Panic and doubt seized her, but she told him, “I’ll think of something.”
Iryana started breathing quicker, her mind racing. She couldn’t fail already; she just couldn’t. She tracked the guards, trying to find some kind of pattern that linked back to the painstakingly assembled rotations and paths she’d charted, but most of them were just standing around. It was as if the increased guards had been last minute, like they didn’t have a plan beyondmore. It was the wrong kind of chaos.
Her eyes fell on the small stable yard inside the wall. But the right kind of chaos…
“Get ready to move,” Iryana whispered, and then slipped over the other side of the roof and onto the walk.
Grabbing one of the lit torches, Iryana scurried over and chucked it toward the back of the stables. She ducked against the wall, hoping no one would get hurt, just as the whinnying and stomping of hooves rang out against the walls of the keep.
Karvek gave her a nod from where he crouched. The rain was coming down heavily now, and his drenched hood sagged around his face.
With the guards rushing off to see what had disturbed the horses, Iryana followed Karvek across the walkway. They would only have a short time before the guards returned, and Iryana found herself glancing nervously down toward the stables. When they reached the corner, where the walkway was closest to the main keep, they stopped. Karvek climbed onto the edge and reached for the roof.
Iryana felt a thrill of anticipation rise up her spine. They were almost there.
Karvek turned to her, and she could only just make out his expression, but it wasn’t what she expected. “Head back to the camp now,” he ordered, pulling himself up. “I’m doing the rest alone.”
She stared at him. That was it—that was all he wanted from her? She had managed to do her part; she had succeeded. So why did she feel so disappointed?
Iryana opened her mouth to argue, but his eyes had that hard glint to them she knew was a warning.
After everything, he was going to deny her seeing his plan play out?
She was sure he had accounted for everything, that he had both her best interest and that of the plan in mind. He was thorough like that. But after so longworking together so closely—talking the way they had late into the night—she had hoped that he could open up more to her at the end. She had put her trust in him after all.
Iryana nodded her agreement and leaned back against the wall, trying to calm herself as Karvek disappeared over the roof and into the rain. The cold was seeping through her cloak, the water splashing onto her boots and chilling her toes.
She knew she should head back, but she hesitated. What if he ran into trouble? If he failed, she would be back where she started, trying to impress a team that didn’t want her. Two weeks of effort wasted.
She had to make sure he didn’t fail.
Not allowing a moment to doubt herself, Iryana climbed onto the roof and began crawling in the direction Karvek had gone. He needn’t know she was following him, unless she had to help.
Chapter Eighteen
Iryana could just make out Karvek’s shape, a smudge against the pale gray sky, when he dropped over the edge of the roof. She could still hear the commotion from the guards and soldiers as they dealt with the fire in the stables.
Iryana hurried after and peered down at the balcony he must have landed on, a warm light emanating from within. She lowered herself down, wincing at the thud of her feet on the slick wooden floor. Crouching to stay out of sight, she clung to the sides of the open door, straining to hear.
Everything was quiet inside, so Iryana peered in.
She found a huge bedroom with low ceilings and woven rugs covering the floor. It had to be the general’s. Shadows bathed the corners of the room, while a large, ornate canopy bed was washed in light coming from another door. She couldn’t see into the farther room; the door was barely open. But everything was still, and she couldn’t see anyone, so Iryana crept further in.
As Iryana moved, careful to stay in the shadows, following the trail of wet footprints Karvek must have left... she knew she should turn back and leave. Butshe couldn’t pull herself away. It had been days of questions, and there was so much on the line. She needed to know that her efforts had been worth it.
Had Karvek gotten to the general in time? Would they manage a peaceful transfer of power? Or would the faction of soldiers trying to take over resort to violence when Karvek’s soldiers came to back him up, despite an official order? There were too many unknowns.
Iryana peeked into the other room to find a man crouched in front of a fireplace.
Iryana didn’t recognize him, but he looked older, dark hair streaked with gray. His clothes were fine, but simple. Around his middle, he wore a red belt, the color of a general. His body was in contrast to his age—he looked strong, capable.
He looked healthy.
A wave of confusion, of recalculation, started to sweep over her. Were they already too late? Had someone already taken over as general?
A soft creak had Iryana’s eyes darting to where another figure slipped into view. Karvek. He crept toward the man, so far unseen. Lithe in a way that his height wouldn’t have suggested. There was a readiness to his posture. Undeniable intent. What madness had overtaken Karvek?
Iryana could do nothing but watch.
