Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Ellery
“So, you think it would be a good idea to return to the dungeon?” I asked, drawing their attention back to me.
“Yes.”
“You’ve lost your mind!” Samael blurted, and I hated to agree with the sheriff. “There is no way we’ll make it all the way back through the palace and back to those dungeons without being detected. Not to mention, the duke will have far more guards with him now that a warning has gone out.”
As Samael spoke, some of the gargoyles returned.
“The children?” I asked anxiously.
“They are in the cavern,” Kevi, a female gargoyle, replied. “Many have been reunited with their parents.”
“Wonderful,” I breathed.
“What’s going on outside?” Ryker demanded.
“More fighters are assembling on the field and on the wall. It’s getting a lot louder as the poltergeists are slaughtering anyone trying to enter the woods. I think they’re still confused about what’s happening.”
“That doesn’t mean the duke hasn’t mobilized more guards around him. He could be in the dungeons now and already know you’re gone,” Samael said.
“True, but an ambush does sound like the best way to go,” Tucker said. “The duke would never see it coming.”
I wasn’t sure if he was saying that because he agreed with Ryker or because he despised Samael so much. But Tucker was far more levelheaded than Ryker or me; he wouldn’t agree with this if he didn’t think it could work.
“Do you have enough time to make it back to the dungeon?” Ianto asked.
We all looked at Samael, who snorted with laughter. “I risked my life to free you assholes, and you want to go back?”
“Do you want this over?” Ryker asked.
“Yes, but we won’t get past the kitchen without being detected. An alert has already gone out amongst the guards.”
“But they’re focused on the outside because that’s where they think Ellery is.”
“That doesn’t mean they won’t be swarming the inside.” Samael’s gaze skimmed the amsirah gathered around us. “A hundred of you?”
“About that,” I said.
“This is suicide, Ryker.”
“This is our chance to get to him. We can’t let it pass.”
Samael’s eyes bored into me. “This is a mistake.”
It probably was a suicide mission, but if we left here, we’d never get inside again. It would turn into a drawn-out war that would only result in the loss of far more lives.
“Not a hundred,” Ryker said. “We won’t be able to move fast enough with that many. It will be just you and me.”
“What? That’s not happening,” Tucker blurted.
“No, it’s not,” I stated.
I glowered at Ryker, who didn’t acknowledge me as his gaze remained focused on Samael. “You know the best ways to get there, and we can move quickly.”
“You’re not going without me,” Ianto stated.
“Too many will only slow us down,” Ryker said.
“It could also help keep you alive,” Tucker retorted.
“It could, but we need leaders outside too.”
Tucker scowled at Ryker’s words. His lips compressed into a thin line as he held back any further arguments.
Samael dropped his forehead into his hands. “I should have left your crazy asses in the dungeon.”
“Too late now,” Ryker said.
“You’re not going without me, and I’m not arguing over this,” I stated. “I understand that you’re trying to protect me, but outside of the gargoyles, I’m the best weapon we have.”
“You are the best weapon we have,” Indon said.
The look Ryker gave him made it clear their delicate truce was on shaky ground.