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“Regner knows that,” Asinia muttered. “It’s what he has always counted on.”
Madinia angled her head. “Yes. But we know it too. Regner’s winning this war. Not just by sheer scale of soldiers and ships, but by propaganda.”
My jaw ached as I clenched my teeth. But she was right.
“He has the power,” Madinia continued. “Because he has those fucking priestesses and assessors who continually lie. Not to mention the guards who visit the towns and villages with messages from the castle.”
I frowned. “You want to compete with him? Send messages of our own?”
Next to me, Asinia angled her head. “Many villagers can barely read. And those who can read will be unlikely to believe us.”
Madinia sighed, clearly frustrated. It wasn’t often that she was this…passionate about something. “I can see why you’d be hesitant to devote time and attention to this kind of approach,” she conceded. “But I know it’s worth a try.”
I tried to imagine what her plan would look like.
“Wait,” I murmured. “We don’t need to target everyone in each village. We just need to convince a few.” Madinia understood nobles and royalty. But Asinia and I understood people.
Asinia smiled at me, “Healers. People who have seen things they can’t explain. People who’ve kept secrets because they truly care about their friends and neighbors. People who are trusted. People like Tibris.”
My spine tingled. I could almost see how it would work. “We need some way to… Where’s Finley right now?”
“He went with Vicer,” Asinia said. “Which means he’s likely in the city. But it would take him months to replicate the amount of parchment we would need.”
I chewed on my lower lip. “You’re right. He once replicated my dagger, but it took a lot out of him.”
“Your dagger is made of iron,” Madinia said. “It naturally repels magic. It’s likely he can replicate other things much more easily.”
Asinia’s eyes glinted, and then the hope in them dimmed. “The villagers will think we’re the ones lying. Most of them won’t believe us.”
She was right. Still… “Some of them will. Even if it’s just a few at first. Some of them will begin to question. And they’ll look a little harder at what they’ve been taught to believe.”
“I’ll travel ahead,” Madinia said.
I didn’t like it. Madinia shook her head at whatever she saw on my face. “I’ve rested enough. We won’t have much time in the city, and if what we’re planning is going to work, we’ll need every minute. I’m leaving now.”
I met her eyes. Madinia had good instincts. If those instincts were urging her to go now, we needed to listen. And this could work. I knew it could. “Go,” I said. “Travel fast but stay safe.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Of all the worst times in my life, counting down each second until Sabium would kill my son was the most horrifying.
That countdown had begun the moment he’d handed the squalling infant to me, of course. But now, with barely any warning, I was down to mere days. Hours.
Pelysian had pled with me for patience. He’d urged me to wait. We’d sent another message to Madinia, and the hybrid heir knew what would happen if that barrier came down.
Yet, Sabium was watching this castle—and all the people in it—so closely, it had taken hours before my messenger could finally slip out undetected.
Hours of agony as I felt time slip through my fingers.
I was done with waiting. If the hybrid heir didn’t save my son, I would find a way to do it myself. I didn’t know how—would likely die in the attempt—but I couldn’t delay any longer.
And so, I paced my library, waiting for some form of acknowledgment from Madinia. What good was she if she wouldn’t respond—wouldn’t tell me the hybrid heir would free Jamic?
Movement caught my eye, and I strode to the window. In the courtyard below, Sabium’s guards were filing out of the castle, Tymedes overseeing them. He glanced up at the library, and I ensured the heavy curtain was covering my body. Still, his smirk told me he knew I was watching.
Only one guard carried the object they were removing. As tall and wide as a person, it was covered in several blankets, which hid its exact form from prying eyes. Curiosity pricked at the back of my neck, and I leaned closer.
Sabium stepped out of the castle, watching as a carriage pulled to a stop next to the guards. Longer than most, the carriage had been modified, allowing the guards to open doors at the back for added storage. More blankets had been piled strategically inside.
