Chapter 40
Robin ran into the street, moving along with the crowd toward the main square. Shouts sounded all around her as word spread, quickly followed by cries of terror.
People joined the crowd from every doorway and side street they passed, until the street was packed with a near-panicked mob.
Robin wove her way faster than the people around her, wanting to keep an eye on the original caller.
He was running out of the main square, heading up the road that led to the castle.
“They are here!”
“They will kill us all!”
“No mercy!”
Robin wanted to cover her ears as the shrieks and wails sounded on all sides. Someone grabbed her hand from behind. She instinctively tried to yank it away, until she realized that it was only Ian.
She looked back over her shoulder.
He gripped her hand tightly, looking down at her with a grim nod.
She squeezed his hand back while she led him through the crowd. She had no trouble navigating through the pressing bodies by herself, but it was growing impossible not to be separated from Ian. She pulled him close to her so they could move as one.
As they left the main square and the crowd spread out onto the grassy green field in front of the open castle gate, the pressure of moving bodies did not ease as Robin expected it would.
It felt as if the entire city was piling up behind them, pushing them further forward.
Not wanting to be pressed through the castle gate where Ian could be recognized, Robin veered to the left.
She had lost sight of the original caller, but it did not seem to matter. She was not sure if he had intentionally led them to the castle or if the people had naturally turned to the walled fortress as their only means of protection.
Before the people at the front of the crowd reached the castle gate, several dozen castle guards poured out of it in full armor. They spread out into a wide formation to receive the crowd, almost as if they had been prepared for this moment.
The gate closed behind them, cutting off the castle from the crowd.
Panicked, the people surged forward.
The guardsmen dropped long javelins, pointing them at the people to create an additional barrier.
The crowd faltered slightly, but Ian surged forward instead. He lifted his free hand in a gesture of command, as if he were about to issue an order. Robin could see anger on his face.
She pulled back at his hand that was still clasped in hers, holding him back.
Ian fought her for a moment, pulling forward, until she stepped up to his side and leaned her body against him.
As if remembering where he was, Ian finally stood still, but the face he turned down toward her was filled with rage. “The guard has never drawn weapons against the people of Iseldis. Never.” He leaned down to yell this in her ear so she could hear him over the screams of the people.
“Save us!”
“Help us!”
“We want the king!”
A horse rode forward through the Iseldis guard, and Robin instantly recognized the man in resplendent silver armor and a purple cape. Gareth had come out to greet the people.
He calmly raised his hands to the crowd.
The guards kept a loose crescent behind him but did not surge forward to protect him from the people.
It took several minutes, but eventually the frightened people realized that Gareth was asking them to quiet down. He was clearly visible from his seat atop a tall horse at the height of the hill in front of the castle gate.
From their position near the front, Robin and Ian were quite near him. Ian pulled his hood up, turning down his face to avoid being recognized. Pulling his hand, Robin guided him back so that they were at least a few people deep into the crowd.
“My dear people,” Gareth said, his voice unnaturally loud and booming.
Ian tightened his grip once again on Robin’s hand. “They are not your people,” he said, leaning close to Robin so that only she could hear his words.
“Please, be calm,” Gareth continued. “I hear your fear. My men are on the shore, ready to protect you from this attack. We have been preparing for this moment, and we will keep you safe. Do not fear!”
Robin could see the ripple of relief that spread down the hill as the people turned to each other, passing on Gareth’s words.
“You will be safe,” Gareth continued.
“But what about their magic?!” someone yelled from the crowd near Robin.
“It is not strong enough to best my soldiers,” Gareth said. “While King Frederich is still recovering, I will not leave you!”
Someone sent up a cheer. Soon it was picked up by more.
“King Gareth will keep us safe!”
“Thank you, King Gareth!”
“Return to your homes,” Gareth said. “Remain here and stay safe. Prepare food and lodging for my men when they return from battle.”
The entire atmosphere changed as the chaos and fear of the crowd eased into the relief of safety and action.
Robin was begrudgingly impressed at Gareth’s ability to manipulate, though she knew that he had at least used chaos magic to amplify his voice, if not more than that.
The crowd loosened, and the people seeped back into town.
Robin watched Gareth retreat behind the castle gate, protected by the castle guard.
If she’d had any way to prove it, Robin would have bet every coin in the River’s Talon coffers that this entire scenario had been contrived.
The caller had likely been one of Gareth’s own men, poised at the perfect moment to race through the town.
Gareth and the guard had been too ready. Donning their full armor would have taken twice the time that it had taken for the crowd to form.
The only thing about the entire situation that she did believe was that the Majis ships had been sighted offshore. Gareth was ready to make his attack.
As the grass emptied, a cloud of anger still hung over one person. Ian seethed next to her. “Can no one see that he is lying?”
“They have no reason to believe otherwise,” Robin replied. She was relieved to see the depth of his anger. Where there was anger, there was still hope. “Come, we must speak with Aizel before we go back to Lockwood. We have work to do.”