Once Liv was satisfied that Esvie knew the way back, she watched her race off on the back of Nick until she couldn’t see her any more. She wrapped her bow around her and began making her way toward the castle.
Somehow, Esvie had been able to bring Liv a red armband, the kind Rise had been supposed to bring back for both of them. She wrapped it around her upper arm like the mercenaries that had passed them while they were hiding. Hopefully, no one would bat an eye at her as she crossed the threshold into the castle.
Surprisingly, not only did people allow her to walk right through the castle gate, but most got out of her way as quickly as they could. It was clear the mercenaries hadn’t been a welcome addition to the castle.
Once inside, Liv sensed the manic energy that filled the air. This place was on edge. Was this all because of the supposed wedding? Was it because of Grawl’s presence?
Whatever the reason, Liv needed to find Rise first. Then, they would get Val to safety. Once they’d secured all of that, they would regroup, find the curse breaker, hope that Tavorius really was in Umbraland, and then, they’d face Grawl together.
It was a long to-do list, and so much could go wrong, but not a step could be skipped.
Now, where would they have taken Rise?
An uproarious shout split the air.
I’m on my way!She hoped her message carried to him loud and clear.
She was certain he’d heard her when his next shout echoed through the streets to her.
“Leave. This. Place. Now!”
She threw his words back at him.
Over my dead body.
22
He’d been so close to Grawl, had raised his sword to strike, had plunged it right through the monster’s chest.
Grawl had only grinned, taking a few slow steps back to un-impale himself.
“Did you really believe a sword would be enough to kill me?”
Right in front of Rise’s eyes, the gaping wound had closed, and Grawl had motioned a swarm of guards to surround him.
It had taken nearly thirty men to bring him down, but finally, they’d beaten him until he was coughing blood on the ground.
Grawl had knelt down at his head, unconcerned that Rise was a danger to him at all.
“You’re certainly a bold one. I’ll give you that.” With a painful grip, he lifted Rise’s head by his hair. “Who are you?”
Grawl let his head hit the stones of the castle floor once more before he said, “Doesn’t matter. You’ll be dead as soon as we can set up the noose.”
Now, Rise stood on a trapdoor, his hands behind his back, and a noose around his neck. Grawl stood mere feet away but completely out of Rise’s grasp. To be this close to the monster and be so helpless, made his blood boil.
Grawl addressed the crowd, “This beast before you dared to try to kill your king.” He waited for jeers that never came. With a motion of his hand, the mercenaries unsheathed their short swords, and the crowd gave the boos Grawl had expected.
With no warning, Grawl turned toward Rise and sent sparks from his hands, engulfing Rise in a burning pain that urged a roar from deep in his chest. Grawl laughed, and it galled Rise that he’d given him a reaction.
In his head, he heard Liv’s sweet voice. She was near. Esvie was supposed to warn her to go. Why didn’t she listen?
He shouted for her to leave, to save herself.
Yet, her response was exactly what he’d expected. He didn’t want her near Grawl, not after what he’d overheard.
Grawl had wanted Liv to hear about Val’s marriage to Lord Thrait. He knew she’d come to rescue her sister from such a horrible fate. He was waiting, biding his time, until he had them both here.
He would kill them both, solidifying his rule forever. Not that he had needed the confirmation that what Liv had shared was true, it ate at him that she had wanted to join forces, and he’d refused. The only mercy was that Rise would likely die before he witnessed any of that.
