“Yes, my king,” I said, bowing.
“So devoted. Working after dinner again I see. You know what’s wonderful?” he asked, slurring his words. He reeked of wine, and it turned my stomach. “Death. Do you know why death is wonderful, Temir?”
“No, my king.”
“Because it is a mystery I will never know, and yet I’m happily delivering it to my enemies as we speak.”
“Are you?” I asked, rubbing the back of my neck.
“I’ve told Eadas if he doesn’t deliver the heart of the rebel leader to me by morning, I’d take his instead.”
“Rebels, my king?”
“Ooh. Right. I haven’t told you yet. Apparently, a group of lessers think if they come together, they can stop me. But I have much bigger plans, Temir.” He rested his hand on his favorite golden knife at his hip. The only weapon he carried that I was actually terrified of. It was charmed to never miss.
“No one is strong enough to stop you, my king.”
“Quite right. No one.” He looked into the distance for a moment and then walked off as if we hadn’t been talking.
I headed straight for Gaea’s rooms.
“What is it, Temir?” she asked, tying a robe around her waist and yawning.
“I need your help, right now.”
A calm washed over her, as if she’d found a new resolve. “Give me a minute to change.” She joined me in the hall moments later.
“Before we leave, you need to know something.” I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I’ve got injured rebel refugees in the nursery, and I need to get them out of the castle as soon as possible. The king found—”
She grabbed my wrist. “Let’s go.”
We popped into the nursery, and the rebels went completely still as we appeared.
“You’re playing with fire, Temir,” she said as she dropped my hand. “Where am I taking them?”
“Do you know where Bryer’s Keep is?” I asked.
She shook her head, crossing her arms. “Bryer’s Keep is gone. There’s nothing there.”
“Can you get them there?”
“I’ve never been,” she answered. “I’ve been close, but they will have to walk for a bit to get the rest of the way.”
“I’m not sure if that will work. I’ll have to heal them, and we need the rest of the rebels to get there first. Can you take them to the island? Just for tonight? Then we can take them to Bryer’s Keep tomorrow.”
“At least they will be warm.”
“I can’t stay, I’ve got to go back for Rhogan. He doesn’t know about the soldiers in the tunnels. I have to warn him.”
“You can’t Temir.” She grabbed my arm. “What if you’re caught instead?”
“I won’t be. I’ll be careful.”
“Promise you’ll come back. Say it.”
“I promise I’ll come back, Gaea.” I hugged her tight until someone from the corner cleared their throat. “This is Gaea. She will take you to a place that is safe for the night. She will come back for you as soon as possible and get you close to Bryer’s Keep.”
“Who’s going first?” she asked, her fingers lingering on my own.
