Chapter 28
“You know it’s not that cold out,” Stefano commented as he followed me down the hallway.
He was referring to the heavy layers I wore.
Beneath the bulky cloak, the bread and knife from breakfast were tucked into my trousers.
They were the only provisions I could manage without suspiciously leaving my room.
I was sorely underprepared, but there was nothing I could do about it.
“Jac might take me out to the hills to practice new skills. It could be a long day outside,” I said, having practiced my response.
There was a small chance that Jac was the spy, only because the note specifically referenced my riding lesson.
But that was extremely difficult to believe.
He was one of Harthon’s most trusted soldiers, having been with him since before he was Princeps.
He was kind, encouraging, and had a big heart—nothing that indicated he was capable of treachery.
But if it wasn’t him, a stranger could be waiting for me in those stables, or I might have to find a way to escape on my own.
The scroll hadn’t offered any details. I was going into this blind, and even though I’d spent all of last night planning how I would handle different scenarios, I was terrified.
“That’s not happening. With yesterday’s attacks, you can’t leave the city. I’m sure Jac was briefed too.”
That was news to me. I came to a halt, whirling on Stefano. “No one told me I can’t leave.”
Stefano swallowed, and I knew I wouldn’t like what he was about to say. “Those are Harthon’s orders. The attack took us all by surprise, so it’s safest for you to stay here.”
My eyebrows rose on a flare of indignation. “Harthon ordered everyone else to keep me in Centralis, but didn’t tell me about it?”
He scratched his head. “He probably meant to, but after your…uh…argument, it didn’t seem like you wanted him to talk to you…” He trailed off awkwardly.
If Harthon had knocked on my door yesterday, I absolutely would have ignored him. But still, I was an adult, and I deserved to know what plans others were making for me.
Let me revise that—other people didn’t get to make plans for me. I had a say in them now.
“He could have communicated that message through you,” I hissed. If Jac wasn’t the spy, managing an escape on my own would be so much harder now. I stalked off, not knowing how I would pull this off. How I would get to Merelda.
“That’s my fault. I should have told you,” Stefano said, sounding sorry as he trailed behind me.
I didn’t bother with a response, too caught in worry as we approached the stables. This time, the smell of horse and hay wasn’t welcoming. Rather, it was a sickening indication of what was to come. I didn’t know how to feel when we entered and met only Jac, readying two horses.
He never readied my horse.
His weathered face was tired as he turned to us. “Etarla, Stefano,” he greeted in that raspy voice. “It’s good to see you here in one piece,” he said, addressing me.
I forced a small smile in response, unable to stomach anything more.
“Are you sure you want to do this today? If you need to recover, you should take time.”
He wouldn’t make an offer like that if he’d been the one to leave that note.
Out of my periphery, I searched for someone hiding in the shadows.
For us to get away, they would have to hurt him.
I’d have to let it happen. And if there wasn’t someone there to aid my flight, I’d have to incapacitate Jac all on my own, or figure out some way to separate myself from him.
Skies.
“I appreciate the concern, but I’m fine,” I said.
He nodded once and began tightening the straps of my saddle. “Well come on then. Let’s get started. Stefano, we’ll see you at the regular time.”
Stefano shook his head at the dismissal. “I’m not to leave her. Harthon’s orders.”
Dammit. “Jac can keep me plenty safe,” I tried reasoning, but Stefano stubbornly crossed his arms.
“If seven men show up again, at least two of us are needed to fend them off.”
Jac finished with the saddle and approached us, looking completely unbothered by Stefano’s resistance.
“It’s the middle of the day. No one’s going to sneak in and try to take me now.”
Stefano’s lips compressed into a hard line. “Because no one would expect that, it’s actually the perfect time for someone to sneak in and try to take you.”
“Stefano has a point,” Jac affirmed, stopping just before us. “It would be safer for you if he stays here.”
Stefano turned to me, an eyebrow raised as if to say, “See?”
And then Jac moved quicker than I’d ever seen, winding his arm around Stefano’s throat and yanking.
Taken completely by surprise, Stefano was late to move, scrapping at Jac’s face with arms that were quickly weakening.
Eyes full of worry and alarm met mine, and it physically hurt to stay still and not help him as he lost the battle and slipped into unconsciousness.
Jac released him, and while Stefano’s chest moved, his eyes didn’t open.
He would never forgive me for that.
Jac gently lowered him to the floor and dragged him into an empty stable, grabbing a rope that lay near the entrance.
“Why?” I asked quietly, partly relieved I wouldn’t need to forge my own escape, and partly shocked by Jac’s treachery.
He came out of the stall with a look of grim determination. “Koerlyn’s men have my family. They’ll kill them. I can’t allow that to happen.” He grabbed my arm and steered me to my horse.
“I thought everyone’s family lived in the Citadel.”
I mounted as Jac shook his head. “Usually. But my sister is my only surviving family, and she refused to leave her village. She has three children. When I visited last, I was greeted by Koerlyn’s men, disguised as locals.”
And I knew full well that Koerlyn would carry through on his threat if Jac didn’t cooperate. “Why didn’t you go to Harthon?”
Jac scoffed as he lifted himself into the saddle. “Why didn’t you go to Harthon when you received the note?” he asked quietly. I looked away from him, suddenly interested in my reins. “It’s too great of a risk to take. Her oldest child is only five. I must do what needs to be done.”
How could I blame him, when I was nearly doing the same thing? Succumbing to Koerlyn’s threats in secret, and betraying Harthon as a result.
“Did you let those men infiltrate the city last night?”
He didn’t answer, adjusting his reins instead. That was answer enough.
“Are you going to come back and kill Stefano?”
“No.”
Stefano would awaken and tell Harthon what had happened. Jac had to know this.
“When Harthon finds out, he’ll kill you.” It wasn’t a question; it was a statement. I didn’t want Jac to die. He didn’t deserve it. He was merely a victim. But Harthon would find out, most likely from Stefano.
“I know,” was Jac’s resigned response, and part of my chest ached. Jac was a good man—not one who deserved to hang from the Citadel’s walls. But that’s what would happen. “Now follow my lead and don’t give anything away, or we’ll both see the ones we love suffer.”
Schooling my features, I dutifully followed Jac, who veered away from the field we usually trained in and took us to the Citadel’s streets.
Jac greeted soldiers as we went—a common occurrence, given that he ranked above most due to his skill and seniority.
He somehow appeared perfectly at ease, and we were at the Citadel’s gate too soon.
Jac greeted the lead guard, who was younger than him.
“I can’t let the magvis through,” the man said.
Harthon really had told everyone but me that I wasn’t to leave.
“Not on her own. But she’s with me,” Jac replied, his tone light.
The guard set his shoulders back. “I’m sorry, but those are my orders.”
“And who gave you those orders?”
The man cleared his throat. “My lead.”
Jac offered a small smile. “My permission comes directly from Harthon himself, and considering I often give directives to your lead, the right decision is to let us pass.” He spoke in his normal kind manner, as if this weren’t any inconvenience at all.
The guard considered this for a long moment, doubt and duty warring across his features. “I should confirm with them.”
“Normally, yes. But considering what happened yesterday, Harthon is rather occupied. I doubt he’d appreciate you or your lead asking him about something so simple, especially when I’m the one here. Should you get in trouble, I take responsibility, seeing as I’m your senior.”
This seemed to mollify the man, who gave the signal to open the gate.
Koerlyn had been tactful in targeting Jac. If I were with someone of a lesser rank, this wouldn’t be nearly as simple.
It was far easier exiting the city center’s gates a few minutes later, the guards there seeming to know nothing about my orders to stay put.
“Am I to ride all the way to Third?” I asked, the multi-day journey looming down on me.
If I was lucky, I had until this evening before Stefano was discovered and Harthon came for me.
Even with a head start, my chances of outrunning him were slim.
I would only make it if I skipped any rest and somehow managed to keep pace.
Then there was the matter of dodging any of our soldiers who passed through the countryside.
They would no doubt question why the magvis was out on her own.
Jac shook his head. “You’ll take a draught, and I’ll bring you to Koerlyn’s men who are waiting nearby.”
I felt no relief. Instead, tendrils of fear snaked out and took hold.
All night and morning, I’d been too preoccupied with thoughts of Merelda and how I’d run to remember what captivity with Koerlyn was like.
Now, I’d be a captive with detailed information regarding Fourth.
Long ago, Harthon had mentioned torture.
It’d been more of an airy threat than a real possibility then, but not anymore.
“Where will you go, afterwards?”
“I’ll return.”
“Why would you do that?”