Chapter 17 Misdirection
Chapter Seventeen
Misdirection
Rivka
The chill in the night air bit at Rivka’s exposed skin, sending a shiver racing up her spine.
Pulling her cloak tighter around her, she pressed closer to Ellis’ side.
Rivka had dressed in a simple gown, her hair braided down her back.
Her cloak, dark in color. Ellis too, was dressed in similar attire.
She wished that she had worn gloves. It was unseasonably cold this fall.
It wouldn’t be too long before the snow began.
They were almost to the docks now; so eerily quiet.
At half past midnight, the docks were deserted except for a few night fishermen and a couple of soldiers.
She had hoped they wouldn’t run into trouble, her mind playing out how things would go once the palace realized they were missing.
Avoiding eye contact with those few who they passed was imperative, knowing they would be interrogated and questioned regarding anything they saw or heard.
There wasn’t time to dwell on the multitude of possibilities that opened in her mind.
They had slipped out of the palace, undetected, after Ellis had mixed a sleeping tonic into the guards' water canteens.
Rivka felt awful, knowing that Captain Wright was going to be livid when he awoke to find them missing, not to mention the trouble he would be in for falling asleep on duty.
If Alex was in the palace when the alarm sounded, Rivka knew she’d be one of the first to respond.
She would be beside herself to discover them gone.
Or at least she would have been before. They had to be sure they were as far away as possible because knowing Ria, she would search the entire realm until she found them.
She may not love her anymore but her loyalty to Varon could not be disputed.
It killed Rivka to know that she was adding to the hurt and pain she had already caused her.
It was unavoidable, though all part of the plan, no matter how much her heart ached.
The dock loomed ahead with several large supply ships moored offshore.
Rivka knew that the farthest one out was their ship.
A dark figure awaited them on the far side of the boathouse, hardly noticeable to the naked eye.
As she neared the shadows of the building, Rivka was yanked into a soul crushing hug, a familiar scent enveloping her.
She held on, squeezing right back, neither of them willing to let go.
Finally, Evanar set her down, stepping back just enough to cup her face.
Leaving him was going to be incredibly hard.
He leaned in and placed a kiss on each cheek before releasing her.
Turning, he clasped Ellis’ forearm in a firm handshake.
“You remember everything we spoke about?”
“Yes, sir. We row out to the wayside of the ship, just out of view. Wait until we see the lantern flash three times before heading back to shore, a ways up the bank.”
“Correct. The timing must be perfect. Once the diversion begins, mayhem will ensue. The ship will look as if it were under attack, before it is ‘pirated’ away.” Evanar’s eyes darted between the two of them. “It is imperative that you be in the Underground when it sails.”
“I’ll protect her with my life, sir. I swear it.
” Ellis assured him. “I will carry out your instructions as discussed. I do have one favor to ask of you though…please see that this gets to Prince Tristan. Only use your most trusted messenger. It is vital that he receives this. Only him.” The grim look Ellis gave Evanar brooked no argument.
Evanar took the sealed envelope from his outstretched hand, concern etched on his face. “Of course, my son. I will see to it at first light.”
Evanar pulled Rivka into his arms once more, tears clouding his eyes.
“Stay safe, my child. We will get to the bottom of this quickly. You will be home before you know it.” Bending, he placed his hand on her abdomen, “Grow strong, little one. You’re destined for greatness, just as your mother. I cannot wait to meet you.”
The babe gave a little kick, as if it understood the words he had spoken. Evanar’s grin spread across his face. “She’s a feisty one, huh?”
“We don’t know that the baby’s a she.” Rivka said, rubbing her hand across her stomach. Evanar laughed, “I guess time will tell.”
Ellis stood silently watching their exchange. They were both stalling, delaying the inevitable. Stepping forward, Ellis reached toward Rivka.
“It is time, my love,” he murmured, clasping her hand.
Jerking her hand free, she launched into her father’s arms once again, her eyes bright with unshed tears.
“I love you.” She sniffled, before continuing.
“Tell Mama that I love her, too. I never meant to hurt her.” Rivka clung to her father, wanting to never let him go.
Everything felt so final. If Vivian had her way, this could be the last time she ever felt his embrace, breathed in his scent, heard the timber of his voice.
Holding back a sob, she dropped her arms, brushing at her tears.
“I love you too, Rivka. Words can never express how much joy you’ve brought to your mother and I. We will be counting the hours until your return.”
Reaching out, Evanar pulled Ellis into a quick embrace.
“I trust you. Do not let me down.”
“I won’t, sir. I promise.”
With that, Ellis guided Rivka to the awaiting rowboat, taking care to help her be seated, before slowly rowing them out onto the lake.
The only sound, the gentle splashing of the oars slapping the water.
They had barely reached the dark side of the ship when an explosion boomed from shore, sending shockwaves out through the water.
Rivka let out a scream as fire ripped through the air.
Ellis’ hand quickly clamped down over her mouth, silencing her.
“Well, that explains what was in that damn box.” Ellis said, unable to hide his amusement, but it quickly faded as the alarm sounded. “What in Sindu happened to the lantern signal? The alarm wasn’t supposed to sound until after we were clear.”
It didn’t matter what was supposed to happen, right now they had to move. It would be only a matter of minutes before the full guard arrived.
A second explosion went off, closer to the ship this time.
The roiling water caused their tiny boat to bounce across the surface, water splashing inside.
A sudden wave rocked them so hard that Rivka lost her balance.
She flailed her arms in an attempt to catch herself before she tipped overboard.
Ellis caught her, pulling her roughly back inside, causing her to hit her back on the bench seat as she landed.
She hissed in pain but hurriedly righted herself and picked up an oar.
Sounds of chaos rang out, smoke and ash filling the air, coating their lungs as men started shouting.
Boats launched from the shore heading directly for the ship they were currently hidden behind, bringing aid and searching for the attackers.
As far as diversions went, this was no small feat.
Rivka knew her father well, but this was beyond what she’d imagined.
Rowing as fast as they could, Rivka and Ellis made their way around the lake edge, their muscles burning with exertion.
The havoc of the dock fell away the further they went, the yells and alarm fading to whispers, but still they didn’t slow.
Ellis spotted the land mass that Evanar had told them to look for and they began scanning for the agreed upon marker that he had put into place.
To any citizen, it was a staggered pile of rocks pushing out into the water, but to them, the cairn meant safety.
“There,” Rivka yelled in an exaggerated whisper, pointing at the shore.
Turning the boat, Ellis rowed them ashore, the bottom scraping on the rocks below.
He helped Rivka unload their packs onto the sand before wading back into the water, tugging the boat with him.
Picking up a sharp rock, he punched a hole in the tiny vessel, water immediately filling the bottom, weighing it down.
Ellis pushed it further into the lake, watching as it fully submerged. There was no going back now.
They sprinted up the beach to the rocky overhang of a cliff.
There, they found the crevice Evanar had described, just wide enough to slip through, that would lead them into the Underground.
The thickness of the packs they carried made the fit a challenge and damn near every bit of dimming light left in the sky was eclipsed.
Inside, the blackness was unyielding except for the minimal light of the moon at their backs.
Rivka didn’t want to admit that she was out of her element.
She scrambled to pull flint stones and her torch from her pack, quickly striking the stones together over the torch, lighting it.
The sudden brightness had them both slamming their eyes shut.
Blinking rapidly in adjustment, they took in their surroundings.
The tunnel seemed to be in good shape, maintained by who, they had no clue, but were grateful all the same.
Rough stone graced the walls, the floor made of cobblestone, sconces spaced every few feet down each side, just waiting to be lit, though they couldn’t chance lighting them this close to the entry point.
They couldn’t risk being seen. Building such elaborate passageways with tremendous care must have taken not only a considerable amount of time to build, but also an incredible talent for structure.
Rivka’s tear stained face was illuminated by the torchlight.
They had to keep moving, to put as much distance between them and the Varon palace as possible.
Ellis, taking her hand in his, started walking, tugging her along with him.
Rivka didn’t hesitate, letting him pull her along.
She was numb, except for the constant ache in her heart.
Refusing to look back, she focused on putting one foot in front of the other.
She could only move forward, one step at a time, each one taking her further away from her home, from those she loved.
Neither of them dared to utter a word, and the silence was deafening.