Bram glanced up at their approach, and relief rushed through him. “Good, you’re here.”
The gathered rebels eyed the Chosen with open surprise. A few murmured their shock.
“As you can see,” Bram said to them, “There are more that stand with us than you realize. That is why the Rising will not fail.”
Amryn moved to stand near the other rebels, with Samuel and Ivan positioning themselves on either side of her. She felt better having them close, especially as the gathered rebels continued to eye them.
Bram faced the Chosen. “There has been a change in plans tonight.”
Samuel and Ivan both stiffened.
“Oh?” Amryn asked, worry swelling.
“We’ve been given a secondary task,” Bram explained. “I’ve been informed there is a high-ranking rebel prisoner in the dungeon—King Jamir of Xerra. We’ve been ordered to free him.”
Amryn stared. They’d known Jayveh’s uncle was a rebel, but this proved he was more valuable to the Rising than he’d led them to believe.
“How are we supposed to do that?” Ivan asked, his voice hard. “There aren’t enough of us to overpower the guards in the prison.”
“True,” Bram said. “But that won’t be necessary.” A stirring of reluctance was the only warning Amryn got before he met her eyes. “You are Princess Jayveh’s close friend. You can tell the guards you have a message from the princess that she ordered you to communicate directly to her uncle. They’ll take you—and your bodyguards, of course—right to King Jamir’s cell.”
Amryn felt Ivan’s sharp rise of apprehension. It matched her own. “Surely they won’t let me just walk in there,” she said. “They’ll have questions.”
“Everyone knows the princess trusts you implicitly.” Bram’s jaw tightened. “And General Vincetti is your husband. Don’t let the guards refuse you.” He glanced at the others. “While Amryn leads the way into the prison, I will lead the mission to steal the Dagger of Hafsin. Ivan and Samuel, you’ll be responsible for sedating the guards and guiding us to—”
“No,” Ivan stated.
Bram’s eyebrows pulled together. “You’re refusing tohelp?”
“I am refusing to leave Amryn’s side,” Ivan corrected. “Wherever she goes, I go. Samuel can lead you to the dagger.”
Bram shook his head. “There are multiple guards at the treasury door, which means we need both you and Samuel to help us sedate them as planned.”
Ivan held his stare, showing no sign of backing down.
Samuel cleared his throat. “I’m sure I can—”
“No, it’s fine,” Amryn cut in. Her palms dampened with sweat at the thought of separating from Ivan and Samuel, but they couldn’t afford to make Bram suspicious. She met Ivan’s sharp gaze. “You’re needed more in the treasury,” she said. But she hoped her eyes would communicate more.You need to get there as fast as possible and tell Carver what’s happening. Then you can all come get me—and Jamir.
Ivan’s brow furrowed. He wasn’t happy, but he didn’t argue further.
Bram selected three rebels to go to the prison with Amryn, posing as her bodyguards. Then he spoke directly to her. “Once you get the others to Jamir’s cell, your part in his rescue will be done. It’s imperative we keep your involvement with the Rising from becoming known. You’ll be left in Jamir’s cell, wrists tied, while the others get the Xerran king out. When you’re discovered, you’ll tell everyone the men with you were rebels and you were coerced to help them reach Jamir.”
It was startlingly close to the truth.
Bram crossed his arms over his chest. “I know this means splitting our forces, but I’ve assured my superior that won’t be an issue.”
“Whereisyour superior?” Samuel asked. “Wasn’t he supposed to be here to get the dagger?”
“Yes,” Bram said. “But plans had to change. I’ll be meeting him later, outside the palace.”
Frustration filled Amryn. Nothing about this was going right. But there was nothing they could do about it now. They just needed to play their parts and trigger the trap as quickly as possible. Preferably before Amryn was forced to aid Jamir in his escape.
Bram straightened. “Is everyone clear on their roles?” When there were no questions, he nodded, anticipation flaring. “Then it’s time. We will rise.”
The Rising’s motto was chanted back by everyone in the room, pride filling the rebels. Bram didn’t seem to notice that Amryn’s voice was a mere whisper as she echoed the words.
Amryn’s heart thudded as the prison’s entrance came into view. She’d walked as slowly as possible, and she’d taken her time carefully gathering her voluminous skirt whenever they encountered a staircase, but she could feel the irritation in the three rebels walking around her. She couldn’t push their patience much further. Besides, even if Ivan and the others had reached the treasury by now, they still had to get to the Dagger of Hafsin, spring the trap, and explain to Carver where she was. Then they had to come to the far end of the palace to reach the prison.
