Meena slipped outside the bailey and made her way toward the gates, walking quickly through the marketplace at the entrance of the city. The vendors were packing their wares, but the area was still quite busy. Everyone was probably making their way to the festival for a free feast.
Soldiers flanked the gate, talking to everyone that entered through them. Meena had forgotten about that.
She slipped into a shadowed alleyway to avoid being seen while she decided what to do.
The soldiers probably didn’t know who she was sight, this wasn’t Iseldis. But could she risk leaving the safety of the fort if there were gatekeepers stopping her re-entry? Or would they even let her in if they didn’t know who she was?
She exhaled in desperation.
She knew in her heart that she would do anything to reach Sol. She would dive into the ocean and swim across it. She would run up a mountain if that was required to save him.
But there was one thing she could not do.
She would not sacrifice the fate of her kingdom and his people.
She grabbed the rough sandstone on the wall beside her, staring past the soldiers, letting herself imagine for a single moment what it would feel like to see Sol once more.
She could not even rely on Jules’s generous offer. No, once she was done with destroying the magic receptacle, Jules would no longer be willing to help her.
Meena exhaled. Despite the pain in her heart, her body felt strangely calm. She had made the right decision.
As she gazed at the open gate one final time, two familiar faces sauntered through it.
Her feet tingled with excitement.
Or perhaps that was just the sifting sand she could feel through her silk slippers.
Either way, luck was handing her another chance. Perhaps it wasn’t luck, perhaps it was the harmony.
Leaning in to her own decision before she could second-guess herself, Meena reached out from her place in the shadows and grabbed the arm of the passing sailor.
“Tillon!” she whispered, pulling against him with all her weight until he stumbled off the main road and into the shadowy alleyway with her. “It’s me!”
“Curses,” the sailor muttered as he struggled to regain his balance.
Meena could see the silhouette of his frame outlined by the torch lit street behind him. She could see him raise his arm, swinging it back to defend himself against the attack.
Perhaps dragging him off the street was not her finest idea.
“Tillon,” she hissed. “It’s me. Meena.”
His fist remained raised, but the sailor reached toward her in the darkness, deftly grabbing her throat with his free hand. “Who’s me?”
Meena threw her head back, instinctively struggling against his grip.
“The princess,” she whispered with the last of her breath.
Tillon’s hand instantly left her throat. “Princess? Why didn’t you say your name?” He put his hands on her shoulders, leaning his face close as if it would help him to see better in the darkness.
“I did. Twice,” she replied, rubbing her throat. “It’s Meena.”
“Right, I guess I just wasn’t listening.” Tillon sounded embarrassed and he leaned back to give her some space. “I guess I’ve been a little jumpy recently.”
“Do you have him?” Meena asked, cutting to the heart of her mission. She knew this was a bargain. Just because Tillon had been friendly with her on board the ship did not mean he would be willing to defy those in power to aid her and Sol. But she had to at least try, especially when he literally walked right past her.
“Yes,” Tillon replied, the embarrassment still in his voice. He seemed to instantly know who she was referring to. “We didn’t want to do it, Princess, I promise. But the councilor ... we couldn’t say no. And we were supposed to lift anchor this afternoon, but then the wind picked up even though the sky was clear and we couldn’t risk another freak storm like last time, especially with that councilor’s precious cargo on board.”
“I need your help,” Meena cut in as soon as her breath returned. “Would you and your crew help me save Sol from Gareth’s clutches?” Meena hoped her words conveyed the urgency she was feeling. “I don’t have much to offer you, except for the protection of Iseldis. It’s a weak offer at the moment, but if you help me bring Sol back to the cove, he can deal a deadly blow to Gareth’s power that would tip the scales against him.” Meena paused for breath. “And I promise Iseldis will shelter you for as long as we stand against Gareth.”
