Terena cast him a side-eyed look. “Shall we ask?”
“Are they working with Sparta?”
Terena let out an exasperated sigh and stared at Rydon until he shrugged.
She pulled in a shaky breath and tore her gaze away to look back at Daris. Despite the leather patch across his eye—or maybe because of it—he looked more dangerous than ever. He had on dark armor unlike what he’d worn the last time she’d seen him. Atop the bronze plates at his shoulders, he wore a thick cloak snapping as he walked. From the stiff lines of his body to the way his gloved hands clenched at his sides, the anger rolled off him in waves she could feel even at that distance. The soldiers closest to him flinched away at whatever he was saying, and hastened off to do whatever he’d barked at them.
Turning to Rydon, Terena asked, “Are they clear?”
Rydon watched for a few more seconds before turning to her. “Aye.” He nocked an arrow as he shifted beside her.
Terena pulled back on the bowstring as she lifted the bow, aimed—first at Daris—then swung to the soldier behind him and to his left.
And let it fly.
Rydon’s arrow was a split second behind hers as she quickly nocked another and fired. Chaos broke out as the soldiers scattered,those unfortunate enough not to have outrun their arrows falling around them. Terena and Rydon kept shooting until she grabbed his arm. They both turned and ran in a crouch toward the lower roofline. Her foot slipped, and Rydon gripped her arm a split second later. She took off again, and they jumped onto the hay cart where the others had left it.
Rydon pulled himself out, then helped Terena. Surging forward with Rydon a step behind, they raced for the gate. Two guards stood huddled together near the gates. Terena caught both men across their throats with her dagger. Rydon had pulled one gate and Terena ran to help him pull the other until they shut with a bang.
Croak and the others rode toward them.
Rydon grabbed his sword and jammed it into the ground in front of one door and angled it so it blocked the other as well.
Gabriol leaned over his horse and tossed Rydon his own sword. Rydon slammed it into the ground across from his own before pivoting and running for his horse. Gabriol held the reins for him. Croak pulled Nyx forward and Terena ran to them.
“We can lose them in the storm,” she said, panting.
“Stay close!” Rydon yelled at them.
Gabriol turned his horse and bolted, Rydon and Sonah close behind with Croak and Terena pulling up the rear.
They rode hard, Terena looking back only once as the snowfall closed around them.
They were safe for now, but Terena knew it wouldn’t be long before the soldiers caught up. She hoped they’d be at least at the river before they did, and if they could get there first, she knew they’d be safe on the other side.
An unwanted thought invaded her mind. Would Daris be with them? Would he and his men follow them, too? And if they did, would he…
Terena shook her head. If Daris caught up to them, she had a feeling she wouldn’t win a second fight.
“They’re here.”
Daris looked up from the letter he’d been writing as Fane came into the room. He dropped the quill and sat back. “Who is she with?”
“The merc from Decu and the girl. Her brother and the Roison I did not see.”
Daris stood. “They’ll be here too. Where?”
“Stables,” Fane answered.
“Make sure none of the men are seen,” Daris said as he strode for the door. The common room beyond was filled with his men, all of them turning their gazes to him as he appeared. “Tobias, take three and guard the eastern gate, Michael, you and three more get to the main gate, but make sure you stick to the wall. They’re at the stables now, but I don’t want to chance them seeing any of you.”
He strode through the room, hearing the others rise as they all made to follow. “No one is to hurt any of them, understood?” Daris turned back, eyeing each of them. “Especially her. We’re fucked if she uses her powers, and I don’t want to have to do anything to hurt her to save any of you.”
His men nodded and murmured their agreement. Daris turned, heaving open the door. He made to say something to Jason, who followed behind as the others peeled off when he froze, catching sight of something sending a shock of anger through him.
He swore softly under his breath as Jason said, “What are they doing here?”
A squad of Duke Aurora’s soldiers had appeared near the city gates and were dismounting. Daris pinched his lips as he made his way toward them, the element of surprise he had counted on to get Terena to listen to him gone in a frenzy of shouting men and an overzealous captain barking out orders. It had taken him the better part of two days to clear out Osta’s soldiers. How did Aurora’s men even know to come here?
