Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“ W ould you fucking move?” Croak fumed, shoving Orry in the back as he stopped again to retch. Croak’s heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst. He didn’t need to worry about Orry, too, while they all fled for their lives.

Orry mumbled something and started moving through the sewer once more.

Croak grabbed his arm to haul him along. “I’ve puked twice now. You didn’t see me stop, did you?”

Gabriol looked over his shoulder at them, Sonah Yahn a limp doll in his arms. At least she was in better shape than Ren.

Croak swallowed.

“You boys all right back there?” Gabriol called out as he turned back to the front.

“Fantastic,” Croak bit out, groaning as Orry once more stumbled through the shit at their feet.

Rydon was well ahead of them, despite carrying Ren’s unconscious body. They had made it through the worst part, according to him—although, personally, Croak thought going through the sewers twice was worse.

Getting past the Imperial Guard and the City Watch as they made their way through the streets of Metilai was what Rydon and Gabriol had been most worried about. But with the chaos breaking out after Terena’s spectacular performance and the crowds helping to shield their escape, they’d made it to the sewer entrance in the garment district much faster than they’d expected.

But they weren’t safe yet.

“How’s she doing?” Croak called out.

Rydon didn’t answer for a bit, and Croak looked up, scanning ahead to Rydon’s back.

“She’s still out.”

“Alive, though, right?” Please be alive.

“Alive,” Rydon called back.

The relief washing over him was short-lived as Orry retched, his knees buckling.

“What a dramatic little shit you are! Seriously, how much did you eat this morning?” Croak groaned as he hauled his friend back upright. Some of the puke flew onto his tunic and Croak gagged. “Oh, my gods.”

“Here!” Rydon stopped, stepping back a bit to let Gabriol get in front.

He set Sonah on the ground. Croak had left the grate on the grass, so Gabriol pulled himself up to make sure it was clear.

Sonah leaned heavily against the wall as Croak neared with Orry in tow. He saw the sweat on her forehead as she closed her eyes. He whipped off his cloak and draped it over the girl’s shoulders. She looked up at him with haunted eyes, clutching the cloak tight around her.

“You’re doing great, Sonah,” he said, touching her arm. Her hair hung in limp, dirty clumps, shielding her face when she turned away. Croak moved closer to Rydon, hoping to get a better look at his sister when Gabriol’s head appeared.

“Clear,” he said. He held out his arms as Rydon shifted Terena, transferring her to Gabriol. After Gabriol pulled Terena out, Rydon hoisted himself up and out of the sewer, then leaned back down. “Croak, you’re next. ”

“What about?—”

“Easier to help the others if you’re up here too.”

“Good thinking,” Croak mumbled. He reached up to clasp Rydon’s outstretched hand, yelping when he was yanked up.

“Sonah.”

Sonah was already waiting below the hole, and reached up when Rydon poked his head down.

Croak moved to help her. Moving her a few feet away to where Gabriol was settling Terena, Croak dropped to the ground beside him. “Easy, easy.”

“Cleric, come on,” Rydon urged. Croak ran back and dropped beside Rydon.

Orry stumbled over and stretched up his arms. Rydon lifted him out, with Croak pulling on his friend until he was up on the lip of the hole. “You gotta lose some weight, brother,” Croak groused.

Rydon stood and strode over to scoop up Terena in his arms. Croak let out a long breath and raked his hands through his hair.

Gabriol had his arm around Sonah, water trickling down her chin onto Croak’s cloak. She must have gotten a drink from the creek. Orry, too, was now standing, his hands wet as he wiped water from his mouth.

Gabriol whistled, and a boy of around ten came out of the woods across the water, holding the reins of a pair of horses. Rydon crossed the creek with Gabriol close behind, lifting Sonah over the water. Croak went to Orry to see if he needed help. Orry shook his head, patting Croak on the shoulder, and they both crossed the stream.

“What the fuck? Only two horses?” Croak whined.

“Another boy is waiting with horses a mile that way,” Rydon answered, gesturing somewhere to his left. You know the woods near Baldana?” Rydon asked Croak as he mounted his horse. Gabriol then lifted Terena high enough Rydon caught her and positioned her in front of him in the saddle. Croak’s lips thinned when he saw she was still out.

“Croak?” Rydon prodded.

“What? Yes. Yeah, I know them. Just past Dawn Lake. ”

“Right,” Rydon said with a quick nod. “You and Orry meet us there. Stick to the trees until you get your horses and do not, whatever you do, do not take the Greek roads. They’ll have soldiers all over them.”

Gabriol leaned down and motioned for Sonah to take his hand. Her lips parted but didn’t say a word as she took his hand and mounted behind him.

Rydon turned his horse and rode off, Gabriol right behind him.

Croak watched them take off, then turned to Orry. “Just us now, kid.”

Orry bent over and puked.

Sonah wasn’t sure how long they rode before stopping at the edge of a lake. She looked across at Terena, still unconscious in the arms of the big man who had helped Croak in their rescue.

Gabriol, the other man, swung a leg over his horse, then reached up to help Sonah dismount. He was taller than his friend, his dark blond hair braided and pulled back in a leather tie, blue eyes flashing up at her as he gently settled her on the ground. When he lifted his hand to drag across his mouth and short beard, she noticed he had rings on almost every finger.

Sonah loosed a shaky breath and wiped her sweaty palms on her tattered chemise, cheeks flaming. She tugged the edges of her borrowed cloak tighter around her and walked on stiff legs toward Terena.

“Is she…” Sonah couldn’t finish her question, but when she lifted her eyes to the other man—Rydon, Croak had called him—he gave her a grim smile.

“She lives,” he said, his voice deep and rough.

Sonah nodded, glancing back to see Gabriol coming back after tethering his horse.

“We rest until her brother arrives,” Rydon added gruffly. Sonah watched Gabriol reach up to take Terena from Rydon’s arms.

He carried her to the water’s edge and laid her gently on the ground. Sonah cradled her arms at her chest and hunched down at Terena’s side.

“Get my cloak from my saddlebags, would you?” Rydon called out to Gabriol. When the man came back with the folded garment, Rydon tucked it around Terena’s body.

“Are you a friend of Terena’s? I’m sorry, I haven’t seen either of you before at the palace,” Sonah said. She reached out and slipped her hand into Terena’s, careful not to bother the crusted wounds of her missing fingernails. Her eyes welled as she took in the damage to the woman’s poor body.

“We hope to be friends,” Rydon said. He crouched down next to Sonah and looked at Terena.

Sonah looked over at him. “How do you know her?”

Rydon gazed at Terena for a few more seconds before turning to Sonah. “We met her brother in Laurica. He promised us coin to help his sister.”

Sonah’s eyes widened. “Oh! I thought you were Imperial Guard. You’re mercenaries then?”

“Aye.”

She looked up at Gabriol. “It must’ve been a lot. I don’t know what he offered, but for my part, I’ve only my thanks to give.” Sonah fidgeted, only now realizing she was alone with two large warriors and no friend in sight. She scooted closer to Terena.

“Have no fear, girl,” Rydon said, his voice low as he clapped a large hand on her shoulder, making Sonah fall over onto Terena’s arm. She shifted quickly so she wouldn’t cause Terena any pain.

“So what now for you both?” Sonah asked, more to kill time than any genuine curiosity. She hoped Croak and Orry found their way to them soon.

Gabriol came to their side and Sonah looked up to see him looming over her, arms crossed at his chest, bracing his weight on his left side.

“We were going north when the boy found us,” he said. “We’ll have to wait until she’s better.”

Sonah blinked up at him. “You plan to stay with us, then? ”

Rydon shared a look with Gabriol, then grunted his assent. “Until we can head north. The king there has charged us with bringing him trackers.”

Sonah’s mouth dropped open, and she glanced between the two men. “You’re… you’re going to sell her?”

“What? No!” Rydon scoffed, affronted. “No, of course not. The king asked us to find her and recruit her.”

“Recruit her? For what?”

Rydon shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked flushed. “Don’t know. But it’s not to harm her.”

“How do you know?” Sonah asked, narrowing her eyes as the color continued to creep up his neck. That wasn’t a good sign.

“I trust him. He’s a good man.”

“No one’s heard of him before. No one even knows his name,” Sonah muttered. “I was to be part of the convoy the emperor was sending north to meet with him.”

Rydon turned and gave her a frown. “Aye? What for?”

Sonah shrugged. “Diplomatic stuff. Private, empire stuff.”

“Ah,” Gabriol said with a smirk. “Worried about the man’s rise to power in such a short time?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. I… didn’t want to go. We were supposed to leave… that day. I prayed to Gaia for something to happen, so we wouldn’t have to.” The blood drained from her face and she felt sick. “Do you think she heard me? Is that why Prince?—”

“Don’t be foolish, girl,” Rydon grumbled. He reached out a hand and laid it on Terena’s forehead. Sonah inched away so he wouldn’t accidentally brush against her.

He shot her a look of irritation. “Those gods don’t bother with mortals. Prince Lerek’s death was nothing but the scheming of men with a grudge against the empire.”

Sonah ducked her head. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” he said. “I’m the one who should apologize. You’re a young girl, raised to believe the gods are good. Some are. Most aren’t. The ones you pray to, though, don’t give a shit about us either way and wouldn’t lift a gods damned finger to help. No way for you to know that.”

“How do you know that?”

Gabriol chuckled. Rydon shot him a look. “That’s a story for another time,” he said.

Sonah didn’t press.

“Do you have family?” Gabriol asked, his voice soft. She turned to look up at him. “Is there somewhere we can take you after…,” he motioned to Terena with his chin.

Sonah dropped her head. She caressed Terena’s thumb with hers. “No.”

“No? No one? Croak said you’re the Royal Taster. Your father must be one of the dukes.”

Sonah’s face flamed. “You would think, but no.”

She snapped her head up at him, shifting as a thought came to her. “May I travel with you? I mean, with all of you? I won’t be a burden, I promise. I’ll… I can gather wood and start a fire, I can wash your clothes?—”

“Child—”

“I’m not a child,” Sonah said vehemently. “I’m seventeen years old. I spent the last seven years in the White Palace as a glorified prisoner, tasting food for Prince Lerek, knowing any day I could die if someone decided to kill him by poisoning his meals. And guess what? They did. I spent the past week being questioned by the scariest men alive, spent some of that time in the catacombs they use as dungeons beneath the palace, terrified they would torture me like they did Terena and the rest of the time dreading today because I knew we’d die.”

Sonah angrily wiped at her tears, her mouth set stubbornly as she glanced between Rydon and Gabriol. “I think I’ve earned the right to be treated as an adult by both of you. I’d appreciate if you don’t condescend to me.”

“You’re right,” Rydon said. He laid a hand on her forearm. His touch was warm, and it brought her a small measure of comfort. “You’re right. Apologies again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been around someone your age and it’s made me awkward. ”

Sonah gave a small nod and mumbled her thanks.

They were silent for a while, Sonah lost in her thoughts, with no particular desire for further conversation. Sometime later, to her horror, she started breathing too fast, thoughts of that morning and how close she’d been to having her body ripped apart overcame her. Her chest squeezed tight and she panicked.

Wide eyed, Sonah’s gaze darted around, for what she didn’t know but when she caught sight of Rydon, her breathing became more shallow. She reached out and grabbed his arm, digging her nails into the skin of his forearm. He said something she didn’t hear, her pulse exploding in her ears and she thought she might faint.

Rydon pulled her to him and wrapped his big arms around her, pressing her to his chest, holding her head against him as he rocked her. She calmed and her breathing slowed.

“We leave you alone for one minute!”

Sonah heard Gabriol curse, and she jerked back from Rydon, who let her go even as he observed her.

She scrubbed at her eyes, still gulping for air. She hadn’t heard the horses, nor Croak and Orry as they arrived, but when she looked behind her, she saw Croak’s grin fade as he looked at her.

“Gods, Sonah, I’m sorry. I’m an ass, I?—”

“If she knows you at all, she knows you’re an ass,” Rydon snapped.

“Did anyone follow you?” Gabriol asked, still standing over Terena as he glanced over his shoulder at Croak and Orry when they ambled over.

Orry set himself down at Sonah’s side with a loud groan, giving her a sympathetic smile, almost making her cry again. He seemed to sense it and moved closer, putting an arm over her shoulders.

Croak went to Terena’s other side and dropped to a knee as he pressed a kiss to his sister’s forehead.

“Has she woken at all?”

“No,” Rydon answered.

“So, what now? They’ll be combing these woods next,” Croak said.

“Should we take a ferry at Lios? We can be across the Bay and into Elis by tomorrow night.” Orry replied .

“No ferries. At least not yet,” Rydon said. He dropped onto the ground, stretching out one leg and pulled his other knee to his chest. “The general will have men watching the ports nearby. And she’s in no shape to travel, so first we need to find someplace to shelter for a night or two before we decide our next move.”

“You don’t have a plan, then?” Croak asked, scowling across at Rydon.

“I’m not from here,” Rydon said, scowling right back. “We helped rescue them, but now we must rely on your knowledge. Gods help us. So tell us, young master, where can we take your sister until she’s well enough to sit a horse? And remember, we have all the empire looking for us, so make it good.”

Croak ran a hand over his mouth but didn’t answer.

The silence was deafening. Sonah squirmed and glanced up at Orry.

“What about Lethe Monastery?”

Orry blinked at her. “What about it?”

Sonah looked around at the others, then lifted a shoulder, her eyes dropping when she realized they were all watching her.

“I… spent some time there. Before the White Palace. I know the abbot there. He and the monks would take us in.”

“Where’s this?” Gabriol asked, shooting a look at Croak before turning back to her.

“It’s in Ravos,” Orry said. “Twenty-five miles or so northwest of here, near the border of Ermanel. How did you come to spend time there?”

“They will take us in? Are you certain?” Rydon asked Sonah. She was grateful not to have to answer Ormano.

“Aye,” she said, nodding as she pulled out of Orry’s arm. “Abbot Malis knows me. He will keep us safe.”

“Even if the empire comes knocking? Or, more to the point, threatening death to anyone harboring us?” Gabriol asked, arching an eyebrow at her.

Sonah lifted her chin. “They would protect us with their lives. But I don’t expect soldiers to go there. They wouldn’t know to. ”

Orry looked at her quizzically, but she ignored him. Only Terena knew of her past and she didn’t think it was something she should share with these men, not until she could be sure of them.

She did not fear Croak, and she was fairly certain Ormano would do her no harm, but… the less she shared, the better off she’d be.

“Just over the border, then?” Gabriol asked, breaking into her thoughts.

She opened her mouth to answer when Orry said, “A day’s ride, maybe more if we need to go slower for Terena.”

As if his words pierced her subconscious, Terena stirred. Croak leaned forward, his face close to hers as he whispered her name.

Terena said something, her lips moving as her good eye fluttered and she raised her left hand to her brother. He took it gently, holding it to his chest as he leaned closer.

“Terena, I’m here. I’m here and you’re safe. So is Sonah.”

She tried to say something again, but it was so soft no one caught it.

“What was that, Ren? What did you say?” Croak asked, his voice sweet as if speaking to a baby.

“Your… your…”

“Aye? Aye, it’s me! It’s me, Ren.”

Terena pursed her lips and her brow furrowed. Then she swallowed and opened her good eye.

“Your breath stinks.”