AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sorry,” I murmured, hurrying to catch up with him.
A sick, churning feeling was growing in my gut. Miro was building a private army of youths, and something—or someone—was swaying them to sign up, despite their previous plans and intentions. I had to stop him before he started sending them off to die.
Nik’s parting message echoed in my mind. He had leaned in to press a brief kiss to my lips, despite the presence of the others, and I had been so flustered I had nearly missed his quiet words.
“Protect yourself,” he’d whispered, the words fierce. “Don’t forget what Hayes told you. Every time you get injured, you’re putting your future at risk.”
I shivered at the memory, the words more frightening now than they had been then. Because now my mission had a face—two faces—and I couldn’t afford to give up, no matter what risks were required.
I was still thinking of the two boys when my guide directed me into a small, fenced yard. A stoic-looking man, some years younger than the stable master, waited for us beside a sturdy hand cart that had been piled high with crates, barrels, and sacks of food.
“About time,” he said, and the stable master grunted in reply. “All I have to do is get you in, correct?” he asked me.
I nodded. “Just get me inside the hall. I don’t want you getting caught up in this any more than you need to.”
The man nodded, looking satisfied with my answer.
I hesitated, clearing my throat. “Could you please—?”
The stable master elbowed the other man, whose frown turned into a look of begrudging understanding.
“I’m not looking for extra trouble, but I’ve seen the strangeness of things inside that hall for myself. They may all worship that Slate fellow, but I don’t want him anywhere near me.” He shook himself. “I won’t betray you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I nodded my thanks for his speaking his assurances out loud, but I couldn’t resist questioning him.
“Slate?” I asked.
“That new elements mage Miro is so fond of. From the way everyone talks, you’d think he’s keeping things running single-handedly, but I’ve never seen him lift a finger myself.”
Slate. Grey. It had to be. My heart sank at the further confirmation of my theory.
“You’ll just need to hop in here,” the man said, driving out immediate thoughts of Grey.
“I’m sorry, where?” I asked, sure I must have misunderstood.
“You’re a small enough thing, like me brother said. You should fit in,” he said, as if climbing into a barrel was a perfectly ordinary thing to do.
“I thought you were just going to throw a blanket over me or something,” I said.
“Not if you want to go undiscovered,” he said. “I’ll be met at the door and escorted to one of the storerooms where I’ll receive assistance unloading the cart. You’ll just need to sit right and tight until we’ve all departed. The lid won’t be nailed down or anything, so if you give it a firm push, it will pop right off, and you can climb out easy enough. Look, there are even holes that will let the air in.”
“An excellent plan.” The stable master clapped him on the back, as if proud of his family member’s good thinking.
I eyed the barrel dubiously. Although I could think of no solid objection, the idea of being restrained inside the barrel sent a bead of sweat running down my back.
But thought of the young soldier made me straighten. I could do this. I had to do this.
The barrel had already been loaded onto the cart, so I had to clamber up a fair way before I could lower myself into it. Both men offered me steadying hands, however, and the feat proved easier than I’d feared.
It was a harder task to make myself sit down, curling my body to fit the shape of the barrel, but that was due to mental resistance rather than physical difficulty. The brother-in-law had picked a good-sized barrel, and if anything, I would have to worry about flopping around when I was unloaded from the cart.
The lid went on, sending me into near darkness and muffling the sound of the two men exchanging final words. All too soon, however, we lurched into motion, sending me bouncing against one side of the barrel.
I was definitely going to have a problem when I was unloaded. If one of the helpers picked me up, they needed to believe there was grain or pieces of fruit in here, not one large, awkwardly shaped girl.
By the time I was dragged up a ramp and heard greetings being called out, I had finally arranged myself to my satisfaction, my arms and legs braced against the sides of the barrel. I waited, new pricks of sweat breaking out all over me as the cart was pulled through the back corridors of the hall.
When a thump finally sounded and we settled into stillness, my muscles were so tense I thought I was going to burst. I had to continue waiting, however, as the contents toward the back of the cart were unloaded first.
