Chapter Nineteen #3
Briefly, he explained the mercenaries that he’d followed into the castle, the alarm he’d raised, and the fact that he’d been in the right place at the right time to catch Tor as he came tumbling out the window.
“But why was he in the nursery?” Cavun asked, frowning. “That’s levels away from the dungeon.”
“If he heard that they were attacking the baby, it’s the only place he would be,” Pel told them firmly. “He loves the Princess more than anything.”
Beluna’s gaze turned thoughtful. “But there are rumors that he’s jealous of the baby, that he’s upset he’s not the heir anymore. And if even we’ve heard that in Tond…”
Pel nodded, considering this. Where had those rumors come from? “Trust me, if you’d ever seen him with the baby, you’d be sure of his feelings.”
Beluna shot him a look that was a weird mixture of exasperated and chiding.
“I’ve never been in any doubt as to Prince Torex’s feelings.”
Yes, so Pel was a fool. He owed the man an apology—but Tor owed him one, too. They hadn’t exactly covered themselves in glory today.
But Tor was still alive, and Pel knew they’d come shockingly close to that not being the case. Surely, they could sort everything else out later.
Beluna said, “So at the moment, Prince Torex is magically exhausted again, badly injured, and probably a fugitive?”
Pel sighed. “Yes. I understand if you don’t want to get involved with this.”
Her look was one of pure contempt. “You think you can manage this on your own, Prince? I assure you, you can’t.”
Pel couldn’t help but smile, the movement feeling foreign on his lips. “I would be grateful for every bit of assistance I can get, especially since I don’t have the slightest idea who can be trusted here, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to try to compel you to do anything.”
Her expression softened. “That’s very clear. And that’s why you’re going to get our help.”
That was… not the worst rationale Pel had ever heard, but he still felt the need to argue.
“I just want you to understand the severity of the situation.” He met their eyes squarely, first Beluna’s, then Cavun’s.
“The High King was angry enough this morning that he bound Tor’s magic and threw him in the dungeon until he could decide whether he’d committed treason.
Actual treason! It’s altogether possible that the rest of us are going to be accused of the same for aiding him now.
I can’t deny how much we could use the help, but I don’t want you to underestimate the trouble that might follow from this. ”
Beluna shrugged. “I’m pretty sure we were already at risk for following the two of you up that mountain, and I knew then the same thing that I know now. We’re doing the right thing.”
Pel had come to the same conclusion, really, so he couldn’t blame her for that assessment.
He looked at Cavun. “What about you? Everyone can make their own choice independently, and I won’t blame anyone for their decision. In fact, I’ll do my best to protect each of you—but I can’t promise how well that will go.”
“We do make our own decisions,” Cavun told him without hesitation.
“Bela’s just not usually wrong, that’s all, so we usually agree with her.
And like her, I’ve known I made the right decision since we followed you up the mountain.
I don’t think anyone else would have been able to do what Prince Torex did—but I don’t think most people would even have tried. We’re right where we want to be.”
That was probably actual treason, but Pel couldn’t help but be selfishly, desperately grateful that they were still willing to help. Rowing singlehandedly out of Alossa—assuming he could take one of the boats—with an unconscious Tor was the stuff his nightmares were made of.
He looked around and belatedly asked, “Where’s Denil?”
He’d been so focused on Tor that not only had he not noticed the other man’s absence, he didn’t even seem to have it in him to be alarmed.
Beluna explained, “He took the shift at the boats in case you went back there. He said he doesn’t need a bed that badly since it’s never right without his wife in it anyway.”
“Thank you both. All three of you,” Pel told them. “It means so much to us.” Pel was pretty sure he could take Tor’s part in this. “We should leave as soon as possible.”
Beluna stared him down. “We’ll leave in a few hours. You should get at least a couple hours of sleep before you fall over.”
“But—” Pel was antsy to be moving again even though he could also feel exhaustion digging its claws into him.
“We’ll let the fervor of whatever happened at the castle die down, then we’ll leave at a reasonable hour just like anyone else who’s trying to get an early start. We’ll do a quick reconnoiter by the castle before we leave.”
“I’ll take watch,” Cavun agreed immediately.
Pel thought about protesting, but… what would be the point? Beluna had decided what to do, and not needing to make a decision for a few minutes was a huge relief.
He lay down beside Tor and tucked himself up against as much of his body as he could reach. Beluna helped him rearrange the blankets so that Pel was now pressed against Tor and could share body heat.
This close to him, Pel could feel the slow thump of his heart, which was incredibly reassuring. It still didn’t feel right, but it was beating, and that was all that mattered.
Just keep beating. Hang in there, Tor. I’m going to get you to safety. I promise.
Pel was shaken awake by Cavun what felt like mere minutes later, but by the faint lightness in the sky through the window, it was now nearly dawn. Not that he had any idea when he’d gone to sleep.
He didn’t feel particularly well-rested, and all the problems he’d faced before he’d gone to sleep still loomed large. Tor remained unresponsive in his arms. But his heart was still beating, and that was enough for now.
Cavun and Beluna had taken care of packing up Pel and Tor’s belongings. Beluna inspected Tor’s wounds and then they got him dressed again. (Pel had never dressed an unconscious person before. He absolutely did not recommend it. He ached for Tor to wake up and tell them off for even attempting it.)
Cavun had been the one to stroll by the castle in the wee hours of the morning.
He reported that it was now heavily guarded, but there was no other indication that anything was amiss.
Part of Pel couldn’t fathom that the entirety of the United Realms wasn’t aware that something was deeply wrong…
but it actually made a lot of sense that the castle had locked down and wasn’t letting news of what had happened out.
It would doubtless spread with time given the nature of people and gossip, but it bought them all a little time now.
He thought of the empty guard posts when they first arrived and wondered if more guards had been killed—or paid off.
Well, there was no use speculating. It would be up to High King Varex and his staff to sort all of that out.
Pel would only hope that the chaos meant that no one would be looking for Tor anytime soon.
Beluna paid off the sleepy innkeeper and distracted him so that Cavun could slip out with Tor. Pel hurried after them. He’d had to still the almost visceral urge to insist that he be the one to carry Tor, as though he could have done so as quickly or ably.
Still, it was a relief to step out of the building and rejoin them. They were soon making their way through the lightening streets, and Pel was glad anew that they’d agreed to help him, because Beluna led them unerringly to the docks.
Dockworkers and other tradespeople who needed to be up this early were starting to populate the streets, but thankfully, it wasn’t busy yet, and the few people they passed didn’t seem to be shocked by someone being carried.
Pel hoped no one questioned it later. None of Tor’s wounds were visible, and his face was tilted down where it was leaning against Cavun’s chest, so he shouldn’t be recognizable.
But the sooner they left Nexa, the happier Pel would be.
Denil was waiting for them, and his eyes widened as he took in Cavun carrying Tor. Cavun went to set him in the boat, getting him carefully arranged where he wouldn’t occasion any comment.