In between bouts, we talked. And ate, when she made me get dressed and sneak out for some food and mead. We’d made a mess of the lodge, but I tucked away her scarf to keep it safe.
I told her stories of my childhood with Nikella in Twaryn. She told me stories of Brielle, Everett, and Delysia. It helped to hear happy memories of her mother. To layer them over the painful ones so that wasn’t the only emotion I associated her with.
Thinking about how things had been between us two months ago, I was amazed we could be here now, lying naked, telling stories. And yet, it somehow felt inevitable. As if our souls were meant to collide. We just had to clear away the rubble of our old defenses first.
But as dawn came, and Kiera drifted off to sleep mid-story, the tension crept back into my shoulders. I gently stroked her hair, trying to keep myself anchored to her.
If Henry was marching toward Aquinon as he’d promised, he would arrive at the gate in two weeks. That left little time to re-gather our forces, finish the ship repairs, and sail for the harbor.
Renwell likely had his remaining warship patrolling there, and our ships didn’t have catapults like his did. We had our warriors with their weapons. But that wouldn’t matter if we couldn’t make it into the city.
It’d matter even less if we couldn’t make it through the cliff gate.
I kissed the tip of Kiera’s nose. I knew that was what she wanted to talk to me about. I’d drawn the same conclusion she must have over the past few days. That someone had to be in Aquinon, and there was no better person than her.
I just hated it with every fiber of my being.
I’d already lost Nikella. I’d nearly lost Maz. If I lost Kiera...
The thought of her being in Renwell’s clutches again, listening to his oily words, fighting the pain he seemed to inflict on her so easily.
It killed me.
But I’d told her that loving her didn’t mean I’d keep her in a cage. And I meant it. I refused to be like her father or Renwell, who tried to imprison and control her. Her choices, her life, were her own. I just hoped to all the Four that she chose me at the end of this.
I must’ve fallen into a fitful sleep because the next thing I knew, Kiera was kissing me awake.
She looked thoroughly loved . . . and nervous.
“You can say it now,” I murmured, gazing at her across the pillow.
“I’m going to Aquinon,” she blurted out, as if she had to get the words out quickly or not at all. “I want to leave tonight.”
My heart flinched, but I tried not to let my emotion show. “That journey will take a week by horse, if you ride fast.”
“I can do it.”
“And don’t forget the border patrols. The soldiers. They will stop you at the city gate.”
“Then I’ll tell them the truth—Renwell is looking for me.”
I couldn’t hide my grimace this time. “Kiera... he might kill you.”
Her eyes tightened. “He won’t.”
I stroked the scar on her cheek. “We destroyed his forge, his weapons, his ships, his mine, his brother, his general. That’s enough loss to change anyone’s intentions.”
“He still has Everett and Delysia. I can’t abandon them, and he knows that. He’ll keep me alive as long as he has a way to make me be useful to him.”
My dread grew. “He could do terrible things to you. Make you do things you’ll regret forever. You’re one of the strongest people I know, but everyone has a breaking point.”
Kiera bit her lip. “I know. I will do what I can to avoid that, but not at the cost of my siblings or our plan. You and Henry will lay siege to the city, and I will be the key that lets you in.”
“And what is your plan this time, little thief?” I asked, trying to infuse lightness into my voice. Just to see the smile come back to her face. And it did.
“When Henry was saying goodbye, he told me the names of his two soldier friends who stand guard on the city wall. They’ll have access to the cliff gate. Dredger and Mankmen.”
I frowned. “You’re going to ask two strangers to sabotage the gate?”
