“I do admit—” I chuckle “—that it would be difficult to bend the knee, once your heads are gone.” Neither boy seems to find me amusing. Especially the younger one who casts his eyes down.
The room lacks furnishings, containing only one wooden cot with no mattress and only one blanket. I note another blanket on the floor where the brothers were sitting. Beams of moonlight cut through the small windows, and I cross to look out of one facing toward the main courtyard below. But we are at least two hundred spans from the ground, and the slit is so narrow not even a cat could climb through.
“Sit. Please.” I gesture toward the small wooden cot which the boys are apparently expected to share. “We must talk. I brought food.” I reach the bundles toward them. They hungrily eye the packages but make no move to take them.
I shift the chair, placing it several hand spans away from the cot.
I take a seat, and Alfryd gestures to his younger brother. They sit on the cot, facing me.
I set the bundles of food on the stone floor between us. “I’m here to rescue you,” I say in a voice just above a whisper. “I’m here to take you to your sister.”
Olifer’s eyes widen, but Alfryd leans back from me. “Our sister is dead.”
Grinning, I shake my head. “She’s not dead. In fact, she is very well. At least the last time I saw her.” Worry invades my confidence. It’s been over five moon cycles, but I feel deep in my heart that she’s alive. Zogar would not let any harm come to her, and if she’s not back already, she will be soon.
“Rosomon is at the dragon rider camp.” I decide not to tell them that she’s actually a dragon rider. And I certainly don’t tell them that she’s crossed the veil, or that she’s married to a dragon shifter king, or that I don’t know her precise location at this moment. Alfryd distrusts me enough. I don’t need to add information few people would believe.
“Is she truly well?” Olifer shifts to the edge of the cot. “We were told she faced execution, after disobeying our father and fleeing her marriage.”
Alfryd’s eyes narrow. “Her marriage to yourgrandfather.”
“That’s what they wanted you to believe.” I keep my voice even. “And I was very sorry to hear about your father.”
Alfryd stands. “What of the King? Where is he being held? Have you seen him?”
I draw quick breath. They don’t know. “I only arrived today.” I shake my head. “I was told…” I look at both boys with compassion. “Your father was executed.”
Olifer turns away from me, staring at some marks on the stone floor. Alfryd’s expression breaks, but then firms again. “I am now King.”
I lean forward. “I wouldn’t say that too loudly.” I glance toward the door. “You do know what’s going on in the Kingdom of—throughout the Light, do you not?”
While at my father’s court, it took me a while to stop referring to our world as the Seven Kingdoms and based on what I learned from my father and others, it’s likely these boys have been locked in this tower keep for eight moon cycles, or more. I learned all I could about how the other kingdoms were conquered and when, but don’t know the exact timing nor all the details. Beyond telling me that the klericks helped, father seemed purposefully vague.
Alfryd glares at me. “I certainly know that your kingdom betrayed all the others. I know that Khotor took my kingdom by force. As King of Achotia, I will never yield.” The kid is braver than I expected. Foolishly brave. That could prove a problem.
“I had no part in any of that,” I tell them. “I was occupied at the dragon camp and knew nothing of these events until they were over.” I look between the two boys, searching for a hint of trust in their eyes. I imagined they’d be excited to learn of theirimpending rescue. It’s crucial I gain their confidence for any part of my still developing plan to work.
“I am not here to force you to bend the knee. I’m here tofreeyou,” I repeat what I already said. “I’m here to take you to Rosomon.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Olifer asks, and his brother glances at him with irritation in his eyes.
“I know your sister well,” I tell him, trying to think of something she’s told me that will help to convince them. “She told me how she oft took a steed called Sky Stallion for rides outside the castle gates.” I turn directly to the younger one. “Also, I know that the last night you saw her, she borrowed some of your clothes. She also took daggers and some of your coin.”
He gasps. “What has become of her?”
“Your sister is very brave,” I tell them, glancing between the two. “Disguised as a boy, your brave sister climbed out Olifer’s window and escaped the castle grounds through a tunnel under the chapel.”
Both Olifer’s and Alfryd’s eyes widen. I believe at least one of them knows of this tunnel. That will be very helpful indeed.
A sound comes from outside the door, so I rise and move close to the boys.
“I will return. When I do, we will make our escape.”
CHAPTER 53
Rosomon
“Based on what Saxon has told us, I say we fly to Catha.” Zogar sits tall in his chair at the table in the war room at camp—the same room where Roule and Treacher interrogated us the last time we flew through the veil.
