Her confusion mounted as a line between her eyes became more prevalent. “Who?”
“Gaius. I saw you speaking with him yesterday.”
Her forehead cleared as her mouth parted. “Oh,thatguy. He helped place my mother’s body in her coffin.”
Those words brought reality crashing over her as she closed her eyes and winced a little. I used my thumb to stroke the silken skin in the hollow of her back while she worked through her grief.
When she opened her eyes, the pallor of her skin caused her freckles to stand out more starkly. “Are you okay?” I asked again.
“Yes. What were you saying about Gaius?”
I wasn’t sure she was ready to continue, but I had to warn her. “There’s something wrong with him. He and Samael joined me for a drink in the tavern after I’d dispersed the last of my purses. He acts like he’s excited to help the realm, but he’s like my father; I know it.”
Her eyebrows rose at my assessment of the man. “There’s something about him I don’t trust, but that’s a terrifying prospect. I didn’t search him out to talk to him; he was just there… both times.”
“I understand, but I want you to stay away from him. He’s dangerous.”
She lowered her head to my chest again. “I’ll stay away.”
I enveloped her in my arms and held her close until it was time for her to return to work on the farm and for me to return to my father’s castle. I had to occasionally appear there before returning to Tucker’s encampment.
Once there, we’d plot how to free the prisoners.
CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE
Ryker
Over the next five days,Tucker and I took turns doing reconnaissance of the prisoners and the daily routine of the guards. During the day and night, they kept seventy-two guards on, two for every prisoner.
I’d hoped they would lessen the numbers at night, but the display of so many guards throughout the day was meant to be a show of force. That show wouldn’t deter me.
Standing in the shadows of the buildings branching off the center of town, I watched the guards. On rooftops across the way, Tucker’s followers crept toward the front of the buildings they occupied.
Beyond the guards, the broken dragon fountain, with its four deteriorating dragons, was a lump against the night. The amsirah moving on the roofs took up positions that would keep the fountain from interfering with their shots.
Despite the number of guards not lessening at night, it was better to move against them now than during the day. We were less likely to be seen, they were probably tired, there were farfewer townsfolk around, and though it had only been five days, the guards had already become complacent in their duty.
Clouds obscured the moons of Tempest, but the torches surrounding the prisoners provided enough light to reveal the guards while the rest of us stayed away from their illumination and hidden. Because of the torches’ glow, the guards’ eyes weren’t as adjusted as ours to the night. That would give us a better chance to sneak up on them.
Some guards stood with their heads bowed and chins on their chests like they’d fallen asleep on their feet. Others talked in hushed whispers, and a few paid rapt attention to their surroundings. They would be the first to go.
The guards wore chain mail, but the arrows would pierce it. Some still donned helmets, but most had removed them. They sat at the guard’s feet or in the crook of their arms.
The most difficult part of our plan would be moving the prisoners after freeing them. We didn’t have time to remove their chains here, but thankfully, their feet remained free of manacles.
How well they would be able to move remained up for debate. Not only had they lost a lot of blood, but they’d also been trapped in the same position for five days with the sun baking them while flies, rodents, and other creatures preyed upon them.
They’d also given the prisoners the bare minimum to eat and drink so they could heal enough for transport to the next town and their next beating. They wouldn’t have a lot of energy.
We’d debated waiting until they moved on to Hallsey, but they would only get weaker, and it would be more difficult to free them when they did. They were weak, but the possibility of freedom should give them an adrenaline rush and spur them on.
If it didn’t, we’d all agreed to leave behind anyone we couldn’t save. Iloathedthe idea of abandoning anyone to sufferlike they were, but I couldn’t die for them. There were far too many others who also required help… and Ellery. I would be here to protect her from whatever lay ahead.
Slipping away from the edge of the road, I grasped the drainpipe of the house I stood next to and noiselessly scaled it. Once on the roof, I spotted Ianto at the back of the house.
Because of how distinguishable he was, he’d mostly stay out of this, but I’d asked him to keep an eye on and provide extra protection for Ellery; he’d agreed. She’d claimed not to need the extra protection but lost the battle.
The giant had promised to take her away from here if things went wrong. She was aware of this, but I doubted he’d have an easy time getting her to leave.
