Rydon turned and twisted his lips at her brother.
“Croak, you and Sonah take the horses out the main gate and bar it behind you. Wait for us on the west side.”
Terena turned to Rydon, laying her hand on his forearm as she leaned in. “Can you and Gabriol cover me from the roof of the stables? I’m heading to the east gate. I’ll start firing once I get there and you guys make your way to me.”
Rydon gave a curt nod, turning quickly with Gabriol at his heels.
“How do I bar the gate from the outside?” Croak asked Terena as he lengthened his stride to keep up with her.
“Figure it out! You’ll have plenty of time. They don’t know we’re?—”
“Soldiers!” Sonah hissed as she came running back in.
Terena swore. Looking around, she motioned for Croak and Sonah to follow where Rydon had gone up to the loft.
They had reached Seleste the night before without trouble. No Heylisian soldiers or Liodari in sight. Now, it seemed their relief was a joke from the Fates as Terena eyed the soldiers outside.
As the others ran for the ladder, Terena hid behind a bale of hay and peeked out. She didn’t recognize any of the soldiers, but they wore the Imperial uniform.
She swore again.
They didn’t seem to be in a hurry, but she silently urged them to move away from the gate.
Gaia was smiling down on her. The soldiers moved further inside. She backed up and took the ladder up to the loft.
“New plan. Croak, you, Sonah and Gabriol take the horses to the east gate. Slowly!” Rydon cautioned.
He turned to Terena. “You and I will cover them, and once you see them safely outside the city, we’ll make a run for the main gate and bar it ourselves.”
“Still want to meet up at the west?—”
“No,” Rydon bit out, shaking his head. “Ride for the main gate and we’ll head north from there. Fell River is only a few miles from here. We ride hard, we’ll be in the north before they can reach us.”
As the others went down the ladder, Terena peered down. “Hey, hey!” she hissed. Three sets of eyes looked up at her. “Take that cart in the back and dump some hay in it, please. Then push it out the back. All right? Just outside.”
Croak pointed his finger at her as he turned toward the cart. Gabriol followed. A minute later, the three of them left the stables, leading the horses as quietly as possible.
Terena pulled her bow over her shoulder and looked back at Rydon.
“Ready?”
He nodded once and she turned, moving in a crouch to the window. Swinging her leg over the ledge, Terena ducked under the opening until she was out on the narrow lip of the roof. She edged along until she could clamber up to the top of the building, Rydon right behind her.
Thankful for the moonless night and snowfall hiding their movements, Terena watched the soldiers loitering in the square.
As she was about to turn her head to ask Rydon if he saw the others, she caught sight of Daris Antonius striding toward the soldiers.
Ice slid down her spine as she watched him. A cascade of emotions battled inside her, her heart thumping wildly as she watched this man who’d made her feel alive again, who had touched her heart.
Knowing the whole damn time he had lied to her. Had killed Lerek.
And destroyed her.
“Those are Aurora’s men,” said Rydon, crouched beside her.
“Aye.”
“What are they doing in Osta?”
