“No,” Colin whispered, looking horror struck.
“Yes.” Laster laughed, taking a step back from them and turning. “I told you that my knight may as well have been my father. I was a fourth son, a back-up heir if my brothers had all somehow died. My life meant nothing.
Thornten’s King at the time, Temrod, decided to execute me after that.” He stopped, turning his head upward to stare at the few stars starting to appear through the tangle of branches and Will nodded, understanding.
“The Ranger…he let you go.”
“That was the day the youngest Prince of Thornten turned traitor to his bloodlines and joined Alamore,” Ross growled. “He helped Laster escape.”
“Surely the knights of Alamore tried to save him,” Rowan interjected. “Like you two are here now.”
Laster raised his brows, turning to them again. “Knights don’t defy the King often. Revlan’s father, King Paradon, was a fair King but also knew that his brother, the King of Thornten, would take any excuse to wage a war against Alamore.
He told his knights not to attempt a rescue of one squire. When the Ranger and I reached the woods, however, we found three people hadn’t obeyed Paradon. They captured the Ranger and helped us get to Alamore.” He lifted a hand, ticking names off on his fingers. “Ross, Richard, and your father.” His eyes fixed on Colin. “Cavian Greyhead, Count of Lonnac.”
“My father?” Colin said, mouth falling slightly open. “He…” he looked between Ross and Laster, both of whom nodded.
“Seems only fitting, then, that Colin and us help out this time, too, doesn’t it?” Rowan said, pushing himself upright and glowering at the two knights.
“What?” Ross growled, eyes flashing.
“We’re saving the Ranger,” Niet said firmly, meeting Ross’s eyes with a defiant glower. “None of us came all this way to turn around.”
“Laster and I initially came this way thinking all we had to worry about was ourselves,” Ross snarled. “Not a bunch of runaway squires.”
“But we can help,” Will insisted, stepping forward to stand at Niet’s side. “We’ve already gone to the city and started getting information. If we’re already here we should be helping.”
“And when you were browsing the vendor stalls on the high street, did you see your face plastered to the sides of buildings? Did you see the money offered for your head?” Ross demanded, wheeling on Will.
Will braced himself, fighting the urge to step back, away from the intimidating knight. “Yeah, but I’m not living my life in the walls of Alamore, and Marl isn’t going away, so I better learn to get around him, shouldn’t I?”
Laster let out a derisive snort, but Will refused to turn from Ross, glowering into the dark blue eyes. After a moment, it was the knight who stepped back, face darkening. He turned from Will and stalked to the tree trunk where only Colin sat now, lowering himself to his squire’s side.
“Right then,” he growled, scowling into the flames. “Did you find anything useful to our rescuing the Ranger on your little day trip, boys?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Will couldn’t help but feel jealous of how much his friends had done in the day that he was stuck at camp. Niet had managed to convince the soldiers on the wall that he was a Kelkorian guard sent to relieve one of them and patrolled along the outer walls of the castle all morning, learning the schedules and ins and outs of where people were positioned. Rowan, even for just being with the food vendor all day, still had an idea of when they would be bringing the Ranger to the stage to kill, the events beforehand, as well as also having several more apples shoved in various pockets.
“Alright, Colin,” Ross said, turning to his squire and waving away Rowan’s proffered apple. “What did you find?”
“They’re not keeping the Ranger in the dungeons,” Colin muttered, staring transfixed into the fire.
“What?” Will stared at him. “How do you know that?”
“Because,” said Colin, straightening and shaking his head. “I heard Marl say it.”
All five of them gawked at Colin whose face turned beetroot red. “What?” he asked, somewhat defensively.
“How the bloody Thornten did you get up close and personal with Marl without getting recognized?” Rowan demanded, crossing his arms. “You didn’t even have a fabulous beard!”
Colin grinned sheepishly, nodding to Ross. “I kept my head down and the attention off myself, like when you’re telling me not to show off with swords. Just keep my head down and keep focused. I decided the best way to get in was to act like I belonged in there, so I managed to get into the kitchens and help serve the afternoon meal to the Thornten council.”
Will noticed Laster look grudgingly impressed, running a hand over the stubble on his jaw. “And none of them recognized you?”
“They wouldn’t.” It was Ross who answered in his low growl, leaning back and chuckling darkly. “The kitchen help would be beneath their notice. But, if it was a full council planning the execution day, I’m sure there were interesting tidbits to hear.”
“There were,” Colin nodded, now addressing Ross. “They’re keeping him in whatever wing of the castle he used to live in as a Prince.”
“Sixth floor, southeast wing,” Ross said automatically. Will stared at him, taken aback. How did Ross know his way about the castle that well?
There wasn’t a chance to ask as Colin continued. “They seem to think it an entertaining irony that he gets to be what he refused to be–a Prince–until his execution, as well as thinking it’ll wrong foot a rescue.”
“Which means they’re expecting a rescue,” Niet said, face falling.
“Of course they are,” Laster snapped. “Have you met the knights of Alamore? It would be stupid to assume any didn’t decide to come out and give this rescue an attempt. Greyhead, continue.”
“They’re planning an armed escort of fifteen guards to bring him down to the courtyard and Tollien plans to kill him himself.”
“Tollien?” Will asked, bewildered. “Not Marl?”
“No.” Ross chuckled again. “No, Tollien will want to have that power as he is the King of Thornten, and the Ranger is a threat to his throne more than Marl’s. The country knows that. He’s a traitor to Thornten and his death should belong to their King. Anyway, Marl is a pawn to Tollien’s power. His seat on Kelkor’s throne was won with Tollien’s men. It was to build an alliance without having to stretch his powers thin. He knows Marl will make sure that throne stays loyal now to Thornten, so long as he’s in it.”
Will shivered at the words. He had never considered Tollien’s hand playing above Marl, ordering him about, even if he had known Marl was his spy before. Somehow that made Tollien much more threatening.
“It doesn’t sound like we have much chance of saving him from fifteen guards,” Laster said, sneering. “Did they mention if there are guards outside his chambers?”
“Four,” Niet answered this time. “The guards I was on the wall with were discussing that they found it comical that an unarmed man, weak with poison, needed four guards. They seemed to think it a waste.”
“Because they don’t know the Ranger,” Ross growled. He pushed his hands through his hair, sighing. “Very well, we have to get him before the guards get there then, but I’m not sure how to get us in the castle, let alone to that wing. It’s far from any of the doors.”
“What about windows?” Niet offered.
The knights stared at him a moment, Laster’s expression contemptuous, Ross’s dark. “I’m not letting you through any window into that castle without my supervision. You’ve already snuck off once to kill Marl, and given the chance, my guess is you’d do it again. Anyway, it’s six stories up, we can’t climb that high.”
“What about being lowered down?” Will asked. He could feel the old excitement stirring again. “What if we lowered someone down with a way to cut the Ranger free. Then other people could pull him upwards if he’s too weak to climb. Two people could lift th
e Ranger.” He noticed Niet’s half smile and knew the older squire had understood his thinking.
“Which comes back to the fact we still won’t let Niet enter that castle without Ross or myself,” Laster scoffed. “And you’d need to know what you were doing to get in and out down a rope.”
“If you won’t trust me, I understand. But that doesn’t mean we can’t do it. Will could get through that window,” said Niet.
“No.” Ross shook his head. “We aren’t putting him in harm’s way about this. The Ranger won’t thank us.”
“Well, Ranger won’t thank anyone if he’s dead either,” Rowan pointed out with a half grin. “Plus, I agree, Will’s already scaled down some walls, what’s another?”
Ross glowered at Rowan a long moment until Laster sighed and stood, rolling his amber eyes. “I’ve had enough of this. How about we get turned in for the night? We still have time. Tomorrow we will patrol for another way in and, if by tomorrow morning we don’t have a different solution, we’ll see if Niet’s mad scheme is our only option.”
“I can take the first shift of watch,” Ross growled, turning away from the squires and pushing himself upright. “You all get some rest. You’ll need it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Laster’s story haunted Will’s dreams that night. In nightmares he watched, helpless to escape the Ranger’s grip, as Marl struck at Haru with Ross’s blue hilted sword. His screams were mute even to his sleeping ears and, when he finally woke, he could taste blood in his mouth from biting the inside of his cheek.
“You alright?”
Will blinked, peering upwards through the gloom of the half-light before dawn. Niet stood over him, brow furrowed in concern.
“Fine,” Will mumbled, sitting upright and wincing. His muscles ached from being taut most the night. “What time is it? Did I miss my watch?”
“No.” Niet shook his head, sinking to sit next to Will. “We opted not to give you one.”
“What? But you need sleep and-”
Niet held up a hand, cutting him off. “Laster and Ross took the first two shifts. They wanted you three rested up. Ross is worried and I think it makes him feel better to know you’re rested.”
“Are you about to suggest I stay here?” Will asked, gritting his teeth.
Niet snorted. “Not hardly. Who was it who suggested you scale the wall in the first place?”
“Right.” Will grinned sheepishly. “But you also thought I should stay here before.”
“That was because we didn’t know what to expect,” Niet pointed out. A shadow crossed his face and he grimaced. “Now we know we need you out there too.”
Will nodded and glanced around at their silent companions. He saw Colin had curled into a tight ball, wrapped in not only his cloak but another. One glance toward Ross, lying on his back, eyes closed, one hand gripping the hilt of his sword, told him who had covered Colin.
“I keep thinking about Laster.” The words slipped from Will unbidden. Turning to Niet he saw the older squire was nodding, a grim look in his dark eyes.
“Same here,” Niet admitted.
“Like, I never knew that about him.” Will ran a hand through his hair. Now that he was speaking it seemed impossible to stop. “I always figured that his hatred of the Ranger was about something stupid, like jealousy, like you said, or something but…” His throat tightened. It was hard to admit that he had never cared to think about what the Ranger had done before joining Alamore.
“He probably saved Laster’s life holding him back,” Niet said, though his tone was still dark. “But, no, I shouldn’t have pushed him. I should have realized he’d have a better reason to hate the Ranger than that... just like Serena…”
“Yeah.” Will nodded. “Just like Serena.”
They slipped into silence, both lost in their own thoughts. After a moment, Niet exhaled, shaking his head. “It makes me wish more than ever that I could kill Marl.”
“Yeah, but he’ll be too well protected now. He’s a King, after all,” Will muttered.
Niet shrugged. “So was Azric.”
“He died in one-on-one combat,” Will argued. He didn’t like the shadow that was crossing Niet’s face. “You heard the knights, Niet. They won’t let you out of their sight in there. We have to stay focused. Marl would kill us in a heartbeat without any regret. Save vengeance for another day, we need to get the Ranger.” When Niet didn’t answer, Will narrowed his eyes. “Niet.”
“Fine,” Niet huffed, lip curling. “I won’t go looking for him, but if he turns up, if he’s in our way, I’m going to take the chance I get to kill him.”
“Yeah, well,” Will grumbled, readjusting himself on the uneven ground. “Just don’t go looking for him.”
***
Preparing to enter the castle and celebrations felt strange. Will wasn’t sure if it was the appearance of the knights, the days in the unfamiliar forest camp, the nightmares that played through his mind, or the failure to find a new plan.
It was evident that Ross was taking this last truth harder than the rest of them. For the past day, he had barely spoken, leaving every so often in a cloak to prowl through the city streets, seeking new information or ideas.
On the morning of the execution, he sat apart from them, where the trees thinned, and the distant castle could be seen. It was strange to see him brooding and when Will brought his breakfast, his only response was a low growled thanks.
“Your knight is the grouchiest creature I have ever met,” Rowan told Colin as Will returned to their small group, several paces out of ear shot of the knights.
Colin grimaced, running his bread-free hand through his golden hair. “He’s worried.”
“We all are, but you don’t see me quietly sulking in a corner, do you?” Rowan demanded, then frowned, turning to Will. “Do forests have corners? I guess it’d be edge, wouldn’t it?”
Will stifled a snort of laughter in his elbow, shaking his head. “You’re an idiot.”
“Alright, Will, for that sass, I propose you go sit on the Grump Stump with Ross there!” Rowan said dramatically, pointing toward Ross’s hunched figure.
Will playfully punched Rowan in the arm, rolling his eyes. “Only after you, because I believe in ladies first, Rowan.”
The others laughed and some of the tension seemed to ease from the knot suffocating him. This was how it was supposed to be. They had a plan to rescue the Ranger and there was nothing else they truly needed now. Worrying wouldn’t get him anywhere.
“I never knew any of that stuff about Laster, did you?” Colin asked, turning the bread in his hands.
“No,” Will and Rowan both answered, Rowan’s grin slipping several notches.
“Your father never mentioned it or anything?” Rowan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Colin shook his head. “He died when I was still young, so he might have thought it too much for me at that time.”
The sound of the knights approaching ended any further conversation. Ross’s face was resigned, Laster’s sneer set, as they stopped above the squires.
“We’ve come to a decision,” Ross growled.
Though Will suspected what they had decided by Ross’s expression he asked anyway. “And what’s the plan then?”
“We’ll proceed with Niet’s idea,” Laster responded coolly. “As Ross and I know our ways about but are more likely to be recognized than most of you…” His eyes hesitated a moment longer on Will, his lip curling still further. “That means he and I should stand guard where we are less noticeable. The crowds, that is. Which means Niet should resume his act of yesterday, pretending to be a guard. Ross will take you and Niet both through the castle in the less traveled routes inside, while I put up with Rowan and Colin.” His expression changed to one of pained annoyance.
“Right.” Will stood, no longer interested in the remaining piece of bread and shoving it into his pocket. “Then we should head off.”
“Not so fast.” Ross’s hand clamped down on Will
’s shoulder, jerking him to a halt. “Laster and I won’t just be here to watch. We want our exit to be as assured as possible in the event you or Niet are caught in the castle.” His dark eyes stared into Will’s, chips of sapphire ice in stony features. “We have to be able to get out safely which will be what Laster and I will try to ensure.”
“How can you do that?” Colin asked, bewildered.
“With Tollien’s heir,” Laster answered again. “Ross and I will make it our tactic to capture and escape with him.”
Will stared at the two knights in utter disbelief. “Tollien’s heir?”
“Yes.” Ross nodded. “From the rumors we’ve caught, it seems Tollien’s son has returned to Thornten. The celebration would be the time that Tollien introduces him to court as his heir.”
“You’re going to kidnap a Prince?” Will demanded, turning from Laster to Ross. “No one ever said anything about kidnapping. We can’t do that.”
“And why not?” Laster raised an eyebrow, sneering.
“It’s wrong,” Will said flatly.
“Did they not just kidnap a Prince themselves?” Laster fired back. “Now that’s the plan, like it or not. If we manage to take him with us, it will ensure you all get out alive. Unless, of course, you prefer the alternative of being captured, tortured, and turned into Tollien’s puppet for the throne of Kelkor?”
“Laster,” Ross growled. Turning to Will again he nodded. “If we can capture and remove the Prince with us, that will keep eyes away from you and give us a strong negotiation in the event you’re caught.”
The Cutthroat Prince (William of Alamore Series Book 2) Page 38