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“It isn’t the right time.” A voice I recognized as Tuck said vehemently. “We don’t have the numbers. Marching on Thimmaria right now is suicide.”
“What would you have me do? We can’t keep biding our time here.” Einri growled.
I froze on my branch, looking up to see a round platform built around the tree. It wasn’t very large so it must have been Einri or Tuck’s home. Tiptoeing, I pressed my back into the truck and held my breath.
“Our time will come. They won’t know what to make of us. We just need to wait for the right moment.”
“We’re safe here, yet I can hardly spare men to guard the perimeter.” A thump sounded like a fist hitting a table.
“More will come. You need to trust him. He hasn’t failed you yet.” Tuck reasoned.
I bit my cheek so I wouldn’t say anything to give away my position. Were they talking about attacking Castle Hill? Did Tuck mean more werewolves would come? A thought struck me, and I put a hand over my mouth to stifle my gasp.
Back at the castle, stable boys, scullery maids, and the servants all had whispers that one of their own had disappeared only to return changed or not at all. Were the ones who didn’t return sent here? To join whatever army Einri was hiding, plotting and biding their time until the right moment to strike? And who was thishimthey were talking about? Little John or Captain Rekker?
I knew I couldn’t trust them. They were all in league with each other. Anger flooded my body, and I clenched my fists thinking of the story that Tuck had told and how gullible I had been. No more. I saw them for what they really were, a secret army of Bruralian beasts made up of my own countrymen. The thought of them turning innocent people made me sick. I couldn’t allow this to continue, but I was only one woman and Will was still out there.
“They’re coming from the southwest, if they continue on that path, they’ll miss us by a few miles. If they turn east, we’ll know they are heading for us.”
Ah, so I needed to head southwest in order to meet them. Maybe I could follow their trail back from where they came, or if I was lucky, they’d have Will and I could rescue him.
“You gave her bag to her, didn’t you?” Einri spoke as if he already knew the answer.
“She’s been wearing that same dress for days. Don’t worry, I searched it for weapons and found none. Her bow and dagger are still on that table.”
My heart leaped in my chest at Tuck’s words. My bow must be in there. Then my heart sank just as fast when I realized I’d never be able to sneak in there and grab it. I didn’t have the time, but the thought of leaving my father’s bow behind made my chest tighten.
“Even without weapons she's dangerous.” Einri admitted, and I think I detected a note of admiration in his tone.
“With her tongue, surely. She is sharp.” Tuck agreed with a chuckle.
“I watched her kill a werewolf with nothing more than her weapons and hands. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.” Einri recalled, and I pushed aside the memory. Now was not the time to relive that victory.
“You never know, maybe she can be persuaded to our side.” I could almost imagine Tuck shrugging at the possibility.
“She’d be a liability if anything, but maybe she could be useful.”
For a prize.
My thoughts were bitter as I listened, but they were interrupted by a shout coming from the direction of my cave. Moving quickly, I slipped to the opposite side of the tree and pressed my back against it, then wrapped my cloak tightly around me. Boots pounded on the bridges echoing through the trees.
“What’s happened?” Tuck called down to whomever had raised the alarm.
“Lady Arrow, she's gone.”
“How?” Einri asked angrily.
“Not sure, sir. I lost her trail in the trees behind the cave. It just disappeared.”
“Nothing just disappears,” Einri muttered.
Two thuds followed those words then their voice grew distant. I peeked around the trunk and found the bridges and pathway below empty.
Perfect timing.
I climbed up the tree before grabbing the edge of the bridge and pulling myself up. The door to the round cottage was in front of me. Cautiously, my ears alert for any sounds, I pushed the door open.
It was dark inside except for a flickering candle that sat on a small stool by two chairs. Mugs of what smelled like mead were arranged beside the candle.
