Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles Book 1) (61 page)

Another uncomfortable hour passed before outside voices broke into his thoughts. His eyes popped open, and so did Trev’s. Kaden scrambled up to peer out the window again as they passed through the gate of a tall palisade.

“Looks like we’ve made it.”

The coach rolled into the barracks and up to the headquarters, at last coming to a stop. Kaden remained at the window to take in what little was visible from his vantage point. The men in their escort dismounted. A minute later, a blond man exited the building and met the leader of their group.

“Captain Goler,” he introduced himself with a salute.

“Sir Richard Blaine, one of His Majesty’s chief advisors.” A little taller than Goler, Richard peered down his nose at the captain. Disgust laced his superior and far more cultured tone. “He sent me in regard to your message. Have you located the girl?”

Goler hesitated. “No, but I have the man responsible for aiding her in custody. Despite much persuasion, he has so far refused to talk.”

“It doesn’t matter now,” Richard said. “I’ve brought with me two prisoners to lure her out.” He gestured back at the coach. “I trust you have the necessary facilities to secure them.”

Goler gave a sharp nod. “Yes, sir. No one could get in or out.”

“Good.” Richard turned to his men. “Bring out the prisoners.”

The men came around the coach and unlocked the door. Trev struggled to his feet, his movements slow and careful. Kaden reached out to help him. Bent over, he sucked in a breath through his teeth. Kaden kept a hand under his arm to keep him steady. The door opened and light poured inside.

“Out, both of you,” a guard ordered.

They stepped to the door, and the guards grabbed Kaden first to drag him
out. Trev came behind. He stumbled as his feet hit the ground. Kaden tried to reach back to help him, but the guard yanked him away. Somehow, Trev stayed upright, and the guards shoved them forward to face Goler—a devious, predatory man by the looks of him. He wouldn’t get anywhere near Kyrin if Kaden had anything to do with it.

“This is the girl’s twin brother and the man who helped her escape,” Richard explained. “She won’t turn her back on them.”

A cruel smirk lifted Goler’s lips. “This way,” he said, and led them all to the barracks’ jailhouse.

They entered the building, and Kaden did a quick sweep of the interior. It was dim, with only a few windows for light. Thick iron bars blocked them from any means of escape. The place looked as solid as Auréa’s dungeon.

Around a corner, they reached the cellblock. Kaden’s eyes roamed each cell and landed on the man occupying one. He was conscious and watched them with alert eyes, but he’d obviously endured treatment similar to theirs.

As they passed his cell, he looked at Goler, his voice thick with sarcasm. “Thoughtful of you to bring me company.”

“Enjoy it while you can,” Goler growled. “Now that they’re here, you’ve outlived your usefulness.”

One of the guards pushed Kaden into the cell beside the other man’s and Trev into the next one. With a glare from Sir Richard, he and the other captors strode away. The jail door banged shut with a solid confirmation of their predicament. Trev moved to the back of his cell and sank to the floor.

“Are you all right?” Kaden asked him.

Trev only nodded.

Kaden looked over and caught the eyes of their fellow prisoner. They studied each other a moment.

“You’re Kaden, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“You do look very much like your sister.” Moving with slow effort, the man pushed to his feet and steadied himself against the wall. He then walked to the bars separating them. “I’m Trask, son of Baron Grey and fellow follower of the King.”

He extended his hand through the bars.

Kaden took his arm. “Pleased to meet you, though it’s not exactly ideal circumstances.”

Trask chuckled dryly. “No.” He glanced past Kaden and greeted Trev.

“So, you know where my sister is?” Kaden asked.

“Yes.”

“And she’s safe?”

“She’s safe,” Trask assured him. “And doing well.”

Finally, some assurance from someone who had seen her recently. But how long would it last?

“I just hope she stays that way. We were brought here to lure her out.” Kaden hung his head and prayed she wouldn’t take the bait. But why wouldn’t she? He would give himself up in a heartbeat if she were the one in trouble.

Trask seemed to understand his concern. “Don’t worry. There are others with her. They’ll keep her safe.”

“We need to make certain the Altair girl is in the area,” Richard said as he reclined at Goler’s table. He took a bite of the dry beef the captain offered and almost scowled. It was dreadful compared to the fare at Auréa. One more reason to get things done quickly.

“I’m sure she is,” Goler replied with irritating confidence.

Richard peered at him and made the captain squirm. “I’ll believe that when I see her.”

He took a sip of wine and grimaced. Next time he had to leave the city, he’d bring his own. “You say you believe there are others working with this Trask who may be harboring the girl now?”

“No doubt. He’s purchased and disappeared with supplies for more than one person.”

“Do you have any idea who these people are?”

Goler shrugged. “A couple of troublemakers and outcasts have disappeared from the village. I think the villagers know more than they let on. They have strong loyalty to him.” Bitterness leaked into his tone.

Richard pinned him with another hard look. “That could present a problem for His Majesty. We won’t tolerate these rebellious factions. I trust you’ll see to it that this rebelliousness is subdued and extinguished.”

“Of course.” Goler licked his lips, speaking with care. “Actually, I thought, perhaps, should the current baron prove uncooperative, the emperor might consider me a viable replacement. He wouldn’t have to worry about any rebellion under my watch.”

Richard eyed him. A bold move for this sorry country captain, but it could be of benefit. He considered him a moment. “You don’t think the baron is loyal to the emperor?”

“With his son as the instigator behind all this, I think he too knows more than he will tell me. I have no proof, yet, but I have no doubt something would surface with a bit of pushing and digging.”

Goler waited, breath held, and Richard left him in suspense for several seconds. Once he was satisfied, he said casually, “If this proves true, I suppose I could put in a word with the emperor on your behalf.”

Goler’s lips upturned a little, and a spark of glee lit in his eyes.

“But,” Richard said, effectively squelching some of that delight, “you would have to make good on your promises to destroy any rebellion if it isn’t finished when I’m through here. Even a couple of rebellious outcasts can embolden others.”

“You can count on it.”

Richard took another sip of sour wine and focused again on the matter at hand and his desire to return to civilization. “Now, about the girl. I want to see her. Tomorrow, send men into the village. Let it
be known that I have her brother and I want to speak with her. If the villagers are in on this, as you say, word should reach her. I will set up and wait for her outside the barracks. She can either choose to give herself up, or I can make it clear to her what will happen should she refuse.”

“D
o you think it’s a trap?”

Kyrin looked at Rayad, who scanned the area from their hiding place in the trees. An open field stretched out a couple of hundred yards before them and met the barracks’ palisade. About a hundred yards from the barracks itself, a group of soldiers milled about a dark coach. One man reclined in a high-backed chair while the others waited on his every need.

“I don’t think so,” Rayad answered. “They’re in the open and don’t have any men hiding in the trees. They know we can easily make our escape back into the forest. No, they just want to talk and are overconfident in your choice.”

Kyrin sent a glare across the distance to Sir Richard, but her eyes switched to the coach.
Kaden
. No doubt he was inside. “So, I go down and talk to them then?”

Rayad gave a slow nod. “Yes, but just to talk.”

Kyrin glanced at him, and then at Jace. She’d had to convince them to let her come. Whatever happened during this meeting, Kaden would still be a captive. That wouldn’t change, but, regardless of the outcome, she had to go out there. Though she didn’t want to face the thought of it, this might be her one and only chance ever to see her brother again. It would be difficult not to give in to Richard’s demands with Kaden’s life on the line, but neither one of her friends would let her do it. Whether or not she was glad of this was too soon to tell, but she couldn’t trust her own emotions under these circumstances.

“All right. Let’s go down,” she murmured.

They turned to where the other men waited with the horses.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Tane asked.

Kyrin looked up into his eyes. His presence would bring added comfort, but she shook her head. “No, you’re still needed in Valcré. We can’t let them see you. Besides, the less men they know we have, the better.” She sighed. “I’ll be all right.”

She mounted up with Jace, Rayad, and Warin. The three men would be enough to offer her immediate protection and counsel, while the others could cover their escape if necessary. Just before leaving the forest, Kyrin whispered a plea to Elôm for strength and guidance.

She stiffened her spine and nudged Maera. The men followed her out into the open. Commotion rose among the soldiers the moment they appeared, but Kyrin’s eyes stayed fixed on Richard. Though difficult to tell at this distance, she was sure of the wicked smile on his face. She could almost feel it. When they drew nearer, he rose from his chair, and his men, including Goler, took up defensive positions around him.

Several yards away, Kyrin and her companions dismounted. She reached back for her bow, needing the confidence boost of being armed. To her right, Jace gripped his. He met her eyes and gave her a reassuring nod. She forced a quick smile, though it barely touched her lips, and turned to face Richard again. They walked a couple of yards closer to talk, but maintained adequate room for escape.

Richard’s satisfaction was plain now, and mingled with loathing. “Miss Altair. You’re looking well, though I can’t say that with any pleasure.”

“The feeling is mutual,” Kyrin replied.

“Well then, let’s dispense with formalities and get down to business.”

He motioned to the soldiers. Two of them opened the doors of the coach. Kyrin pressed her free hand to her stomach and held her breath. A moment later, they dragged out both Kaden and Trev. Tears flooded her eyes at not only seeing Kaden’s face, but the blood and bruises too. She ached to rush over to him, but held it together even though her voice broke when she gasped his name.

“Hey,” he replied with a small smile.

She nearly burst into sobs. After so many weeks apart, she couldn’t even give him a hug. Struggling to gain better control over her voice, she looked between him and Trev and asked, “Are you all right?”