‘Just get in the box.’
‘Right.’Raleigh hesitated.‘You might be cold like that.’
I glanced down, flushing as I realised I was still in no more than my shift, but I didn’t want to waste time fiddling with the lacing on my stays.As Raleigh climbed back into his coffin I snatched up his discarded coat instead for what little modesty it offered me and found a pair of gloves balled down the side of my bag for some semblance of warmth.Though it was still light outside, I stopped to strap my knife back to my leg, just in case.It had been therefor so long over the past few days the silver had started chafing my skin.Being rid of it was one more thing to look forward to if this somehow ended favourably.
The sunlight felt unseasonably harsh when I stepped outside the carriage.We were just downhill from Castle Rostenburg – only a stone’s throw from the jagged spires of the outer gate.Separating us from the walls of safety was a crowd of fifty or so men and women, all crudely armed.Leading the pack was …
‘Father,’ I whispered.
Of all the times he could have marshalled the people of Orlfen to rescue me, why did he have to choosenow?He was pacing back and forth in front of the gate.Yann was with him, saying something to Father, who didn’t seem to want to listen.
‘Should we turn back?’Moira called down to me.We were still too far away to be in earshot.Even if they turned around, I doubt they would have noticed the carriage immediately.
‘No.It’s my father.’
‘How do you know?’Moira asked.
‘I can see him.’
She and Enrique looked at me for longer than was comfortable.
‘Can you see their faces, Enrique?’
‘No,’ he replied.‘I can’t.’
‘Let’s drive,’ I said.I climbed up to nestle beside Enrique, ignoring the knot in my stomach.‘They won’t hurt us.I imagine he’s here for me.’
‘Oh yes, angry mobs always have the best intentions,’ Moira said, kicking the horses back into action.
We trundled to where the militia waited.Father stopped his pacing once he saw the carriage and barked an order at the crowd to stand back.They parted around the carriage as we approached, the familiar faces staring up with equal parts fear and resentment.Sickness crawled up my throat.Everyone still followed him, oblivious to what he had done to their families.
‘What are you doing here?’I called down as we stopped.
Yann rushed forward when I climbed down on my own, then stopped abruptly as he remembered where our relationship now stood.A long-forgotten ache flared within me.For so much of my life he was as much a part of me as one of my limbs.Now that chapter of my life was well and truly over.
Yann had lost weight he didn’t have left to lose.His eyes were rimmed red and framed in shadow.His sling was gone, but it was clear from sight alone that his fingers would never heal properly.Guilt twisted within me.
Father brushed past him, putting himself at the front of the crowd once more.There was a crossbow strapped to his back, the same one he’d used to shoot Raleigh so many months ago.‘Where are your clothes?’was all he said.
I tugged Raleigh’s coat closed over my shift.‘It’s a long story.’
‘Not that long,’ Enrique muttered, jumping down behind me.I glared at him.
‘You can’t walk around looking like that.’
Of all the things I cared about in that moment, my state of undress was not one of them.I pinched the bridge of my nose, tilting my head back in my exasperation.As I did, my hair fell away from my shoulders.
Father grasped me by the arm and painfully yanked the rest of my hair out of the way.‘The prince did this.’
My heart jumped.He’d found the bandage at my throat.
Enrique hissed through his teeth.I hadn’t told him or Moira about what had transpired before the attack.But Enrique at least knew the context.Father did not.
‘I’ll kill him,’ he growled.
‘What are you planning to do, Juri?’Moira sneered down from her perch on the carriage.‘Starve him to death?’
‘What’s she talking about?’Yann asked.
