“That’s what you got out of that statement?” Shi’chen asked, raising a brow at his twin, and A’bbni blushed.
“I did some investigating while we were in Csereth, too,” Lai said. “I don’t know a lot of details, but Vr Ii-Heshar is definitely still involved in the slave trade.”
“Of course, he is,” Shi’chen grumbled, giving a furious kick to a bundle of hay. “What about Var An-Sha’kri or Vr An-Gea’la?”
Lai shook his head. “I did not find out much about them, but I think we need to assume that they cannot be trusted either. They haven’t done anything, but Kella says they have made demands of him before.”
A’bbni frowned darkly. “Then our first priority should be to protect Lord Kella.”
“No, the first priority is to protect you two,” Lai replied firmly. “Kella can handle himself, and frankly, he’s worth a lot more to both the goblins and the elves alive than dead. You two are not.”
Shi’chen glowered at the ground, knowing Lai had a point. “There is no good way for us to make a plan without Vr Ii-Heshar and Var An-Sha’kri being involved. So, they will know every move we’re going to make.”
“They may know every move, but they may not know when we’re going to make it,” Lai said, a glint in his green eyes that Shi’chen hadn’t seen before. “I’ve never overthrown a kingdom before, but I would assume in order to remove the Emperor, we only need the Emperor, right?”
“Right,” A’bbni said slowly, and Shi’chen squeezed his brother’s hand lightly.
Lai grinned. “I have an idea, if you know how you can get to your Cousin.”
Shi’chen thought for a moment, then nodded. “The Keep is the easiest place to find him, and I know how to get into it.”
“Shi’chen!” A’bbni protested, and Shi’chen winced as A’bbni’s hand clenched around his fingers. “The Keep is literally a fortress!”
“Yes, and one we escaped from,” Shi’chen reminded him.
“Only with Commander Ahea’a’s help,” A’bbni said firmly. “And she is not here to help us this time.”
“No one else knows about the entrance she showed us,” Shi’chen said, gently brushing A’bbni’s fingers with his own to get him to loosen his grip.
“That you know of!” A’bbni pointed out. “You have no idea what she or anyone else might have said if En’shea tortured them.”
“It’s still my best option to get in without being spotted.”
“I do not want you to go by yourself,” A’bbni said softly. “I will go with you.”
“No,” Shi’chen said firmly. He remembered the argument that had ensued the last time he told A’bbni ‘no,’ but this time it was more serious, and he would rather upset A’bbni again than put him in danger.
A’bbni raised a brow at him. “You are not going by yourself, Shi’chen.”
“I will not let you go in there with me, i-sha,” Shi’chen said, reaching up to gently touch A’bbni’s cheek. “I will not let En’shea or Hi’jan get their hands on you again.” A’bbni leaned into his touch, his ears drooping at the thought.
“I’ll go with you,” Lai said, making both of the twins jump.
Shi’chen turned to him, shaking his head. “I could not ask you to do that, Lai.”
“You’re not. I’m volunteering.”
“It’s too dangerous for you,” Shi’chen replied.
Lai shrugged. “Then it’s too dangerous for you, Your Highness. You shouldn’t go in there alone.”
“You should be protecting A’bbni.”
“I am safer here than anywhere else,” A’bbni retorted. “Is that not why you wanted me to stay here instead of going with you?”
Shi’chen narrowed his eyes at his brother. “I hate it when you use that kind of logic.”
“I know.” A’bbni actually looked a little smug at that, and Shi’chen couldn’t help but smile.
