Caleb gripped the podium so tightly his knuckles turned white. “And Kai and Chayce…unaccounted for…” A piece of the podium broke off with a loud crack in his hand.
A shiver ran up Ryleigh’s spine. This was not an enemy she’d want.
He tossed the piece to the floor, rubbed his hands together and dropped them to his sides. “We must invade Argonas.”
Darius Knight, head of the Security Council, surged to his feet. “Who will you take to invade Argonas? The Guard? The Death Dealers? And who will remain to protect the castle? You cannot leave Cymmera unprotected.”
“I didn’t say we’d leave her unprotected, but we must go after Chayce. If we allow him to gain strength, he will only be harder to defeat.” Caleb clenched his fists at his sides. “And we have to find Jackson. Even if he’s…” He spared a glance toward Ryleigh and Mia and rubbed a hand over his goatee. “Well, no matter what, he needs to be returned to Cymmera.” His expression softened for just an instant. “We have to bring him home, Darius.”
“Yes. We do.” Darius pressed a finger and thumb to his temples, massaged them for a moment before lowering his hand.
“What will be done with Chayce once you’ve found him?” Tatiana Storm, head of the Disciplinary Council, fidgeted with the thick, blonde braid in front of her shoulder, then tossed it over her back. “Will he be returned to stand trial?”
Ryleigh imagined it would be Tatiana’s responsibility to enforce any punishment deemed appropriate once Chayce was found. She should know these things. She couldn’t run a kingdom when she didn’t even know that.
Caleb turned his gaze on Ryleigh. Anger poured from him. “Your Majesty? How certain are you of Chayce’s guilt?”
“I am absolutely positive.”
“Then he will die on the spot.” Caleb turned away.
Tatiana shot from her chair, her deep, hunter green eyes darkened even further. “You can’t do that, Caleb. He must stand trial. He’s a member of the royal family.”
“I don’t care who he is. He’s guilty of treason.” Caleb slammed his fist straight down into the top of the podium, shattering the wood. “He most likely had something to do with King Maynard’s death and possibly Jackson’s as well.”
Ryleigh’s heart stopped.
“First of all, I refuse to believe Jackson is dead.” Tatiana rounded the table and stood toe to toe with Caleb, her slight stature appearing even smaller next to the giant warrior. “And second of all, do you hear yourself?” She placed her fisted hands on her hips. “Most likely. Possibly. You can’t kill a man based on most likely or possibly.”
“What would you have me do with him?”
Darius stepped between them. “Fighting amongst ourselves is not going to solve anything. We need a plan.”
Caleb glared at Tatiana another moment.
The woman didn’t back down an inch.
Admiration surged through Ryleigh. Would she ever possess the courage necessary to stand her ground so adamantly?
“Fine.” Caleb stepped back, unclenched his hands. “What do you have in mind, Darius?”
Darius rubbed his hands over his face. He paced the small area in the center of the horseshoe, sword clanking at his side. “I think we can all agree, we have to accept some members of the Guard may be traitors.”
Caleb stared at him a moment before conceding with a nod.
“We need to figure out who is loyal and who’s not. Then we’ll keep the guard here and send the Death Dealers after Jackson.” He shot Tatiana an apologetic look. “They can locate and assassinate Chayce and Kai as well.”
Tatiana huffed out a breath but remained silent.
Darius turned to Ryleigh. “Your Majesty?”
The others stared at her, waiting for their orders.
Tatiana folded her arms across her chest and tapped her foot.
Caleb vibrated with nervous energy.
Darius stood perfectly still.
“Elijah. You haven’t given an opinion.” Ryleigh glanced at the seer, who sat perfectly straight in his chair.
“I head the Peacekeeping Council, My Queen. I have no place in these discussions. Unfortunately, my skills are of no use at the moment.”
“Very well, then.” Ah jeez. She shoved her hands into her hair and squeezed, the pressure doing little to stop the headache pounding at her temples. Did she have the strength to sentence to men to death?
The Death Dealers stood at attention along the back wall.
“Proceed.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Caleb bowed, then began to discuss strategy with Darius.
Tatiana grabbed a large scroll from the table by her seat and spread it open on the table in the center of the horseshoe. The same table where Jackson had sat beside Ryleigh while these same people decided his fate, what seemed like a hundred years ago.
“For what it’s worth…” Mia smiled tentatively. “I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“Thank you, Mia. It’s worth a lot coming from the head of my Advisory Council.”
Mia frowned. “Let’s just find Jackson so we can go home.”
Ryleigh smiled. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Max, who had remained quiet throughout the proceedings, growled low in his throat. He jumped to his feet, stared at the door, and growled again.
Caleb and Darius stopped talking and watched the wolf as he started toward the door.
“What is it, bo—”
The door slammed open, and Lucas charged through with half an army in tow. “Savages have invaded Cymmera.”
Chaos erupted.
“Have they breeched the wall?”
“Not that we know of. Not yet, anyway, but some of the Guard have left their posts. We can only assume they’ve sworn their allegiance to Chayce.”
The council members shuffled papers together and stuffed them into bags.
Ryleigh shot to her feet. “Has the castle been evacuated?”
“No, Your Majesty.” Lucas grabbed Mia’s hand and pulled her forward, then put a hand on Ryleigh’s back to guide her toward the door.
Max growled.
When she placed her hand on his back, he fell into step beside her.
Lucas eyed the wolf, but continued at a brisk pace beside her. “There’s nowhere to evacuate everyone that Chayce wouldn’t know about. The castle will be the easiest place to defend. We are in the process of arming everyone, though.”
“What about the prisoners, have they been freed?”
“Not that I know of. They have not yet pledged loyalty, My Queen.”
“I don’t care. You must free them. They’re sitting ducks down there.”
“I’m sorry.” He spared her a glance as they rushed through the hallway. “I really am, My Queen, but it’s not up to me. I can’t make that decision.”
Great. She’d lost track of everyone else as Lucas and a horde of guards surrounded her and Mia and swept them down the hallway toward the center of the castle. Who would she ask anyway? Darius? An idea teased her awareness. “Where are you taking us, Lucas?”
“To the central part of the castle. We’re taking the children and whatever women are not lining the wall to the keep to protect them.”
“Go. Thank you.” She stopped and placed a hand on his arm. “You may return to your other duties. I can find my way.”
“Are you sure, Your Majesty?”
“Of course. Go. We are already short members of the Guard. You and your men are needed elsewhere.” She patted Max’s head. “Max is with us, we’ll be fine.”
With a quick bow of his head, Lucas gestured to his men and headed the other way at a jog.
Ryleigh grabbed Mia’s arm. “I want you to go to the central part of the castle and find Kiara. Can you do that?”
“What are you talking about? Where are you going?”
“Mia, please. I don’t have time to argue.”
“Oh, so you’
re rushing off into danger and sending me to the babysitter again?”
“Please, Mia. Please, co-operate with me. I have to do something, but I need to know you’re safe. Please. I’ll be there as soon as I can. Besides, I’m not sending you off to the babysitter. They have children to protect there. Children who will be frightened, and you’re good with kids.”
Mia threw up her hands. “Fine, Ryleigh.” She turned and continued toward the keep, then stopped and glanced back over her shoulder. “Be careful.”
“I will. I promise. Love you, little sis.”
Mia sighed. “Love you too, big sis.”
Mia’s footsteps receded, leaving Ryleigh alone again.
Max stared up at her.
Nah…Not alone. She made a quick detour through the training room to grab the sword she’d originally trained with. It was way too heavy to be effective for her in battle, but it was better than nothing. Since she’d lost the sword Jackson had given her and the bow and arrows from Elijah, she didn’t have much choice. With no time to waste, the scabbard she still wore beneath Jackson’s sweatshirt would have to do. She shoved the sword into the scabbard at her side, then took off at a run.
Eerie quiet descended. With everyone evacuating toward the center of the castle, the outer areas were deserted. Her footsteps echoed back at her, accompanied by the click, click, click of Max’s nails against the stone as he trotted at her side and the soft brush of the scabbard against her jeans. She reached the outer door that would lead across the back courtyard toward the dungeon and hesitated. Pressing her ear against the door, she closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and summoned whatever remaining courage would come. With no further thought, she shoved the door open and plunged through. Silence greeted her. “Come on, boy.” She had no idea how long she’d have, or if she could make it down to the dungeon and back before savages breeched the wall. The cold air burned her lungs as she ran. Her legs ached. She leaned forward into the wind and ran faster.
Max kept pace easily at her side.
She reached the metal door, then pressed against the stone Elijah had move to retrieve the key. It slid free easily. Yes. Ryleigh grabbed the key and jammed it into the lock. She had to get inside. She was too exposed out in the open. She opened the door and grabbed the lantern from the hook, then froze. The door fell slowly shut behind her, and she reached a hand out to stop it from closing. How was she supposed to light it? Elijah had called a ball of fire and lit the lantern with it. She had no clue how to do that. Was she even capable?
Indecision held her paralyzed as the seconds ticked off in her head. She tried to remember the layout of the dungeon. The steps went straight down. Then there was the tunnel. She swallowed the bile crawling up her throat. And the puddles of…whatever. The tunnel ended at the solid door. It didn’t branch off, as far as she could remember. The chamber with the cells had already been lit when Elijah had taken her there. Hopefully, it was still lit.
She hung the dark lantern back on its hook, pushed the door open as wide as it would go, and plunged recklessly down the stairs. Darkness enveloped her as the door fell slowly closed. It clicked home with a resounding thud before she reached the bottom. She stopped, unable to move forward. She couldn’t abandon these men. Men who were brought here by her people. Whether she had anything to do with it or not, these men were now as much her responsibility as any other Cymmeran citizens. Besides, she couldn’t leave Noah, or any other man, with no way to defend themselves against a savage attack.
Something nudged her side.
A scream tore free before she could stop it, and she reached for her weapon.
The nudge came again, followed by a whimper.
Max. She gasped in foul smelling air, and gagged on the taste of mold. She gripped the railing and took one tentative step forward. Then another.
A scraping noise came from somewhere in the darkness. Probably just rats or some other weird Cymmeran animal. She thought about the size of Nika and Nahara. And Max.
She picked up her pace. She reached the bottom of the stairway and headed through the tunnel, the darkness disorienting, her boots splashing in the puddles of muck she couldn’t avoid. She kept one hand held out in front of her and the other on Max’s back.
The cold brush of metal against her outstretched fingers brought a stab of relief. Running her hand across the door, she found the keyhole and latch. She fumbled the key into the lock, pushed the door open, and fell through the doorway. As she stumbled into the dim light, all eight men jumped to their feet.
“Ryleigh?” Noah reached through the bars to grab her, but he was too far away to reach.
“You have to listen to me.” She regained her footing and ran for the row of levers at the end of the corridor. “We are under attack. Savages have entered Cymmera at Chayce’s command.” She pulled the first lever. Nothing.
“What are you talking about?”
There was no time to explain. “Please. We’re under attack. These things are huge and vicious.” She pulled the next lever.
“I already told you we’re not fighting with you, Ryleigh.”
“Fine. I know.” She pulled another lever. This time, the grinding of gears began to raise the first cell bars into the ceiling. Oh, thank you.
The older man leaning on them jumped back, startled. “What the—”
“Listen to me. You have to get out of here. All of you. You must run.” She strained to pull the next lever, couldn’t budge it, skipped it and went on to the next one.
The man ducked beneath the bars. Free. He stared at the other older man.
“Help me. Hurry. We don’t have much time.”
The man approached from behind.
“No.” Noah yelled.
Max growled.
Ryleigh spun.
The man lunged for her sword.
Max leapt. He gripped the man’s arm in his mouth, then stared at Ryleigh as if waiting for instructions.
She pulled her sword free and pressed the tip against the man’s throat.
Lifting his free hand in surrender, he took a step back.
“Are you crazy? I’m trying to save you. Release him, Max.”
The wolf did as she said.
She sheathed the sword. “Get over here and pull this lever. It’s stuck.”
The man rubbed his wrist, which seemed intact despite the teeth marks.
“Jimmy. Do what she says.”
She offered Noah a silent thank you, then continued pulling levers, straining the muscles in her back. Jackson had made this look so easy. Jackson. She choked back the fear. No time.
She and Jimmy worked together to free the remaining men.
Noah ran to her side. “Explain what’s going on. Quickly.”
“Come. I’ll tell you while we run. There’s a tunnel. Once this door falls shut, it’ll be pitch black. You simply go straight through the tunnel and up the stairs, then I’ll open the door at the top and we’ll be outside. There’s a small chamber containing weapons. Each of you take what you want.”
Ryleigh unlocked the door.
Jimmy held it open. “Go. I’ll hold it open so you have some light.”
“Come on, boy.” Ryleigh jogged, her lungs screaming for fresh air, her mind begging to be out from beneath the ground before darkness descended.
Max trotted beside her.
“What do you want from us?” The other older man looked over his shoulder at the men following. He was clearly in charge.
“I want nothing. If you’d like to pledge your loyalty to Cymmera, I’d be happy to have you as soldiers. If not, you’re free to go.” She started up the stairs.
“What’s the catch?”
She spared him a scathing glance he couldn’t possibly see in the dark. “There’s no catch. There’s no way for you to leave Cymmera. You are welcome to stay. Or try to go. Whatever you want to do, but I couldn’t leave you caged down here for the savages.” She stopped at the door, unloc
ked it, and pushed it open.
Chaos assailed her.
Dragons littered the sky. Bulky, two headed dragons, fire pouring from their snouts, savages straddling their backs.
“What the…” Noah’s breath fell hot against the back of her neck.
People running, screams, and victory calls assailed her.
She slid around the corner of the wall, opened the chamber containing the weapons, and stuck the key in her pocket. It clinked against something hard. The Divination Stone. She’d never returned it to its base. She couldn’t seem to do anything right. All right. She had to return to the castle anyway. She’d simply stop at her room and return the stone before seeking out Mia and figuring out what to do next. If she could even make it that far.
“Take what you want. I have to go.”
Noah reached for her.
She sidestepped his touch. “Take care of yourselves.” She held his gaze a moment longer then darted from the cover of the building and across the open field with Max at her flank.
The battle raged around her.
Noah and the other men kept close to the wall, moving quickly away from the worst of the fighting. Well, she’d done what she could. Hopefully, they’d make it to safety.
She ran for the closest door, gripped the handle, and pulled. Locked. Of course, it was. The castle was under attack. She had to get to Mia. Staying close to the wall, as she’d seen the soldiers do, she ducked and hurried toward the stables. If she couldn’t get into the castle, maybe she could make it to the stable. If there was a dragon in there, maybe she could get up to one of the towers and get in that way. Jackson always kept his wall of windows unlocked in case Nika and Nahara wanted to get out.
She crept to the end of the wall and peeked around the corner into hell. Bodies littered the ground, both savages and Cymmerans. Maybe they could be saved. Dakota had seemed dead, but she’d saved him.
Max nudged his head beneath her hand, offering strength and comfort.
She might be able to save a few, or even one. If the fighting ever ended. Savages and Cymmeran soldiers locked in battle. At least, she thought they might be soldiers. Many of them wore civilian clothing, and some were women.
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