“And what,pray tell, do you plan to do once you’re in the damn castle?”
The blood drains from my face. Admittedly, I’m not certain.
“You can’t do it alone,” Chiyo says. “We can come up with a solid strategy. I’ll go with you.”
Ava’s head snaps to her. “You cannot be serious!” She signs as she speaks, ensuring that I get every word.
“We could create some kind of diversion and allow Durvla to get into the castle. Vanish in and vanish Tiernan out.”
“Oh, it’s that simple, is it?” Ava asks with a sardonic laugh. “And how the fuck do you propose doing that without knowing exactly where Tiernan is in the castle? What if there are wards to prevent people from vanishing in? If it was that simple, don’t you think the Purists would’ve stormed the castle by now?”
Chiyo shrugs. “Perhaps they’ve tried.”
“They would’ve needed an object from Paramount or to have physically been there before,” Osheen chimes in.
“I have physically been there before,” I say.
Ava seems lost for words for a moment, her mouth opening and closing before she finally finds something sensible to say. “Have you all forgotten who the sovereign is? He owns the entire Royal Brigade, the Zenith, the Veilguards … He owns every force in Erleya. He ownsErleya!”
“What if someone from the inside—someone working with him—can help us?”
All eyes turn to me.
“Winnie, the Terraforger, isinthe castle right now. Iknowshe isn’t fully on the sovereign’s side. I just need to convince her to help us.”
Isobel waves her hand to get my attention. “Do you think you can?”
“Yes.” My hands shake. I know very well just how stubborn Winnie has been about not helping.
Standing beside the couch where Isobel sits, Sloan runs a hand through their hair—the only indicator of anxiety. “Thepossibilityof getting her to help is not good enough,” they say. “We need something more solid. We need her word.” Ava gestures dramatically to them, her head bobbing in agreement.
I gnaw on my lower lip. I know Sloan and Ava are right, but this is the best idea we have.
Ava looks between me and the others. Out of desperation, she even looks to Osheen. “How doyoufeel about this, Sulky? Do you think any of this makes sense?”
He swallows noticeably and picks invisible lint off his trousers. When he glances up, he looks directly at me. “Tiernan did everything to save us,” he signs. “We should at leasttryto get him out.”
I can imagine steam coming out of Ava’s ears. She looks at Haruka as the woman enters the room with a tray bearing a teakettle, and then to Alys. “Mam, tell them this is a terrible idea.”
Alys hesitates but doesn’t say anything.
Ava huffs and storms out of the house, the couch quivering slightly as she slams the door. Haruka sets the tray down on the low table, then steps out of the way.
No one speaks for some time until Alys breaks the tension. “It is an immense risk. You could die. We all could.”
“I know,” I admit. “But Ihaveto try. We cannot afford to wait for a rebel army to storm the castle. Tiernan could be dead by then.” I fight the tears that threaten to come. “If you can all help me train a bit more in the next couple of days, I’d appreciate that. Then one day to rest.”
“Sweetling, you must also consider all the factors logically.”
“All I’ve done my whole life is think logically about everything, Alys. And still, I was taken from my home, arrestedtwice, and I’ve been running from mercenaries and now two different organizations.”
She nods. “I understand but still, think about it.”
I shift my gaze from Alys to Osheen and find him looking back at me. It’s time I spoke to the man. It’s long overdue. “Whether I receive help or not, I’m going to do this. I’d rather die trying than live with the knowledge that I didn’t.”
As I step out of the house for fresh air in the evening, I find Osheen sitting on the grass, turning a rock over in his hands again and again. As he hears me, he glances my way and my breath catches unpleasantly. I close my eyes and pray for courage, for patience, for the strength to forgive him. Without a word, I sit down on the grass in front of him, and moisture immediately seeps into my trousers.
I grimace. “Why are you sitting in the wet grass?”
