Chapter 41
Durvla
Taig is alive. Alys overheard a few guards back in the brig: Rebels ambushed the Forayers escorting prison wagons to Paramount. Taig and a few others had been rescued, but Osheen had not. It was shortly before the attack on the brig and my arrest. Osheen hadn’t known a thing about Taig’s fate.
Leaving Paramount was surprisingly easy with a knight in tow; no one at the gate suspected a thing—I’m certain they’ll pay for that. Leaving Osheen behind feels wrong, but after Carys had already put her name on the line to ensure our escape, it was too risky.
Hours later, as we ride into Barr na Cahar, heavy drops beat upon the cobblestones, and our horses dash through intermittent puddles. We stop just on the outside of the city, in an area thick with bushes, as the rain subsides.
“We can’t stay still for long,” Kilkenny says after he helps me down from Ghendor.
The stallion huffs like he’s happy to be rid of our weight on his back. I can’t blame him.
My fingers are numb from the cold rain, matching my emotions.
I nod at Kilkenny and rub my hands together, trying to get some sensation back into them after we all take turns relieving ourselves in the bushes and mount our horses again.
As we set off once more, my head reels as the events of the past few hours catch up with me, coursing through my body like poison.
I start to shiver, uncontrolled; so much so that Tiernan halts Ghendor, and Alys does the same with Mirren.
We dismount again, and for the life of me, I can’t stop the quaking that rattles my body or the nausea that makes my mouth water unpleasantly.
Kilkenny puts an arm around me. “What’s happening to her?”
I stare at his mouth. The question isn’t for me, and I miss whatever Alys says in response, but the two escort me off the main road to sit on the wet grass. More water soaks into my clothing, though I’m already drenched anyway—we all are—and I regret having taken my shoes off back at the palace.
Alys crouches in front of me. “You’re in shock.” Her signs are gentle. Maybe nothing should surprise me by now, but I blink and stare at her hands as though I’ve never seen signed language before. “You’re just coming down from a lot of heightened emotions.”
A short burst of humorless laughter escapes me.
Kilkenny starts to say something, when suddenly he draws his sword as he jumps to his feet. My heart hammers in my chest, but there’s no way I can stand right now. Alys does it for me, facing another traveler who dismounts a drenched brown horse in the middle of the cobblestone road.
For a moment, I fear that we’ve been caught. Already! But as the figure walks toward us, I recognize the auburn hair, darkened by rainwater, sticking to his bruised face.
“I’m Durvla’s friend from Cluain Baile,” he swiftly motions to Kilkenny and Alys.
Kilkenny stares him down, as if memorizing the signed words, but he doesn’t put his sword away.
I stare at Osheen, and emotion slowly resurfaces through my numb state.
I struggle to my feet and take awkward steps toward my oldest friend.
My most trusted companion, the one who’s always been there for me.
The one who risked everything to look after the person who means the most to me in this unjust kingdom.
Then I’m running, and Osheen is running toward me. I throw myself into his arms with the little strength I have left, and he wraps his around me, his chin resting atop my head. His chest rumbles slightly as he says something.
I step out of his embrace at last and ask, “How did you get away so soon?”
“The princess,” he says with a pained smile. “She promised she’d find a way to set me free. I don’t know how she did it, but she managed as soon as you all left.”
True laughter escapes me now. “That’s brilliant!”
Kilkenny, however, appears dubious. He sheathes his sword and asks, “How is that possible?”
Osheen shrugs his broad shoulders. “She just … let me out.”
“How do we know we can trust you?” Kilkenny asks.
I frown at him. “This is Osheen,” I say, as though it means something to this soldier-turned-knight-turned-accomplice. “I’d trust him with my life. With my brother’s life.” I feel my voice break and a fresh wave of sadness washes over Osheen’s bruised face.
Osheen digs into his pocket and pulls something out. “She told me to show you this.” He holds up a small, circular jewelry piece with a sunburst on one end. A decorative wristlet.
Kilkenny steps closer, squinting at it. Then he straightens, his lips pursed, and his head tilted. “That is Carys’s,” he signs at last. “She used to wear it a lot more a few years ago.” He wrinkles his brow as he angles his face to Osheen again. “She gave this to you?”
Osheen nods.
“Keep it safe. Maybe we can return it to her someday,” Kilkenny tells Osheen.
He looks at me in particular, signing as he speaks to everyone else.
“I’m sure Lord Iywan isn’t going to be happy when he discovers us all missing.
I know how we can throw anyone off our scent, but we need to get back on the road. ”
Osheen scratches his chin then slips the wristlet into his pocket before running his palms over his trousers. I’m equally daunted knowing that there may be forces after us.
Kilkenny gestures widely to get my attention, then signs, “Alright, clan. Let’s go find Taig.”