As she disappeared down the path, I couldn’t help but feel like I’d made the greatest mistake of my life.
Twenty-One
Avalon
Despite Vox’s adamant protests that we stay where it was safe in Hamor, both Lierick and I joined the party heading to Fortaare for the Conclave. We were dressed as Third Line guards, because that worked so well, and I hoped that no one looked at us too hard. Lierick wanted to attend as Heir, but if there was a double cross, it would be up to Lierick to lead the Second Line army, so he was forced to play dress-up with me.
Though if Hayle didn’t keep it together, he was the one who’d blow our cover. His eyes kept straying to me, and Braxus was trying his best to seem uninterested, while basically nipping at my heels.
The plan was that while Feodore Vylan and his cronies were caught up in the Conclave, Lierick and I would try sneaking beneath the Hall of Ebrus and find thetal.From there, I’d destroy it. Hopefully, it wasn’t made of diamond or something.
“At least we won’t stink of shit this time,” Lierick muttered to me beneath his breath, and I curled my lips so I didn’t laugh. This really wasn’t a laughing matter. Everyone was on edge. Even the citizens of Fortaare seemed to be furtive, glancing at our entourage with suspicion and fear.
What information had the Baron of the First Line been feeding these people?
We all moved as a single unit, fanned around Baron Taeme and Hayle. Hayle wasn’t hiding. He was walking among the people of Fortaare with his chin raised, daring them to try and make good on the reward. Vox walked beside him, and maybe it was his presence keeping people back.
Maybe they were too beaten down to even try for the chance of a better life.
Zier was coming in with Baron Hanovan separately, with their own contingent of guards. It was strategically better if we weren’t all clumped together, in an easily murderable bunch. This all felt like a trap, but what was the alternative? Not show up and let Baron Vylan do whatever he wanted?
The only way Hayle was keeping it together at all was because he’d insisted that Lucio be in the entourage too. Honestly, if Lucio got any closer, I was either going to trip on his feet or over Braxus.
“You two need to take a step back. You’re about as subtle as a brick through a window right now.”
Lucio huffed an annoyed sound, but he did take a step back. “You know what a brick will go through, if I let you get hurt? My skull.”
“That’s not true. Hayle wouldn’t blame you.”
“Agree to disagree,” Lucio muttered. “Come on.”
The Hall of Ebrus wasn’t really part of the First Line Barony. It was meant to be a neutral space, kind of a safe zone for all Lines. However, it was hard to overlook the fact that it was literally attached to the First Line’s palace.
As we made it inside the large double doors of the Hall, there were dozens of guards milling around. Apparently, no one felt particularly safe and had brought extra precautions. The colors of the Eleventh and Twelfth Lines were there, as well as theSixth. I couldn’t see anyone from the Fifth Line, and wondered if Baron Ingmire had more pressing problems at the moment.
Goddess, I hoped so. I hoped he was getting exactly what he deserved.
The Tenth Line were present, and they looked spooked. I’d felt bad that I’d kind of abandoned them to their fate at Boellium, but what could I have done?
There was a loud murmur through the room as Arthur Hanovan and Zier turned up with a large contingent of Second Line soldiers. They weren’t taking any chances, and for that, I was thankful.
It was only made worse when Feodore Vylan appeared moments later. I dropped my eyes to the floor, turning away a little so I wouldn’t be visible. I doubted that Feodore Vylan knew what I looked like, but I would err on the safe side.
I was too far away to hear what was being said, but soon enough, just the Barons and the Heirs walked into the room used for Conclaves. The rest of the soldiers were left to stand aimlessly on guard out here—waiting for a double-cross, I guess.
Lierick touched my arm. “Let’s go.”
I slipped away from Lucio and shook my head at Braxus, so he didn’t follow. He was too recognizable. We slipped behind the other soldiers, who were all milling about and muttering to themselves at the appearance of the Hanovans, eyeing the Second Line soldiers like they were suddenly going to grow a second head.
All of that was good, because it meant they weren’t watching us as we slipped out the back of the room.
Without Vox here to guide us, we had a basic idea to get below the Hall. According to Ivan Vylan’s journals, there was a small, dug-out level in the sublevels, like they’d been considering building one more subterranean floor, but decided against it at the last minute. That was apparently where thetalwas.
Moving unhurriedly down the open hallway, our footsteps disconcertingly loud, I breathed a sigh of relief as we found the stairs that led down. Down past the cellars and the dungeon, down to the level where the water was pooled and the sewage ran out. Our last entrance into the Hall.
There was no Librarian this time, however.
“There has to be another doorway, or stairs, or something around here,” Lierick muttered, and we moved along the walls, searching for something.
