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Aurick winces, staring at the ground in an attempt to school his expression into submission.
“Did you know they starved her, even though she’s…” I trail off, realizing it isn’t my place to tell him this.
“Even though she’s what?”
Not even the waves of the ocean make a sound as we stare each other down.
Is this a secret I should keep until Marilynn’s ready? Can I get him to send his soldiers to rescue my friends without spilling this last detail? As I watch his skeptical face and think of all the ways my friends are hurting right now, I decide this is a matter of life and death. For all of them.
“Even though she’s pregnant with your baby, Aurick.”
Gasps, throat clearing, and feet shuffling echo around us. But Aurick doesn’t move, doesn’t blink, doesn’t even breathe. He stares at me as if he’s been frozen in time, unable to catch up to the present.
“What?” he chokes out.
“She’s pregnant,” I say through my teeth. “So, if you won’t ride with us to save my family, at least do it for the heir of your precious dynasty. Do it to get your baby out of that prison, Aurick.”
I don’t think I have ever seen this man so disheveled, so uncomposed. He’s unable to close his mouth or blink. All color drains from his face, leaving his skin a clammy shade of green.
“Red’s pregnant?” he finally asks.
I nod with a lump forming in my throat.
Aurick stumbles backward, being steadied by a few of his soldiers holding him upright. With only a few words, I’ve managed to turn his world upside down.
“I’m going to be a father,” he mutters to himself in a strained, absent voice.
“No, you’re not,” I reply darkly. “If we don’t come for them…they may not make it out alive.”
His furrowed brow smooths out as determination takes hold of him. Those piercing eyes slide to me without blinking.
“We’ll prepare the carriages tonight and leave at first light tomorrow.”
My shoulders, arms, and neck sag in bone-chilling relief. Thank God!
Runa throws her white hair off to one shoulder, slapping me on the back. “Darling, Skylenna. I have seen you transform through every season, haven’t I?”
“I guess so.” I shake her hand, nodding to Asena and Rydran as they go off to prepare.
“Let’s get some baths and then off to sleep, child,” Chekiss says quietly. “I’m going to see my son tomorrow.”
~
Asena and Runa dress me at first light.
They include different warrior offerings from each colony. A linen tunic, metal corselet, scale armor of dull iron plates, leather bindings to hold it all together, brass-colored pants, and leather thigh-high boots. It’s heavy and clanky, but I’ve never felt more terrifying.
“Thank you,” I say as Runa paints black markings over my eyes, brow, and cheekbones. Staring into a small mirror, I look like both a demon and an angel, foreign and ancient. My hair is pulled back halfway with small braids that are clamped together with white silver clasps, intricately designed.
“Oh, we’re not done yet!” Runa grins, nodding to Asena standing behind me in the small tent.
“We have some gifts,” Asena adds.
“What else?” I ask.
Asena holds out a war helmet, designed with flying dragons in blood red and gold. Then a headpiece of black diamonds shaped into claws or icicles that run down my forehead.
“These come from another world, gifted to us. From special heroes who gave everything to save their people. That’s Vindawolf’s headpiece that she wore into battle,” Asena explains, pointing to the dark tiara now on my head. “And that’s Dragas’s helmet. You can give it to Dessin when you see him.”
