“Where are the Black Coats?” Leena whispered.
He shook his head and began making his way through the clearing. “Let’s find out.”
They reached the cottage unchallenged, and the horror of what might be waiting was almost too much to bear. She peered through a muddy window into what looked to be a sparse reception room, and gasped when she saw a lone figure tied to a chair.
Rami.
He barely moved.
“Ah, so we’ve located Al-Sayer—alive, fortunately—but where are the others?” St. Silas drawled, looking over her shoulder.
No footsteps approached them. No cries of warning. A crow cawed. A few raindrops scattered across the roof. But they were otherwise alone.
That notion was oddly terrifying.
Leena wet her dry lips. “Perhaps they’ve already gone. Let’s finish quickly.”
The front door was left slightly ajar. The cottage consisted of only one large room, empty save for a few chairs left askew.
Leena wanted to rush in, but St. Silas stopped her with one hand. With his revolver outstretched, he made long strides around the room. Finally, when he was sure they were alone, he waved her through.
She knelt by her brother and shook his shoulder. “Rami? Wake up. It’s me.”
He stirred.
“L-Leena?” His eyes were bloodshot and bruises peppered his jaw.
She slumped in relief.
“Rami…” she repeated, tugging the rope that bound him to the chair.
Sudden alertness passed over Rami’s face. He jerked in his restraints. “Leena?Get the hell out of here! My captors have only gone temporarily, but they’ll be back soon.”
St. Silas stayed near the door, unconcerned with Rami’s welfare. “How many men are there?”
“Of all the people I expected to rescue me, you were last on the list.” Rami threw St. Silas a broken grin, his teeth bloodied. “Can’t say I’m not pleased to see you, though.”
“Can’t say the feeling is mutual. How many men are there?”
“Two,” Rami said, and he winced when Leena pressed on his chest. “Mackenzie Crane and his new favorite, a boy named Burr.”
St. Silas seemed to recognize both names.
Leena clawed at the ropes, but they would not give. “Your sword, Rami. Where is it?”
Silence. A heaviness in his voice. “They’ve taken it.”
Baba had traded his wedding band for that sword, which had become an extension of Rami, like a limb that existed outside of his body. By taking it, they had effectively amputated him again.
“I want to kill them.” Leena’s angry breaths came out in white swirls of frost.
A small dagger was thrust into her hands. She turned to see St.Silas. “Direct that anger and make it useful.”
She grasped the knife and slashed through the ropes. Rami stumbled forward, collapsing onto his knees. She took his arm and attempted to drag him up, but he was too heavy for her.
Watching them struggle for a minute, St. Silas sighed and put his arms around Rami, supporting him through the door and onto the overgrown lawn outside the cottage.
They halted at the sound of approaching footsteps on the path leading from the woods.
