“You killed the Chief Magistrate and his men,” she said on a breath. “You’ll be hanged for that.”
“I won’t,” he said. “We have lived too long under the man’s tyranny.”
Roderick rounded a building then at a dead run and came to an abrupt halt, his dagger in his hand. He quickly took in the carnage, the boy with the bow, and question lingering in his eyes.
“What happened here?”
“He was going to arrest Snow,” William said. “I had to stop them.”
“Gods,” Roderick swore. “You’ve really done it now. Snow, we have to go.”
She scooped up the enchanted dagger the guard took from her and holstered it. “And so does William.”
“I’ll be all right,” he said. “But Roderick is correct in that you have to leave this place. The queen will send more men here when she discovers her Chief Magistrate is dead.”
“But—” Snow began.
“You must gonow,” William said.
Still, Snow worried about the boy and what would happen to him should it be discovered he was the one who killed the men. And what of the dead men?
“I will dispose of the bodies while you escape,” he said, as though he read her thoughts.
“Come, Snow. He’s right. We have to leave.” Roderick approached her, reaching for her hand.
She stepped away from him, though, and walked to William. She reached for him, placing her hands on his shoulders. “I will never forget what you did for me.”
“I’ve saddled my horse for you as well as his. They are waiting in the stable.” As he said it, he cut a glance to Roderick.
“I cannot take your—”
“I insist. A second horse will help you ride away quicker.”
There was deep determination in his young eyes that told her she could not refuse. She understood, then, he wanted to make sure they escaped the village. She nodded, then gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
She and Roderick hurried to the stable. The boy was right. He had, in fact, saddled the horses and made them ready to ride. They mounted and rode out into the late afternoon, leaving Lighthill behind.
“Do you think he’ll be all right?” she asked. She cut Roderick a glance and noticed he had a grim expression.
“I hope so,” he said.
But as his said it, she heard the note of worry in his voice. She understood, then, the sacrifice the boy made for their escape. And she would be forever grateful for that.
Chapter 33
TheyrodeawayfromLighthill as darkness fell, blanketing the path in deep shadows. They headed north to the next village, Brookdale, which was close to the queen’s castle. Snow was quiet as they traveled, thinking about the burned-out elven village, wondering if Elator and Yirrie survived. Wondering, too, if Annilen and her sprites made it away from the fire. She had no way to know. Only that she managed to save most of the forest from the devastation thanks to hers and Roderick’s elemental magic.
And then she thought of William and hoped he was all right.
“We should stop for the night,” Roderick suggested.
She took in their surroundings, but they were out in the open. No trees to hide them and there wasn’t a suitable place to camp for the night. Not even a stream to water the horses.
“And where would that be?” she asked.
He cut her a glance. Though she couldn’t see his expression in the darkness, she knew his gaze bored into her.
