“If I do not present myself with you to Aethelbald, he will kill you on sight, as he will believe I am planning an ambush and offering you as a distraction.”
Emeline nods. “You are right…which is why there is a change of plans.”
“No.” I violently shake my head, desperate to break free. “Let me go!”
Emeline ignores me as she retrieves a vial from her pocket.
“Emeline, do not be stupid! This will not work! You know that it won’t. You sacrifice the lives of hundreds to save one! Do not do this! I cannot protect you like this!”
She douses a white handkerchief with the clear liquid from the vial and walks over to me. “It is my turn to protect you this time. Forgive me.”
Before I can protest, she places the white cloth over my mouth and nose, forcing me to inhale. I smell cloves and lavender and something bitter.
“The brothers said you’ll be awake come morrow. Something to subdue you. So sleep now, sweet prince, for when you wake, we will be together.”
With every ounce of strength I have in me, I fight against the urge to sleep, but my eyelids grow heavy, as do my arms and legs. Before long, I barely feel alive.
“A dead martyr is a stupid one. I won’t allow any harm to befall her. I vow to the gods,” Ulf says into my ear, placing a blade into his pocket. “Sigrith will be here soon to keep watch until you wake.”
I want to fight, but my body grows lax, and I succumb to a slumber so deep that I’m not sure what I will face when I wake.
Nineteen
Queen Emeline
The plan has changed.
Skarth can hate me once he wakes because the fact that he will actually wake makes his wrath worth it.
Loki’s ambiguous message now makes perfect sense. And it was confirmed by the look on Skarth’s face when he returned from talking to our son.
However, there is no way I’ll stand back and let that happen.
I haven’t sacrificed all I have only for Skarth to perish.
No.
That is a future I will not accept.
I told Ulf and Aedan of my plan, and they eventually agreed. A world without Skarth is one we do not want to live in.
So the new plan is that there are no negotiations.
No ploys.
No one is acting as bait whilst others ambush.
No.
Even with the odds against us, we fight, and the reason we will win is that Aethelbald suspects an ambush. He knows we lack manpower and cannot compete against his army, but he has underestimated my rage.
Aedan and half the men wait for our signal. They will attack from the inside, as the plan to infiltrate via the sewers is still in place. The other half waits for us in hiding and comes into view a few miles away from the castle walls.
There is no more than a hundred.
But numbers do not matter, for their hearts will lead us to victory.
I tug on my horse's reins to stop.
