I rolled my eyes at such theatrics, though I stayed put, awaiting their verdict—they stayed silent.
The sun was about to come up and they knew it as they watched our every move. Were they to not allow our entrance, we were as good as dead—save for Gabriel, who stood by my side, sending furious glares in the guards’ direction.
Gabriel’s shoulders straightened; his chin held high, despite the disproving gazes of the soldiers that stood by the other side of the gates.
“If Barren doesn’t want our help in this war, we will be on our way,” Roxanne seethed at guards.
“Let’s go.” I turned back towards our horses.
“Wait!” One of the guards hurried to open the gate. “His Grace awaits you in his study,” he said, walking to the side, freeing our way.
“Barren will pay for the wait,” Roxanne said, caring not who heard as we walked through the courtyard.
“If something happens,” I whispered to my friends. “Go all the way to the bottom of the stairs, their passages are hidden underneath the castle.” I gave Roxanne and Gabriel the same instructions I’d given Francis a few months ago as we walked through the empty corridors, towards the courthall. No warrior accompanied us.
“What good would that do?” Roxanne mumbled. “The sun is about to come up, we are trapped here.”
“You both are vampires,” Gabriel shook his head. “No matter what they say, they are petrified to death by you.”
“Gods, I hope that’s enough.” Roxanne sighed, her boots squeaking against the marble floors.
“They need us, and they know it,” Gabriel argued as we took the last turn towards the courthall.
The closed door of Barren’sstudyappeared at the end of the corridor. No guard stood by the entrance.
I swung the door open, without waiting for permission. Barren’s head flew in my direction: the crease between his eyebrows deepened.
Roxanne and Gabriel walked by my sides as we made our way through the candlelit room: every curtain drawn closed.
Barren sat at the head of the table, his hands crossed atop of it; despite his freshly brushed hair and well fit attire, his eyes gave away the annoyance of being woken so early.
His personal guard stood a few feet behind, eyeing the weapons at our belts.
“Gather your commanders, we have much to discuss.” I sat at the other head of the long table—Roxanne and Gabriel by my sides.
“I thought you had brought me your part of the bargain, yet you seem to be emptyhanded,” Barren tsked, looking us up and down. “I told you, Cordelia, no weapons—no army.”
“Gabriel knows how to make Royal steel. He will get to work right after we talk through our battle plan.” I eyed my opponent. “Given our time is short, and Kane is planning to attack within a few days, I suggest you call for your commanders. Now.”
Barren sat unmoving, yet a slight clench of his jaw gave away the concern my words had brought out of him.
“If you want our army to fight alongside yours when the Wurdulacs come, I suggest you do as she says,” Roxanne added, leaning back on her chair.
“And why would I believe your tales?” William smirked. “The agreement was: you bring us the weapons, and then we talk—not the other way around.”
“You are committing your people to death by wasting our time,” Gabriel’s low voice bounced off the walls of the courthall.
“Ah! Gabriel, is it?” Barren’s eyes squinted. “I remember you running like a puppy after His Highness.” He averted his gaze to me. “Cordelia, you seem to exchange lovers more often than dresses.” William laughed.
Gabriel’s hands turned into fists, but before he managed to reply to William’s foul remark, I spoke, “I would wish you luck in the upcoming battle, yet all I can hope for is for your people to have a quick, painless death: for they do not deserve to pay for the mistakes of their incompetent leader.” I turned to the guard that stood by Barren’s side. “If you want to live, call for all of the commanders that are currently here. Now.”
The poor guard with black as night hair glanced between me and Barren—his eyes filling with fear when Barren’s lips turned into the ugliest of smiles—yet he stood still by his side, nevertheless.
“You cannot give orders tomypeople, dear Cordelia.” Barren smirked, the greasy strand of white hair falling onto his forehead.
“Soon you will have no people to order around.” I unsheathed my dagger, averting my gaze back to the guard. “Do as I say, or this dagger finds its place inHis Grace’sheart.”
Barren’s laughter echoed through the court room, yet it was cut short when I let go of the dagger, sending it flying inches from Barren’s ear, piercing straight in between the two stones behind his head.
