“But there’s something I can do.” Leith leaned forward. The ropes binding him to the chair pressed through his shirt and cut into his skin. “I can buy you time.”
“How do you propose do to that?” Prince Keevan crossed his arms again. General Stewart stepped closer.
“If you let me go, I’ll ride to Nalgar Castle and turn myself in. My appearance will disrupt the wedding, and Respen will turn his focus on me.”
Prince Keevan straightened. “Respen will kill you.”
“Yes. But not until after he tortures me.” Leith hardened his voice and mind. He couldn’t think about it now. He’d already thought this through in the cave. Some might accuse him of committing suicide, but this was Renna’s only chance. He’d done as she’d asked and gotten Brandi to safety. Now it was time to return for her.
“I assume you want something from me, unless you’re trying to throw your life away.”
Leith focused on Prince Keevan. “I’ll stop the wedding and keep Respen’s attention focused on me and away from Renna. That’ll give you the time to march on Acktar, take Nalgar Castle, and defeat Respen once and for all, which will ultimately save Renna.”
“How do I know you won’t simply disappear? Or you’re on Respen’s side, and you’ll warn him of our attack?”
Leith raised his eyebrows. “Do you really think Respen would sacrifice ten of his Blades—many of his most experienced Blades—to plant me with the Resistance? Or that I could fool Lord Alistair, Shad, Renna, and Brandi for months? I promise you, my sole aim is to rescue Renna.”
Prince Keevan nodded slowly. “General Stewart, please call the rest of the council in. I believe this is a plan we should consider.”
General Stewart poked his head out the door, beckoned, and stood aside. Lady Lorraine swept into the room and sat at the far end of the table. Shad strode in and took the seat across from Leith. General Stewart closed the door and took a seat.
Prince Keevan slid into the chair at the head of the table. “The Blade has proposed a plan. If you would explain?” He tipped his head to Leith.
Leith drew in a deep breath. Shad wasn’t going to be happy with this idea. “I plan to turn myself in.”
“What?” Shad shot to his feet. “You’ll be tortured and killed.”
“Please hear me out.” Leith held Shad’s gaze. “Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”
Shad returned to his seat and crossed his arms.
“Here’s our problem. Walden could be overrun at any time. Renna is set to marry Respen in two weeks, but the army can’t get to Nalgar in time.” Leith shifted in the seat. The wooden back pressed against his shoulder blades. “Therefore, the army’s mission is to free Walden, break through Respen’s army, take the castle, and defeat Respen, rescuing Renna in the process.”
Lady Lorraine nodded. “That’s correct. And turning yourself in will buy us the time to accomplish all that?”
“Yes. I’ll stop Renna’s wedding. Respen will keep Renna alive while he’s torturing me. She’s still his best way to control me, and he won’t kill me until the next Meeting of the Blades.” Leith focused on Prince Keevan and General Stewart at the far end of the table. He didn’t dare look at Shad’s expression. “When Respen meets with his Blades, the entire castle knows not to disturb him. No one besides the Blades and King Respen are even allowed in that room. If you attack Nalgar Castle while Respen is in a Meeting of the Blades, the soldiers will be in chaos without their leader.”
“When is the next Meeting?” Lady Lorraine fixed him with a calculating gaze.
“In three weeks. It’ll begin at exactly eight in the morning. You’ll want to be in position before then. Respen will enter the Tower when it’s about to start.”
“Why do you have to be there?” Based on Shad’s voice, he was two seconds away from dragging Leith from the room and shaking sense into him. “Yes, the whole army can’t stop Renna’s wedding, but a small group could. What if we did a quick raid and rescued Renna before the army arrived? Neither of you would be in danger of torture or death.”
Such a tempting plan. It’d be safer for Renna, if it succeeded.
But Martyn stood in the way. To rescue Renna, they’d have to fight him. Most likely kill him.
Martyn’s life or Renna’s. Leith rested his head against the back of the chair. Did he have to choose between them? Did he dare gamble and try to save both?
“A small group might be able to get in, but you’d run into the same problem I had last time. Renna is guarded by a Blade. He’ll raise the alarm, and we’d never get her out of the castle.” Leith shifted against the ropes to face Shad. “The only way is to conquer the whole castle.”
“And at the first sign of trouble, Respen will kill her.”
“That’s why I have to be there, and you have to attack during the Meeting. Respen might not know what’s happening, but if he does, I’ll be his first target, buying time for you to rescue Renna.”
Shad huffed, crossed his arms, and flopped against the back of his chair. “You’re determined to do this.”
“Yes.” This was their best option, for Renna and Martyn. If only there was some way to get Renna out of there without risking Martyn. But Respen wouldn’t let her go, and it’d take something drastic for Martyn to betray his duty to Respen.
Leith turned to Prince Keevan. “If you attack during the Meeting, Respen and his Blades will be in one place.You can capture them all at once. You’ll need someone in the Meeting to make sure the door remains unlocked, and Respen doesn’t barricade himself inside.”
General Stewart cleared his throat. “That’s a wise consideration, Your Highness. Unless we wish to fight for every room and tower in the castle, we’ll need to capture Respen as quickly as possible in the battle. Once we have him, we can end most of the fighting.”
“The Blades will still cause problems.” A tiny frown crossed Lady Lorraine’s face.
“The current First Blade will be placed in charge of both me and Renna. Respen might even call back one or two more Blades to help guard me. I flaunted his control. He won’t take chances that I’ll do it again. You’ll face fewer Blades when fighting his army.” Leith shrugged. “The Blades are assassins. Most of them aren’t the best overall fighters. If you can corner them in the Tower, you’ll have the advantage in numbers and the type of battle.”
General Stewart faced Prince Keevan. “It’s a good plan.”
“No, it’s not.” Shad’s square jaw jutted forward. “What if Respen decides to kill you early?”
“I escaped Respen’s Blades. I hurt his pride. He has to kill me in front of all his Blades to show he’s still in control. He won’t kill me early.”
“If he moves the Meeting?”
Leith snorted. Respen considered his Meetings a point of pride. He’d sooner surrender than change it. “I doubt it. It’d be difficult to communicate a change of plans to all his Blades. Plus, I think you’d notice if he did. A bunch of confused Blades heading back to the castle a day early would be easy to spot.”
“I still don’t like it.” Shad muttered so quietly only Leith could hear.
Of course he didn’t. Leith wasn’t thrilled about the prospect of a week of torture either. But to save Renna from marrying Respen, delay and distract Respen long enough for the army to arrive, and protect Martyn from more punishment, Leith had no other choice.
Prince Keevan met General Stewart’s gaze. To Leith, he looked young, more like the twenty-three year old boy he was than the Leader he’d been forced to be. “This is it. We have one shot to take back Acktar. If we fail, Respen will win. Permanently. Are we ready?”
“Yes, you are.” General Stewart’s tone was gentle.
Leith flexed his fingers as he waited for their answer. If he were to arrive at Nalgar Castle in time to stop Renna’s wedding to Respen, he needed to leave soon. He had less than two weeks. The journey from Eagle Heights through the Sheered Rock Hills to the edge of Acktar’s prairie would take most of that
time.
Prince Keevan drew his back straight. His face hardened. “We have a battle to plan.”
29
She was getting married today. Renna stared at herself in the full length mirror. The light blue dress hugged her torso, then cascaded from her hips to the floor. The simple embroidery around the hem and neckline gave it an elegant, but understated look. A maid had curled her hair and let it fall around her shoulders and down her back. If not for the frown on her face, she’d look like a princess. Or a queen.
At a knock on her door, she turned, clutching the sides of her skirt. Martyn stepped into the room. He eyed her. “Time to go.”
He sounded like he was announcing her execution. He might as well be. Renna stumbled across the room and grasped his arm. She tottered down the hallway and the brick staircase. If not for the strength of Martyn’s arm, she would’ve fallen down the stairs and landed on her face.
As they crossed the Queen’s Court, she could hear the strains of music coming from the Great Hall. The wedding had already started. Besides being her escort across the lawn, Martyn had also been assigned the duty of walking her down the aisle. Renna suspected Respen wanted to make sure his bride didn’t bolt. Not that she wasn’t considering it.
At the broad doors leading into the Great Hall, Martyn paused. She stared at him. Why was he hesitating? Respen wouldn’t be happy if Martyn delayed the wedding even by a few minutes. Glancing around, Martyn leaned closer and cleared his throat. “You should know before you go in there. Leith is alive.”
His words rang in her ears, roaring, pounding. Alive. How could he be alive? He died in the Waste. Martyn told her he’d died.
Her knees buckled. She gripped Martyn’s arm as the whole room spun. “How? You sure?” She couldn’t take it if Martyn was lying to her.
“Eighth Blade Harding reported that Leith survived the Waste. He joined Shadrach Alistair and the others and journeyed deeper into the Sheered Rock Hills, presumably to the Resistance’s hideout. Leith made sure Harding didn’t follow them.”
Leith was alive. Her body shook with the force of that one word. Alive.
No wonder King Respen had changed the date of their wedding so suddenly. It wasn’t due to pressure from Lord Norton and Lord Beregern. Respen had learned Leith was still alive. Leith might’ve had a chance of stopping the wedding if it had remained on the original date, but he wouldn’t know about the change until too late. By the time he could get here, she’d be married to Respen for a week or more.
Martyn had kept this a secret for two days. As a loyal First Blade, he should’ve let her walk down that aisle believing Leith was dead. She peered up at him, trying to read the expression in his deep, brown eyes. “Why tell me now?”
“I owe Leith that much.” Martyn gripped her arm tighter. “It doesn’t change anything. He won’t stop the wedding.”
The wedding. She couldn’t walk in now. What was Martyn thinking? What was she thinking?
Martyn knocked on the doors. They swung open, held by liveried footmen, and Martyn dragged her, stumbling, into the Great Hall.
Benches lined the front of the Great Hall. The back rows were filled with soldiers, most of the garrison here at Nalgar Castle. Lord Norton, Lord Beregern, and a few of the other nobles Respen had introduced her to in the last week perched on the front benches.
Respen stood at the front, clothed in a rich, black shirt with a sky blue doublet and black breeches. His black hair lay slicked back while his beard was trimmed to a point sharp enough to draw blood.
Everything wrong about the scene swept through her. The mass of guests she didn’t know. The lack of attendants. No parents, friends, or guardians to give their blessing on the marriage. And, most of all, the wrong groom.
Martyn swept up the aisle between the benches. Renna had no choice but to trot to keep up.
Leith was alive. The words pounded in time with the music swelling from the instruments in the corner.
Leith was alive. The words whispered with the silk of her dress and the shuffling of her feet on the velvet rug.
Leith was alive. The words beat in time with her heart, giving life, giving hope.
They’d arrived at the front of the Hall. She found her arm tucked around Respen’s as he led her to her place before a minister. Had Respen scrounged him from a jail cell somewhere? Was he willing to perform this marriage in exchange for his freedom?
The minister’s throat bobbed as he began to recite the familiar marriage form Uncle Abel had read for so many weddings back in Stetterly. Renna couldn’t concentrate. All she could hear was the tempest of her pulse shouting. Leith was alive.
Had she given up too soon? What if marrying Respen wasn’t what she was supposed to do? Perhaps her duty was to keep waiting. Waiting for Leith.
How had she thought she could do this?
She couldn’t.
Respen hid this information to take away her hope. He wouldn’t keep his promise to stop persecuting the Christians. He’d say he’d stopped. But he wouldn’t mean it. He’d keep her locked in Nalgar Castle, ignorant of the truth, while he continued to rule Acktar as he pleased. She’d discover his deception somehow, but by then it’d be too late. She’d be his wife, bearing his children and carrying her broken heart.
This sacrifice on her part was pointless. It wouldn’t save anyone.
The minister paused. Why was everyone staring at her? Respen’s dark eyes swept over her before he stated, “She does.”
No, she didn’t. She wasn’t going to marry him. She ripped her arm from his grasp. “No!”
His face hardened. He lashed forward, gripped her elbow, and dragged her toward him. “You dare defy me?”
“I won’t marry you.” She lifted her chin and met his gaze. “It isn’t the right thing to do.”
Respen’s eyes glanced toward the row of noblemen. Lord Norton’s cold eyes fixed on them. Lord Beregern scowled.
Respen turned to the minister. “Marry us.”
The minister’s eyes darted between her and Respen. Renna met the minister’s gaze. His throat jiggled, his eyes bulging. She knew all too well that faith in God didn’t always take away the fear of death. That kind of fear had to be battled. Sometimes it’d be conquered, but it’d slip back through the cracks the moment victory seemed achieved.
She regained her footing and stopped fighting. She needed to remind the minister of the One who fought on their side. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”
The minister’s shoulders sagged. He bowed his head and finished the verse. “The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” When he looked up again, his eyes burned as he met Respen’s gaze. “Your Majesty, I won’t perform this wedding against the lady’s will.”
It happened too fast. One moment Respen gripped her arm, the next he’d drawn his knife and plunged it into the minister’s chest. Renna’s throat closed. She couldn’t even scream as the minister collapsed in front of her, blood spreading onto the flagstones.
Respen grabbed both of her arms and shoved his face close to hers. His breath scalded her cheeks. “You’ll be next. You chose your birthday for our wedding. Fine. Let it be the day of your execution instead.”
He shoved her backwards. She stumbled. Hands gripped her elbows as she landed against Martyn.
Execution. She sucked in a breath. She should’ve expected it. She’d defied Respen in front of his supporters. He could do nothing less than the harshest punishment possible.
Respen waved them away. “Take her to the Tower.”
Martyn dragged her from the hall past Lord Norton’s glittering eyes and the soldiers’ confused mutterings, across the bridge, and into the dark Blades’ Tower. The two Blades sitting at one of the tables stared as he hustled her past them and up the three flights of stairs to the fourth floor.
He tossed her into the black room. She fell against the cot as he locked the door after her. But she didn’t care. Leith would be on his way to rescue he
r as soon as he’d heard the news of the wedding. When he arrived, hopefully he’d be able to stop her execution.
The darkness closed around her. She slid to the floor. That’s what Respen was counting on. He knew Leith would try to rescue her from the wedding.
And when he did, Respen would spring his trap.
30
Leith was leaving. Again. As she’d known he would. Brandi watched as he swung a saddle onto Big Brown and tightened its girth. The horse thrust his ears back in an ornery expression.
All around them, the hideout bustled with activity. Resistance soldiers trained with a new fire in their eyes, and Aindre the blacksmith had been busily honing weapons and fixing armor when Brandi had passed his cabin earlier that morning. The women in the camp smoked meat and cooked biscuits that traveled well.
Last she’d heard, the army planned to leave tomorrow, the earliest that all the men could be assembled and the last preparations made. It’d also give Leith and Shad enough time to scout Respen’s army around Walden. While Leith continued on to Nalgar Castle, Shad would meet the Resistance army and help tweak their plans to take Walden.
Hefting the saddlebags she’d filled with food, she carried them to Leith. “You’re really leaving?”
She sounded like such a child. She was fourteen after all. If she was a boy, she’d be old enough to join the army.
Leith knelt, his face twisting as if she’d stabbed him. His voice pitched low as he gripped her shoulders. “I don’t want to leave you behind, but I have to help Renna. She needs me more than you do right now.”
She nodded, biting her lip to hold in the scurrying feeling in her stomach. It didn’t work. She’d heard rumors around camp about what Leith was planning. He’d never let her come along to help. “You’ll keep her safe, won’t you?”
“I’ll do my best.”
He’d be hard pressed to keep that promise. Leith wasn’t invincible. He’d do his best, but his best might not be good enough. Both he and Renna might die.
Defy (The Blades of Acktar Book 3) Page 16