“Do you not agree with me?” Gareth asked again. He sounded disappointed, but his face was ecstatic.
“No!” Erich practically yelled. “You’ve been perpetuating lies throughout the entire kingdom for too long and your goal for unity is really only a service to yourself. Someday, someone more powerful than I will expose you for the tyrant you are.”
Gareth relaxed into his chair as if he had never been happier. “Thank you for your honesty, Erich of Iseldis. I accept your offer.”
He waved a hand to the guards at the door. They stepped forward toward the girl.
“Wait,” Erich said. “I am not so stupid as you might think.”
“Hah!” Gareth stood. “You fit into my plan more perfectly than I dared hope. Chendas has been trying for decades to bring Iseldis to our way of thinking. Only as a united whole will the Five Kingdoms survive. But no, your father has always been too good for the Council, too good to be part of the whole. Now, my strategy is to weaken Iseldis until it is mine. How long do you think it will last when your family is dead?”
Erich stared back at the king, his breath unstable. “Let the girl go free.” He made his voice as threatening as possible.
Gareth ignored him. “In a few hours, you will die in front of hundreds—thousands—of people. But with your face covered, they will have no idea who you actually are. Prince Erich of Iseldis, gone. Disappeared. It’s perfect. Thank you for cooperating. Your sacrifice will indeed better the continent.”
“Let the girl go free,” Erich repeated.
“No need to sound so desperate,” Gareth replied. “I always keep my word. Come.”
Erich, flanked by four guards, followed Gareth and the girl to an empty courtyard at the back of the palace.
One of the guards removed the girl’s necklace. She touched her neck, her eyes confused.
“Go,” Gareth said, his voice unnaturally loud. “You’re free.”
She turned to Erich, her eyes filled with concern for him.
“Run,” Erich mouthed. “Run and don’t stop running.”
She dipped her head. “Thank you.” Then she turned and dashed through the gate.
Erich watched her until she was out of sight. He may have walked right into Gareth’s plan, but he didn’t regret his actions.
Chapter 42
“If you don’t mind that they're used, I have an extra vest and cloak lying around here,” Robin offered.
“Yes, please!” Aizel accepted with a smile. Seeing Robin’s tactical clothing made Aizel far more confident in the black pants she was currently wearing. They had turned out to be quite warm and comfortable, and if someone as beautiful and brave as Robin could wear them with confidence, so could she.
Sinking into the tub of hot water Robin had requested, Aizel began to scrub the days of dirt and travel from her skin. Her hair was so matted in knots she was tempted to chop it all off rather than wash her way through it.
Eventually, as the water cooled around her, she felt a new type of confidence sink into her skin. The kind that came from feeling whole and fed and prepared.
She was ready to find Celesta and get her out of Gareth’s clutches. And best of all, she didn’t have to do it alone.
After drying herself, she added Robin’s new layers to her current outfit, wishing she had a mirror to see herself in. She felt powerful, mobile, in control. And she loved it.
“Come in,” Aizel called, when a knock sounded at the door.
Robin entered, carrying a plain hat. “I think it would be smart to try to cover your hair. It’s pretty unique and might draw unwanted attention.”
“That sounds like a good idea to me.”
Robin walked around her, looking from the hat to her hair. “Mhh. Would you mind if I braid it? I underestimated how much hair you have to hide.”
“Not at all.”
In a matter of moments, Robin had Aizel’s hair braided and hidden under the hat. “I think we’re ready.”
