Chapter 24
“Prue!” Lili screamed from where she was perched in the watchtower at the edge of the Rebellion base.
As Daegal had planned, he and I had, some more willingly than others, waited for Cannon and his team to finish their job. The twins had taken the rest of the group back to the base to treat the injured as quickly as possible, including Lili and Archie.
We hadn’t even seen who we’d managed to free or who’d been… hurt.
We had barely stepped foot inside the base when Lili came flying down the stairs from the tower, crashing into me with her arms in the air.
I gasped as the wind was knocked out of me, but a breath of relief still left my mouth.
Even if I was back under Verena’s thumb, it felt like my whole life had clicked back into place. All the most important people in my life were safe. I no longer had to be Boaz’s gofer out of fear that he would hurt Lili. I was free.
Well, free from my darkest worries, at least. A lesser fear settled in my stomach. Maybe I’d have to leave Lili and Archie here if Verena and the council exiled me.
They’d undoubtedly insist on coming with me. But I couldn’t let that happen. I’d leave in the dead of night if I had to.
“We got back this morning,” Lili said breathlessly. “I didn’t want to leave, but Felix told me I had to.”
I nodded and reached out to take her hands in mine. She looked down and frowned at the cuffs around my wrists before shooting Daegal a hateful look.
Lili stepped back, watching me. She looked alive. With that same fierce stare that I’d seen in my mother’s eyes in the picture Hannan had shown me.
“Did they treat you alright on the way back?” she asked sternly.
I nodded, smiling at the protective tone in my little sister’s voice. “Oh, yes. Daegal was a perfect gentleman.” I turned to look at him; he had his arms crossed over his chest, looking at our reunion with a bored expression. “Isn’t that right, Daegal?”
He gave a noncommittal huff, but I swore the corners of his mouth twitched slightly at my words.
However, his voice carried no amusement when he spoke. “I have to take you to Verena.”
Before waiting for me to answer, he grabbed me by the arm and started dragging me towards the room, more roughly than he’d treated me the whole way back from the desert.
“Putting on a show for the big boss?” I sneered, struggling to keep my footing as he quickened his pace.
“Shut up if you know what’s good for you,” he snapped. The look he gave me made it clear that it wasn’t a threat—it was a warning. His dark eyes were slightly widened, and his breathing quicker than his usual, calm rhythm.
When we entered, Verena sat by the table, shuffling through parchment and maps while Hannan sat with his hands folded in his lap, looking like he’d recently cried.
My stomach dropped. The mission had been dangerous; I knew that. But I hadn’t let myself dwell on the consequences.
“We’re back,” Daegal said flatly when Verena didn’t acknowledge us.
“I can see that,” she said, not looking up from her papers. “So, you survived, did you?” she continued, finally looking up to fix her cold gaze on me.
“It would appear so,” I answered, matching her tone. “Though I’m sure Daegal did everything in his power to prevent it.”
I bit my lip the second I’d said that. Rising to her bait was a stupid mistake, and Daegal’s loud sigh conveyed to me that he agreed.
“Did everyone survive?” Daegal asked anxiously, deflecting the conversation away from my unfortunate survival.
Hannan looked up for the first time since we entered the room. His eyes were bloodshot and puffy, and his shoulders were hunched.
“23 deaths,” he croaked hoarsely. Verena remained silent, but her face fell at his words. “Eight of those were from the base. The rest of them prisoners and a few from the group you met out there.”
“We’ve almost doubled in numbers,” Verena cut in, like she was excusing the deaths and writing them up as an unfortunate but necessary sacrifice.
“Who died?” Daegal asked, keeping his gaze on Hannan. His eyes saddened even more as they flickered from me to the ground.
“Lawrence, Jacob, Poppy…” he rattled off a few names that I didn’t recognize. I held my breath. My heart rate slowed with every name. I barely had time to realize how incredibly selfish it was that I felt a small rush of relief every time Hannan uttered an unfamiliar name, when he trailed off.
His blue eyes met mine, and my heart clenched. He’d saved the worst for last, I could tell. His lips trembled as he said the final name, effectively shattering the shred of happiness I’d felt since reuniting with Lili.
“And Felicity.”
Daegal took me to the cell by the forest exit on Verena’s orders. We walked in silence, too tired and devastated to say anything.
When we reached the cage, Daegal unlocked it and stepped aside for me to enter.
“Wait,” he said, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. I turned to face him and saw him looking around us before returning his attention to me.
He hesitated, his dark eyes searching mine, clearly struggling to get the words out. His full lips thinned before he spoke. “I’m so sorry about Felicity, Prudence.” He whispered, squeezing my shoulder. “I knew you two were close.”
I nodded, my throat tightening painfully.
“Felix, he’ll be crushed,” I said weakly.
My eyes stung, and I sniffled, wiping my nose with the back of my hand.
“And I can’t go to him because I have to be in here.
” I was sobbing now, tears streaming down my face and blurring Daegal’s face.
But I could see that his eyes had a sad shine in them, too.
Without another word, I walked into the cell and sat down on the ground with my back against the bed.
“I’ll keep an eye on him,” he assured me. Then he closed the cage door, locked it, and left me to my thoughts.
My head swam. My insides felt like they could burst at any moment.
Felicity was dead.
With the privacy of my cell, I turned my back to the bars and burst into loud, untamed sobs.
I cried for myself a little, but mostly for Felix. Ever since birth, they’d been inseparable. They’d spent hours every single day in each other’s company, making weapons or teaching close-combat training. They never got sick of one another.
She’d been so nice to me from the moment I met her. And she’d let me keep the green dress I’d borrowed from her. What a stupid thought.
I couldn’t imagine Felix ever feeling whole again.
“Your sister is very insistent,” a cold voice woke me from an uneasy slumber.
I sat up straight, meeting the purple eyes already fixed intently on me.
Verena stood with her arms folded just outside the cell, giving me a calculating stare.
“I told her your hearing with the council was scheduled for next week. According to her, that just wouldn’t do. ”
I gulped, wondering how on earth my little sister persuaded Verena to even consider rescheduling something as minuscule for her. I was sure she was busy preparing whatever attack they were planning.
“I’m sorry if she bothered you,” I said hurriedly, shrinking under her piercing gaze. “I didn’t ask her to confront you.”
“Oh, I’m not surprised. She’s headstrong, your little sister.” I could only nod in agreement to that. No truer statement had been uttered in centuries. “Your hearing is in an hour. Hannan will come get you.”
How on earth did you do that, Lili?
Then she left, leaving only her retreating frame to answer my unspoken questions.
One hour.
My heart hammered in my chest. In one hour, my fate would be decided. It was almost too soon. If I was exiled, my time with Lili and Archie would be over before it began.
I reached out through the bond before I remembered she’d lost the stone. Kenric had been able to contact me because she’d dropped it.
How did he know what it was?
She and Archie were probably finding their place at the base anyway. I was sure everyone would be put to work—making weapons, bombs, food, or any other necessities.
The hour passed way too quickly. When Hannan came to get me, he gave me an assuring smile that didn’t reach his eyes. He was nervous, too.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you alive,” he sighed, giving me a small hug. “I was afraid they’d have you killed out there.”
He released me, only to search my skin for injuries. When he was satisfied to see that I didn’t have any visible wounds, we started walking towards the tent for my hearing.
“You’ll vote for me to stay, won’t you?” I asked with a humorless chuckle. He looked shocked, almost hurt, that I’d even asked him that.
“Of course, I will, you silly girl.”
The large, round tent had been set up in the middle of the square again. The council had already gathered, and their voices quieted as we entered.
My legs trembled, but I straightened up, refusing to collapse under the 24 eyes staring at me.
Hannan took his seat. 26 eyes.
Verena sat in the middle with her blazing gaze fixed on me. Her midnight blue hands were folded on the table in front of her, one nail impatiently tapping the wood.
I gulped. She did not look to be in a forgiving mood.
My stomach jolted as my gaze met an intense blue stare. I couldn’t make out what Felix was thinking.
I couldn’t stop myself from thinking back to the first time I stood in front of this council. Felix had been a source of comfort then. Now, he was one of the reasons my palms grew sweatier, and my heart raced.
His eyes were bloodshot and wounded. He had several cuts across his face, and his right arm was heavily bandaged.
Goddess, he’s already falling apart.
Bile rose in my throat as I thought about the trip he’d had to take back from Orken—leading everyone back to safety while slowly unravelling on the inside as he travelled further away from his sister’s final resting place.
“I’ve already explained to you the circumstances and the reason we’re having this vote,” Verena said, addressing her council members. “Prudence Caswell infiltrated the Rebellion with the intention of stealing the Solar Crown and bringing it into Elio Boaz’s possession.
“This was not for personal gain, but to save her sister from the cruel fate that would have fallen upon her had Prudence refused to partake in said mission.
“She could, however, have jeopardized everything we’ve fought for during the last few decades. She went on the most recent mission. Daegal informed me of her value during the mission and how her intel on the whereabouts and details of the prison were crucial for the mission’s success.”
My heart leaped. I tried to catch Daegal’s eyes, but his gaze remained firmly on his leader.
“If the majority votes for Prudence to be pardoned and accepted back into the Rebellion, there will be certain expectations,” Verena continued.
She looked directly at me. I gulped but held her gaze, willing her to see how much I wanted to be pardoned. But I knew I should be happy that my fate wasn’t entirely in her hands. She’d already made it clear that she would sacrifice everything for the cause.
“You’re expected to work hard to master both moon and sun magic.
You’re expected to help win the war, and most of all, you’re expected to obey every single order I give you.
That also extends to any of my council members.
You will not get a say in anything regarding this war effort or anything else. ”
Her tone left no room for discussion. I nodded, letting her words wash over me.
I tried to decide how that made me feel, but my nerves danced around inside me, making it impossible to focus on anything but the question that had interrupted my thoughts, dreams, and sleep for the last few days.
Will I be allowed to stay?
“All in favor of pardoning Prudence Caswell and allowing her back into the rebellion,” Verena bellowed, and after a few seconds, she raised her hand. Multiple hands followed hers.
Hannan had voted in my favor immediately, and he beamed brighter with every hand a new council member raised.
A familiar pair of hazel eyes caught my attention as I spotted movement to my right. Daegal’s hand was in the air, voting for me to stay. My lips parted at the sight.
For a reason unknown to even myself, his gesture warmed my insides like a hot fire on a snowy day. If he voted for my pardon, surely everyone else would, too. Besides, like Verena said, the Rebellion needed numbers. And most of the members had known my parents.
My heart started to flutter. Almost every hand was in the air.
I looked at Felix. He sat with his hands clasped tightly together on the table in front of him, twitching slightly as he stared at me. His hands didn’t move.
The warm feeling was replaced by cold, stabbing pain. It was clear now that when he looked at me, he saw the reason for his sister’s premature death.
The hateful stare fixed on me as he continued to keep his hands firmly planted on the table, voting for my exile, brought tears to my eyes.
I wanted to go to him, hug him tightly and assure him that he’d be alright. I felt a stabbing in my chest, realizing my touch would no longer bring him comfort. My company would no longer bring him joy and a smile to his face.
My world flipped upside down. The man I’d expected to throw me to the wolves as soon as he got the chance sat with his hand up, pardoning me.
The friend I thought would stand by my side through everything looked as discontented as ever when his eyes scanned the table to see the results.
“Majority in favor,” Verena called out. “Prudence, welcome back to the Rebellion.”