‘We could run.Hide somewhere in the streets?’I knew it wouldn’t be possible even as the words came out of my mouth.
‘Even if we could, how long before they find us?’Tomas argued.
‘I don’t think I can get off this horse, so I’m for staying on it as long as possible.’It was the most I had heard from Rhett all night.It gave me some hope he would pull through, but we needed to get him out of Capita.I looked over at Finn, who brought his horse in line with Nightmare.
‘I think I’d rather die trying than die hiding.’
The older woman moved forward, sat astride her horse like she had been born to ride.
‘All you need to do is open the gate, and we can run for it.’She shrugged as if the men with weapons were nothing but decoration.Her confidence was beyond comprehension.
I shook my head.‘You’re all crazy.’
They nodded in unison, and I had to bite back a smile.The decision was made – we would go onwards.
As we got closer, I recognised Merrick’s bearlike silhouette on the ramparts among the black robes.
‘What do we have here?’his mocking voice floated down to us.
I halted my horse, and the others did the same.I focused on Merrick as hard as I could, imagining his head turning to ash just as Goodwin’s had, but nothing happened.Damnation.He was too far away.
‘Let us out and we won’t hurt you,’ I yelled.Laughter erupted around us.
‘Is that so?’Merrick asked.‘Open the gate!’he ordered, much to my surprise.
The old woman leaned forward in her saddle ‘There, you did it.’Her eyes gleamed with a mixture of approval and amusement.
I raised my eyebrow at her.Was she serious?
The gate opened.‘Well, what are you waiting for?’Merrick shouted down at us.
‘For you to step aside,’ I called back.
‘Now that won’t do, my lady-in-waiting.You have a few men with you who broke into my dungeon.Perhaps if you give them up, I’ll go easy on the rest of you.’
‘That won’t be happening,’ I said.
‘What were you planning to do when you rescued the old queen?Hmm?’
I didn’t answer.
‘Where’s Torgrin, your protector?I assume someone hired him and the blacksmith to break into the castle dungeon.He should have asked for more coin if all he could afford was a woman who likes to play dress up in men’s armour.’There were sniggers all around from the robed men.
My heart hammered painfully against my ribs at the mention of Cillian and Torgrin.
‘It must have been Lord Warwick,’ he guessed.‘I will admit I killed his wife, but that was only because she poked her pretty nose in where it didn’t belong.’
I felt my blood boil.
‘Torgrin’s dead,’ I lied.‘Goodwin killed him.’I could buy him time if Merrick believed him dead.
‘Is that so?So why hasn’t Goodwin appeared to tell us the good news?’
‘BecauseIkilledhim.’I smiled darkly at Merrick.
His cockiness left.‘Are you telling meyoukilled the king’s heir?’
‘Yes.’I continued to smile.
