“Agreed,” Isolde said. “Remain alert. And Astril, if necessary, be prepared to perform more compulsion than we planned for.”
Compulsion had never sat right with me. Likely because Rhistel and Mother’s magics were so similar to a vampire’s compulsion. I had spent many turns as Rhistel’s practice subject and despised each occurrence, all the while understanding why it had to be me. No one outside our family could have known, or I’d lose my twin. Little did I know, I would lose him anyway. That life and our views would tear us apart.
And while I may not like the idea of fae being compelled by vampires, in this instance, I’d allow it. Fates, I might end up wishing that Astril could hold sway over the hundreds of fae we might come across. But no vampire was so powerful. Like whisperers had a limit to the number of people they controlled, so too did vampires.
The castle continued to grow more imposing, and I watched the walls, noting the large faelights and a series of mirrors running along the top. They wouldn’t be used to shine upon the street, but into the sky, and immediately, I understood why. Itwas far warmer than it had been in many turns, so fae flew more freely. That meant the airspace around the castle was also being monitored more heavily. Finally, we reached the portion of the castle wall that was covered in silver ivy.
Yrsa, Geiravor, and Sváva had spent half their lives discovering the secrets of the city, using the knowledge to their benefit. According to Yrsa, they had known about this weakness in the castle wall since they were thirteen but never had a reason to use it. Until tonight.
“Make yourselves as inconspicuous as possible. Vale, muffle the sound.” Yrsa pulled two thin metal rods with flat ends from her black woolen cloak and, after pulsing her magic into the ivy to negate its effects, she plunged the rods into the vegetation.
I created a barrier of air around us and the wall, hoping to muffle any sound that could give us away. Then we leaned back into the wall to wait and keep on the lookout.
This side of the castle was less trafficked, thanks to a tanner’s shop located on the street. The smell of tanning elixirs was too much for sensitive fae noses to tolerate, and that included guards on the wall. Between the undesirable effects of silver ivy and the stench, it seemed the Ithamais believed no one would try to enter their grounds this way. They were probably right, and yet, there was no guarantee that no one would walk this way and sound the alarm.
Yrsa grinned when she found the lock hidden deep within the ivy. The sound of metal hitting metal filled the night before a soft click hit my ears.
“Two more.” Yrsa smirked. “Give me thirty seconds.”
She managed to break open the lock in fifteen.
“Your mother taught you well,” Qildor muttered.
I got the sense that my honorable friend was struggling not to be impressed.
“Better than soaring over the wall and attracting attention.” Yrsa pulled the hidden gate open.
The door opened just enough for us to push the ivy to the side and slip through, but before we did so, Yrsa shoved another wave of her power outward.
Few plants possessed true magic of their own like silver ivy. To touch it caused severe pain and itching rashes that only healers could calm, which had to be part of the reason no one had ripped it out by the root. No one in their right mind would touch silver ivy unless they had to, but Yrsa’s magic was identical to her father’s and disabled other powers. Fae, animals, and, though I’d never known this of Lord Riis’s magic, plants too. For a short while, the ivy would be inert, allowing us easy passage onto the grounds.
“Safe,” Yrsa whispered.
I eased forward to take the front position, with Astril right behind. Working together, we set to beating back the silver ivy and passed through the ancient gate. When I reached the other side, I remained tucked within the ivy and scanned the area. One soldier to the left, about twenty paces away. Another to the right, thirty paces.
“You go right.” I caught Astril’s eyes, knowing she’d cover that ground before I’d made it halfway to my target. “Qildor and I have the left.”
“Let me check.”
I moved to the side. As the vampire used her superior vision and scent, Qildor moved into position next to me.
It took the Valkyrja only a moment, and she nodded. “I can’t scent anyone else in the area. Let’s go.”
She rushed out first, blurring for the guard as I sent my magic at the other to seal him within a barrier of air. At my power’s touch, he shouted, but it was too late. Not a whisper of sound emerged from the tomb of air I’d placed him in. If I wasfeeling violent, I could eliminate all threats and rip the air from his lungs.
But killing wasn’t the aim. Silencing was. And we’d come prepared.
Qildor and I rushed over. I gave the signal, and Qildor raised an arm. As the air barrier vanished, my friend’s fist came down, knocking the guard out.
I pulled a small vial, supplied by the Balik’s healers, from my cloak pocket and pressed it to his lips. “Bottoms up.”
The liquid vanished down the guard’s throat, ensuring hours of silence. I grabbed the soldier’s hands, and Qildor took his feet. Together, we shoved him lengthwise into the shadow of the wall, just as Astril had with the other guard.
Could we possibly have found a better spot? Perhaps, but this area seemed quiet and dark, and we had to work quickly. The goal was to be in and out of the castle by the time the next guard rotation occurred.
Isolde and Yrsa appeared on my side, and Yrsa gave a nod. “Follow me.”
We rushed across the castle grounds as vast as those surrounding Frostveil. Perhaps larger. And like in my former home, pockets of gardens covered the grounds.
