Chapter 37. Spare Daggers.
The woods were as quiet as the morning lakes when the Wurdulacs had finally lost our traces. The bare trees froze in place where we stood, allowing our horses a swift break after their sprint.
At least an hour had passed since we’d escaped the palace: at least an hour of Francis being trapped behind the enemies’ walls.
“We have to go back.” I searched Roxanne’s and Gabriel’s gazes. “No one is following us now. We have to go back.” The tears spilled from my eyes anew as the reality crushed upon me with excruciating speed. The claws scratched from the inside of my rib cage; my hand fell onto my throbbing heart.
“We can’t get him out now—not when the palace is filled with Wurdulacs.” Roxanne swallowed. “And we need more weapons.” She shook her head, lowering her gaze.
“But—” I started.
“Francis is clever, he will be fine. Caleb is with him.” Roxanne’s gaze hardened. “He knows we will come for him when Kane attacks. We have to warn everyone who resides at the Barren’s duchy and prepare our armies.”
“They will kill him by then!” I cried. My hands shook at the mere idea of his suffering.
“We have no other choice.” Roxanne’s throat bubbled. “You can’t help him if they throw you in a dungeon, Cordelia. And after our failure today, they will be on high alert for anyone near the palace. We have to wait for a distraction.”
“And if Kane doesn’t attack in the next few days, what then!” I demanded. “What if Caleb lied! What if—”
“Kane will attack, and you know it. Francis is far from his priority right now,” Roxanne sighed, shaking her head. “We just have to hope Francis’ mouth doesn’t kill him before Kane’s attack happens.”
I shook my head, my gaze rising to the cruel Moon.Why do you do this to me?I wanted to scream at her unfairness.Have I not paid for my many wrongs yet?A silent tear slid down my cheek.
“It’s just a few days.” Roxanne reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze. “And right now, you need to focus on convincing Barren to work with us,” her voice sharp as the tip of her blade. “You have to make sure that whatever strategy he chooses for this battle works in our favor, as well as the people in Faris.”
“I know nothing of war strategies, and he knows that.” I shook my head. “He won’t listen to me.”
“Make sure he does,” Roxanne bit out. “This battle is our last chance at surviving the Wurdulacs and getting Francis out alive.”
I wiped my tears, filling my lungs with as much air as possible.
“Do you understand?” Roxanne searched my eyes. “Collect yourself, and do what needs to be done, Cordelia.”
“You can do this, Lia.” Gabriel’s gaze bored into mine.
I managed a small nod in reply, though I felt far from the confidence she wished me to act upon.
“Let’s not waste time.” Roxanne dropped my hand, ordering her horse to run.
Barren’s castle stood quiet under the night skies. The stone courtyard beyond the gate was now cleared of melting snow, the soil of a little garden peaked through the layers of white.
“Haven’t been here in ages,” Gabriel muttered as we slowed our horses right before the gates.
“I wish I could say the same.” I drew a deep breath before dismounting Annabelle and walking towards the guards standing behind the obstacle. They drew their weapons as I neared, their eyes surveying me for threats. “Allow us entry,” my voice banged through the courtyard. “We brought His Grace the weaponry he asked for.”
The guards glanced at each other before one of them broke into a run towards the main doors. It must have been at least a quarter of an hour before he came back, whispering into another’s guard’s ear the message William had sent him with.
