Mason, and she’ll be able to get them out of there quickly. But anyone else she has to protect is going to create more risk. You being there will make it harder for her to save Mason and herself.”
William opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.
After a second, he turned to Riley. “I don’t like it.”
“Don’t matter.” Riley smiled. “That’s the way it will be. I’ll get him and bring him back here, and then we’re home free. We’ll all go back to New Perth.”
“What about Rendal?” Lucie asked. “How do we make sure he dies?”
“He’ll be in the castle,” Verith volunteered. “No way he lives. I don’t care how strong his magic is, he can’t hold back thousands of pounds of stone.”
Lucie nodded, although Riley didn’t think she looked completely convinced.
“What is it, Lucie?” Riley asked.
“I just don’t like not being able to confirm that the bastard is dead.” She shook her head. “I don’t trust him, and when we leave here, I want this over.”
“I understand,” Verith said, “but he’ll be dead. He’s not going to survive. None of them will. The weapons, his scientist—all of them are going to be destroyed.”
“Okay.” Lucie sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
“He is,” Riley said. “All right, when is go time? We need to make sure the people in the castle understand when they have to be out by.”
“Once again, I’ve taken care of a lot of this,” William told them. “My brain is clearly working at a much higher capacity than anyone else’s. Especially yours, Lucie. The best time is going to be the morning shift change. The people getting off can actually leave, and those supposed to come in will just stay at home. It’ll be the easiest.”
Riley looked at Verith. “That will work?”
He nodded. “Yeah. As soon as Worth gets back, we’ll know we’re ready. We can send the word out then.”
“Okay.” Riley stood. She felt good about it. Everything was as it should be, and for once Rendal wasn’t one step ahead. “We’re going to win. We’re going to finally kick his fucking ass.”
Everyone around the table nodded.
When William spoke, he was grinning. “You’d think a lady of her stature would use better language.”
Chapter Eleven
“Artino said that he thought there was a break-in down in his laboratory.” Harold stood on the balcony, behind Rendal.
The mage stared at the cage in the kingdom’s square. Rendal could see it from here, although not in detail. Of course, he could send his mind down there and understand it better, but there wasn’t any need for that at the moment.
“Is that what he’s calling it? The bowels of the castle are his laboratory?” Rendal asked.
“Yes, sir,” Harold answered.
“The man continually makes me laugh.” He didn’t turn away as he spoke. This didn’t concern him much. Mason was all that mattered right now, because Riley would come for him sooner or later. She wouldn’t be able to help herself. “Tell me what happened.”
“The guards we put down there were attacked.”
“Have you spoken with them?” Rendal asked.
“I did—”
“Hold on,” the mage interrupted. “They only told Artino they’d been attacked?”
“Yes, sir. They were embarrassed. They said it was a woman who did it.”
Rendal whipped around, anger seizing him.
“Sir, I’ve checked with all of them,” Harold continued calmly. “It wasn’t the Right Hand. This woman had red hair, and while lethal, she wasn’t as deadly as Riley.”
Rendal felt his rage subsiding. Some, at least. “But these imbeciles didn’t tell anyone?”
“No, sir, but I’ve dealt with it. That won’t be a problem again.”
Rendal nodded. “Thank you, Harold. My apologies. This has been a stressful few days.” He turned back around to stare at the cage. “Continue. What did these morons tell you?”
“Well, pretty much that this woman showed up and kicked their asses, and that’s all they remember,” Harold started. “I performed an investigation within those working inside the laboratory. From what I can tell, no one saw that woman or anything out of the ordinary.”
“So we know these guards got their asses kicked but nothing else?” Rendal asked.
“Yes, sir. My opinion is that we have bigger things to deal with. If someone got down there to the laboratory, there is nothing we can do right now. Focusing on finding the redhaired woman will take attention away from finding the Right Hand.”
Rendal nodded. “I agree, Harold. Hell, it could have been one of the guard’s mistresses, pissed off, and they just don’t want to admit it. Just make sure the men are punished severely for not reporting it.”
“Yes, sir. That’s already been handled,” Harold answered.
“Have you heard or seen anything else about Riley?” She was all Rendal gave a damn about. The Right Hand.
“There was a report of something abno
rmal last evening, but we can’t confirm it was the Right Hand or one of her minions,” Harold responded.
“Yes, yes. I heard about the ice. I’m not concerned.” Rendal turned around and looked at Harold. Rendal was tired, and his bracelet was empty. It’d been empty for hours. He would be teaching his class soon, and he would have to refill the bracelet first.
He stepped toward Harold. “I can’t be everywhere at once, but I feel like I have to be right now. This operation...your operation, it’s too haphazard. There are too many moving pieces, and I don’t think you have control of it, Harold. How many men are beneath you?”
“Including Sidnie’s men?”
Rendal nodded.
“Two thousand. Maybe more.”
“Exactly,” Rendal answered. “You don’t even know. This place is a mess, and the more I talk to you, the messier I think it is. I’m exhausting myself, Harold. I’m having to send my mind out almost constantly looking for this woman when we should already have her.”
Harold swallowed but said nothing.
Rendal worked to keep his anger in check. He knew that lashing out too harshly right now would hurt his overall goal.
“Something is... Something is growing, Harold,” the mage continued as he stared at his second-in-command. “Something is about to happen. I can feel it. I’m standing out here watching this cage, but for the first time, I’m not in control, Harold. I don’t know where she is. I can’t bring her to me. Do you understand?”
“What do you need me to do?” Harold asked. “Just tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“Find her,” Rendal whispered. “Find her and bring her to me.”
Harold nodded. “I won’t quit until it’s accomplished.”
“If it’s not accomplished soon, you won’t have to quit,” the mage told him. “Because I’m going to quit you, Harold. Now get out of my sight, and don’t return until you have actionable information. Don’t return until you can tell me where the hell she is.”
“Yes, sir,” Harold responded. He turned from the balcony and walked back inside, leaving Rendal to himself.
The mage went back to staring at the cage.
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