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Calling it a house might be an understatement, as its vast outer walls display a villa closer to the magnificence of House Santana’s grand courtyard and adjoining residence. Who knew growing and selling fruit could be so lucrative?
The late evening hour has left the building quiet, asleep within the shadows of the looming exterior. Wagons, crates, boots, and random metal tools lie scattered throughout the rows of greenery, abandoned at the close of day as if the people just disappeared when sun made its last call on the horizon.
“Sir Crane’s office and personal quarters are on the far right side,” Tess tells us, pointing toward the far section of the home.
“How do you know? Were you inside? Personally mapping out that section?” I ask, still sore from her obstinance.
“He would be so lucky.” Her calm tone clearly didn’t hit the mark I was aiming for. “The front and back entrances are kept locked from dusk til dawn. You may have to break a window to get inside. Or here,” Tess rustles around in a small satchel hanging from across her shoulder, “I borrowed these from Larisa. She says she uses them if she ever gets locked out of the manor, or she can’t the find the keys to a random cupboard or wardrobe.”
An array of short, thin metal rods with various hooked ends lie in her grip. The maid knows how to pick a lock? People are truly a mystery, even when I think I’ve sized them up well.
“I don’t need lock-pics,” Ari claims, returning her focus to the house, analyzing her first obstacle to retrieving the items.
“Well, then here’s a rock for the window.” Tess grabs a large stone lying beside her, almost too big to hold one-handed.
“Good grief, Tess. Who is the thief here? I don’t tell you what angle to hold your head to give the best view of your fluttering eyelashes, so stop trying to tell me how to best break in to someone’s home,” Ari mocks, earning a raised eyebrow of surprise from Tess and myself. I do my best to suppress a smile. In any other circumstances, these two might just be friends.
“By all means, let’s see the master in action.” Tess winks at Ari, now settling into a silent, watchful position. For a moment, I forget we are here against our will, in one of the most nonsensical situations I’ve ever found myself a part of.
Ari looks in my direction. “Remind me what I’m looking for again.”
“A white, stone ring. The queen from a chess piece, letters L-E-S carved into the bottom. And a leather wrist cuff with brass buttons inlaid. It covers around a thumb length’s size of your arm, a small clasp on the underside. It’s been so long, I don’t remember much else to help identify it, other than Sir Crane doesn’t seem the kind of man to wear leather jewelry. So if you find it, it’s most likely the only one in his possession,” I respond. My earlier compliance unravels the longer we linger in the orchards.
“I’m going to move around the back, get a better layout of the property.” Tess nods at Ari’s words.
“I’m coming with you,” I state, shifting to follow after her.
“And I will move around to the other side, keep an eye from that vantage point. If I see anyone running, I will move toward Aiden and Liam waiting at the road’s edge.” Tess declares.
We left the two men with a solid view of the home and instructions to come to the rescue with our horses if we need a quick getaway. Otto opted to sit this one out, something about being too old to become Sir Crane’s object of torture.
Ari and I run through the woods, stopping periodically to make sure no men securing the home are making rounds through the rows of silhouetted trees. We find a centered clearing, perching down as we scan the immediate area.
“You don’t have to do this, you know. I don’t trust Tess and Liam. It’s not too late to turn around and make run for it,” I tell Ari once we’ve stopped.
“And what about Otto, probably fast asleep in his bed? Are we to just leave him behind as wemake a run for it?” The reminder sets me back on edge, my hands arcing from my face up through my hair, until they clasp together under my stubbled jaw.
“If I’m not back within the hour, leave. There’s no need for all of us to be under his thumb if this doesn’t go as planned.” I don’t nod or agree with her statement in any way, my face fixed toward the tranquil household blanketed within the eclipse of night.
Out of my periphery, I see her hand reach toward me, wrapping an oddly steady hand around my arm. “I’ll be ok. I’ve done stupider things than this, and always seem to come out of it on top. We will make it out of this. We will find the princess. Trust me.” Is she trying to comfort me?
I stare where her hand rests against me, moving my focus to her shadowy green gaze. My muscles tense under her touch, the heat rising from me a stark contrast to her cold fingers. I don’t pull away, instead inadvertently inching closer to her. She lets go, her gaze suddenly refusing to meet mine.
Pull yourself together.
Regret crawls through me, my wayward body still pushing against my better judgment as the memory of her touch still scorches my skin.
“I will be right here. If you are in trouble, come to one of these back windows. I will be at your side as quickly as I can,” I tell her. There may still be a small desire to stand in her way, holding her back from the danger that surely lies ahead of her. But I know my duty. Lena is my future, and I will not abandon her for anything, or anyone.
Ari nods before turning to run through the length of the yard.
Let her be ok. She may be the most unbearable woman I’ve ever met, but I want her to get out of this unscathed. It’s not betraying of my set future to wish for her safety.
At least, that’s what I tell myself in this moment.
25
Ari
