So I buried my hurt deep and continued my ascent.
At the top, I scanned the area.Hundreds of footprints and hoofprints marked the dirt as well as long drag marks—clear signs of a struggle.With the null field up, Elena couldn’t have used her Ember.I was certain she had still put up a fight, but she would have been hopelessly outmatched.I ached at the thought of her fighting for her life.Her life and Darion’s.
Now it was my job to save them.I raced down the road as fast as my feet would carry me.
I ran for hours, stopping only to drink water from streams or to rest my aching feet for a moment.Only when the trail left the mountains did I catch my first glimpse of the Sentinels far in the distance.A new wave of energy flowed through my weary muscles now that I knew I was on the right path and making progress.
By the time the sun neared the horizon, I was close enough that I had to slow my pace to keep from being detected.I counted twenty-seven guards in total: eight Sentinels, eighteen Sentinel soldiers, and one commander.But most importantly, I could see Elena and Darion.I couldn’t tell much about their state from this distance, but at least they appeared to be conscious.
I let my Ember flow the slightest bit and immediately felt the null field slam into me.It made sense that the Sentinels would suppress Elena and Darion’s abilities, but it also meant that I needed to be careful not to be detected.I still felt clumsy and forgetful when I suppressed my Ember, but I was at least getting more used to it and better at controlling the flow such that I had just the amount I needed.
With the last light of day dimming, Bitterridge Keep formed a dark silhouette against the glowing sky.It was hard to believe that just this morning, Elena, Darion, and I had left here full of optimism.My heart ached at how much had changed.
I was relieved to see the group slow as they approached the keep.It appeared they were stopping for a rest.I climbed a tree that provided a good view of the area.The soldiers carried Elena and Darion off the horses and into the keep as Sentinels stood guard.A jolt of anger and panic hit me the moment they touched the people I cared for.I burned to run right up to them, brandishing my knives.But that would only get all of us killed.
Through the night, I observed their patterns.Two-thirds of the troops rested while one-third kept watch.Even if I let the full force of my Ember flow, nine guards against one was suicidal.
Deep in the night, I snuck up as close to the keep as I dared.I stood on the edge of their firelight.A typical company of soldiers would be quietly talking, drinking, or playing dice.These simply stood at attention, unmoving, utterly quiet.A twig snapped to the left of me, and all the Sentinels turned their heads in perfect unison in a deeply inhuman way.Just looking at them sent chills running through me.
I remembered Syra’s dying moments, how she’d finally been freed from the prison in her mind.I hoped that beneath those steely facades, the real Emberborn still existed and that somehow we could figure out how to free them.Until then, every life I took was the life of a captive held against their will.
At the first signs of dawn, the camp stirred.The Sentinels were on the move again.I shook out my weary muscles and continued pursuing them.The company headed directly east through the forest, presumably to the main north-south road.
The one piece of good news was that Elena and Darion appeared more alert than they had yesterday.They looked from side to side and reacted to the bumps in the trail rather than simply being bounced around.The enormous amount of Ember they’d used during our battle with Syra must have drained them, and a full night of rest had likely done them good.
It was a particularly cruel torture to be so close but completely unable to do anything to help them.My best course of action was simply to continue following them, stay alert, and look for opportunities to act.
One goal I had was to somehow alert Elena or Darion that I was here.If I could get their attention, it might give them hope to know that help wasn’t far behind.If they found a chance to escape, they’d know I was there to assist them.But so far, their captors had kept them well guarded.Any attempt to get their attention risked exposing me to the Sentinels.So I continued, watching and waiting.
Within a few hours of leaving Bitterridge Keep, the main north-south road came into view.That presented its own set of problems.On the main road, there’d be fewer places to hide.There’d also be more traffic, increasing the chance of being detected.So before we got there, I decided to take a risk.
Giving the Sentinels a very wide berth, I increased my pace and circled around the group I was following.Once I was sufficiently ahead of them, I climbed a tree that was a stone’s throw from the trail, with good coverage for stealth but also a clear view.I could easily hide behind the trunk if I was worried about being detected.
Tucked in my tree, I quietly practiced the sparrow call Darion had taught me.It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to be good enough.
Soon I could make out the group heading down the trail in my direction.When they were sufficiently close, I started chirping the tactical signal for “shift left,” hoping he’d turn his head and see me.But no such luck.Darion kept facing forward, unaware of my signal.Perhaps I had emulated the birdtoowell.I continued the signal until the group was almost beside me, when it got too risky.
I punched the bark.I had hoped so much that he would see me, that I could give him a sliver of hope.
The company was just passing when Darion dug his heels into Buttercup and leaned hard to the left.The horse bolted so suddenly that the Sentinel soldier holding the bridle lost their grip.
Hehadheard me.
Buttercup charged through the woods in roughly my direction.In the blink of an eye, I was down the tree, shifting my position in the undergrowth so I’d be directly in front of the horse, all while trying to remain invisible.I wasn’t sure what I’d do when Darion got to me, but I trusted that he had a plan.I only hoped I’d figure it out in time.
Buttercup was moving fast, but the Sentinel soldiers were in hot pursuit.They were close enough that they would immediately see me if I jumped up from my hiding spot.
Buttercup was upon me, and I still didn’t have a plan that wouldn’t get me caught.But as she passed, Darion whisper-shouted, “Thornfell,” then leaned toward the horse’s left again, sending her turning through the forest away from me.The Sentinels in pursuit cut the corner to intercept them, no longer headed in my direction.
From my hiding spot, I watched as the Sentinel soldiers finally caught up to Darion.One of them punched him in the gut.He doubled over and let out a cry.I could almost feel his pain.I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out myself.
Every instinct screamed at me to help him, but if I did, his sacrifice would be for nothing.He hadn’t hesitated to risk his life for me.
Soon the Sentinels formed up again and continued east down the path to the north-south road.
Although I’d come up well short of rescue, I’d accomplished two major goals.Darion now knew I had survived and was in pursuit, and more importantly, I knew their destination—the king’s private citadel, Thornfell Keep.
Chapter forty-four
