Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Ellery
“She is more powerful than any of us know,” Indon continued. “I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but I suspect Tempest somehow discerned there would be a need for her and granted her to us all.”
Ryker stared at Indon for a minute before his gaze shifted to me. He’d been doing better at not fighting me on things like this, but distress radiated from his eyes. He didn’t want me anywhere near the duke, and I didn’t blame him.
He’d been relaxed against me but was now as unyielding as stone. When I lowered my hand to his, I slid my fingers through and squeezed.
“We’re stronger together. Look at what happened the last time we separated,” I said.
His lips twitched toward a smile before it slid away.
“Can we make it back to the dungeons or the safe room in time to stage an ambush?” Callan asked.
A muscle jumped in Ryker’s cheek as Callan also inserted himself in this mission. He had to know he couldn’t protect us all, and we weren’t going to let him go with just Samael.
We couldn’t take everyone and still move fast, but more than the two of them would leave here. He wasn’t going alone with Samael. Sure, the duke would kill the sheriff if he caught him, but that didn’t mean he was trustworthy.
Samael shook his head before replying. “Probably not.”
“Probably means there’s a chance,” Mr. Fletcher said.
“Even if there aren’t any guards in the kitchen, some servants will be up by now. We’ll never get past them.”
“If they don’t try to kill us or run, we can bring them down here,” Ryker said. “I doubt many like the duke or Ivan.”
“That’s for sure,” Luna snorted. “Your father has a reputation as a merciless bastard amongst the servants.”
“And it’s well deserved,” Ryker said. “If Indon and the others don’t mind taking them, they can be flown to safety. I’d prefer not to kill the servants unless we have to, but we can’t trust them to stay behind.”
“We’ll take them,” Indon said.
“If we can’t trust them to remain behind, then maybe we should kill them,” Lawrence said. “If, by some miracle, you guys manage to pull this off, we’ll always have to watch over those who once helped the aristocrats rule.”
I recoiled at his words even as I acknowledged they could be true.
“Most of the servants are here because they’re trying to support their families,” Luna said. “They send carisle to their loved ones to help them survive. Very few have any true loyalty or care for those they serve.”
“And how do you know that?” another amsirah demanded.
“Because I slaughtered my old master tonight and enjoyed every second of it.”
Ryker’s eyebrows rose at this admission. Callan gave an approving nod, and Tucker smiled.
“Okay, so if there are servants in the kitchen, we’ll get them out,” Ryker said. “If there are any guards, we’ll kill them.”
“I agree with this assessment,” Indon remarked.
“Many of the soldiers are the same as the servants,” Samael said. “If we’re going to play that game, then we should acknowledge most of them are just trying to keep their families alive too.”
“The difference is the guards are armed and more than willing to kill us. While some of the servants might grab a knife if commanded to do so, most won’t.”
“While it’s never talked about openly, I think some guards would lay down their weapons and walk away from their masters if it meant a chance at freedom from what they endure. Although they are all treated far better than any of the servants.”
“What’s your point, Samael?” Ryker asked irritably.
“I already made my point; I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”
“Or trying to stop us from doing this.”
Samael laughed. “Oh no, I can tell you’re determined to follow through on this insane plan, but I’m making a point.”
“Do you suggest we ask each soldier before we kill them if they’d prefer to help the duke or us?”
“No, you should kill them as soon as you see them.”
“You’re such a dick,” Scarlet said, and the others nodded their agreement.
“What of you?” I demanded. “If Ivan hadn’t ordered the death of your father, would you have walked away from your masters to help us?”
“That depends on who I thought would win. And I wouldn’t have believed in your side, even with two lightning bearers.”
While his answer was truthful, it still rocked me. I hadn’t expected such a blunt response.
“Wow,” one of the amsirah breathed.
“He’s honest,” Ryker said. “Even if it’s brutally so.”
“That is true,” Samael agreed. “But you’re also forgetting something.”
“And what is that?” I spat at him.
“Ivan did order the death of my father, so the man I was, the one who existed months ago and who most likely never would have switched sides, doesn’t exist anymore.
Now, I’ll gladly take up weapons for your cause, even if it means I end up with nothing.
Which, given the way you keep glaring at me, is most likely my fate. ”
“That depends,” Ryker said.
“On what?”
“On how much of an asset you prove to be. And you better start proving it by getting us to the duke.”