“What news?” Josie asked as she stood, rolling her neck to work out any lingering stiffness from her exertion. She took in Natali’s clothes—the Saj donned their typical loose-fitting pants that billowed near their feet, this time paired with a cropped long-sleeved shirt in a matching light blue hue. They looked as if they’d just come from a usual day of work at the Maraciana.
Natali grinned. “There are protestors outside the Council building. Apparently, a missive was discovered from the Bellare to the Talan queen.”
Excitement fluttered in Josie’s stomach. “Have the Bellare responded to the protestors?”
“Not yet,” Natali informed them. “And their silence is deafening.”
“So it’s begun,” Aleissande remarked from beside Josie. She was frowning, her eyes distant, as if scanning some map Josie could not see.
Strategizing and re-strategizing, Josie realized, her suspicions confirmed when Aleissande added, “We may need to move up our timeline.”
Josie stalked to the table, her teeth tugging on her bottom lip as she took in the maps of Rinnia and the pages of troop registers.
“We don’t have the numbers yet,” Josie argued. Aleissande had only just been able to start putting out feelers about who might join their cause. “If you’d let me help you more in town—”
“Absolutely not,” Aleissande cut her off. “I’ve already told you, it’s too dangerous. Too many of the City Guard are in the Bellare’s pocket.” Josie scoffed, but Aleissande continued, hereyes wide and earnest. “You are the princess of this kingdom, and weneedyou.”
Josie fought against the way her mind conjured her uncle’s voice instead of Aleissande’s steady tone. She shoved down the thoughts that he had once etched into her mind, thoughts of what a second-born princess could and should strive for.
“Our people will need someone to rally behind when we retake the palace,” Aleissande continued, as if she could sense Josie’s inner struggle and was intent on banishing Dominic’s voice for good. “I’d rather have you with a sword in your hand on that day than lurking through alleys now.”
She stopped before her, her touch gentle on Josie’s forearm. “Patience, Princess,” Aleissande murmured, just for her. “You’ll get your chance to join this fight.”
41
“Seven hells,” Will swore as he stared at Sitya.
Dawn had yet to arrive, and yet it was quickly approaching, the sky lightening into a soft gray that illuminated the city.
Even at a distance, it was unrecognizable.
Gaping holes marked the hillside where homes used to run together in a smear of red and pink and orange. They descended toward the city, where pillars of smoke curled into the air near the heart of the town. Just beyond, the citadel stood mighty and untouched. Something dark adorned the battlements—flags, if he had to guess.
Kakos flags.
They hadn’t been able to see it when they’d made camp last night, their final stop before they entered the city. Dauphine had insisted on sending a scout ahead to take in the Kakos camp, and she was due back any moment.
If she’d survived.
Will hadn’t slept more than a handful of minutes, and though exhaustion should have been pressing in on him, he felt nothing but that tense, frenetic energy coursing through him.
He should have gone with the scout. But Aidon, it seemed, did not trust him to not do something drastic. He’d begged Will to see reason, to wait until they had confirmation so they could make an informed decision on how to proceed.
Will didn’t know how he’d agreed. Perhaps it was the hint of desperation in Aidon’s voice, the barely concealed plea that told him he truly thought this the best course of action.
For whatever reason, he’d stayed. But now the sun was beginning to rise, and Will could see the city, and he was so close to finding Aya, he could hardly breathe.
She had to be here. Shehadto be here.
His horse pranced nervously in place as he readied her, and Will patted a soothing hand to her neck, even as her ears pricked toward something he could not hear.
He stilled, listening.
There.Thundering hoofbeats sounded from across the hills. Dauphine’s scout was racing toward them.
“Five thousand,” the woman panted as she reached them. “Kakos has at least five thousand troops in the eastern hills.”
A tense silence filled their small camp. Even the wolves went still, as if they knew the next words would damn them all. It was Aidon who finally broke it.
