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Once alone, I sit on the edge of my cot, working to calm my racing heart and settle the stirring magic within. Tendrils of dark mist swirl around my fingers. I close my eyes and take deep, calming breaths. I open them again and am relieved when my hands are empty of the dark magic.
I was a fool to think that Kellan had escaped his father’s close-minded ways, and now I know where it stems from. He might be merciful to sorcerers, perhaps because they can be of use to him, but he certainly has no such feelings toward the other races. Which is perhaps why I’ve been so blind to this side of him. I can’t help but compare Daimis’s situation. His father was killed by a sorcerer, but he harbors no such prejudice toward magic users. In fact, he’s trying to help us.
What’s going to happen now? Will I get locked up for the rest of the quest? I didn’t exactly make matters better for myself when Kellan asked me why I didn’t kill the ogres. I could run. I could take Elsie and Tuuk and get far away from here. That’s when I realize my first instinct is to run or hide. The shame of that sinks in. I think of Daimis and my vow to him and know that even if I’m put in chains, I won’t run. I won’t abandon him to stop the Regent on his own.
“Sky?” Daimis calls from outside of my tent.
“Come in,” I say and stand up.
He enters through the flaps. His tall stature has his curly, dark hair brushing the top of the tent. It’s amazing how much he fills a space when he’s not trying to disappear within it.
“Have you come to tell me how royally I screwed up back there?”
“Now why would I do a thing like that,” he says mockingly.
I slump back onto the edge of my cot with a sigh.
He takes a seat next to me. “You did what you felt was right. I can’t fault you for that. It’s just a shame that it’ll be all for nothing.”
I whip my gaze to his. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t think the Regent would let the ogres live, did you?”
I stand. “But that would be murder, they’re not fighting anyone while chained up.”
Daimis stands, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “The Regent is judge and jury. He will find their crimes punishable by death.”
I shake my head and pace the small space. “I’ll speak on their behalf, maybe if the Regent knew why they fought the guards, he might be merciful.”
I start to walk to the tent flap, but Daimis grabs my arm to stop me. “The Regent won’t care; all you’ll do is get yourself in more trouble. You’ll be seen as a sympathizer, which will end with you in chains. I’m sorry, really, I am. I wish there was something we could do, but there isn’t.” He squeezes my hand. “Not yet. We have to think about the bigger picture here. We have to focus on stopping the Regent from doing whatever he has planned.”
A haunted look shadows his eyes, and I wonder how many times he’s had to sit back and watch injustices like this so he can stay in the Regent’s good graces, so he can ensure his ascension to a position where he can do more. I feel a pang of pity for him for having to always think about the larger picture. It only fuels my resolve to help the ogres, not only for myself, but so Daimis won’t have to endure the pain of witnessing another injustice.
“I have many talents, one of them happens to be not getting caught by the Steel Guard.” I turn and walk out of the tent with determination in my step. Daimis might not be able to do anything, but I’ll be damned if I just sit back and let those ogres die for protecting their young.
I stay hidden in the dense bushes, just outside the clearing to the left of the rope bridge. The ogres are lined up on their knees, to the right of the bridge, their backs facing the deep canyon. Their hands are bound behind their backs in ash-steel chains. A guard stands near the first ogre with a large knife in his hand, looking down at him with pure disgust. He’ll slit each of their throats with no remorse.
More Steel Guards surround the Regent and Kellan a good twenty feet away. Elsie and Tuuk are off to the opposite side of where I am with scowls on their faces. I really hope they’re not stupid enough to intervene. But I suppose I’m the only one that stupid.
The Regent lists off the ogre’s crimes. “Trespassing on Thaaryn land—Guilty. Performing pagan acts on Thaaryn land—Guilty. Attacking the Royal Steel Guard—Guilty. Endangering the Regent and the Royal Prince, heir to the crown—Guilty.”
Oh, come on, the Regent and Daimis were never in any danger. Now he’s just making shit up to add to the list.
“The crime for such punishment?” The Regent declares. “Death.”
Daimis comes into the clearing not too far from me, his eyes scanning the area, probably looking for me.Sorry, Daimis, but you can’t stop me from at least giving the ogres a fighting chance.
Chapter20
Cave
My hope is that the ogres will be smart enough to run across the bridge without hesitation. Once they’re on fae land, they’ll have a chance of escaping the Steel Guard. There’s no way the Regent will have his guards travel into fae territory.
I close my eyes and whisper an incantation, focusing my attention on the manacles. The magic answers me instantly and I send it to release the ogres. I feel more than hear the click of each manacle as they release. Each of the ash-steel manacles falls to the ground with a clatter. The Steel Guard who was leaning over to slit the first ogre’s throat, stops short and looks at the fallen chains with wide eyes. The ogre doesn’t miss a beat, grabbing the guard’s knife hand, and then his tunic before throwing the man over his head and into the ravine. The guard’s screams echo and everyone scrambles into a panic.
“Guard the Regent!” one of the Steel Guards calls out.
Kellan tries to run after the ogres, but his father holds him back and yells to his guards. “Kill them!”
