Before She Ignites (Fallen Isles Trilogy #1)(84)

“And did he send people to take back the dragons?” A glow of hope lit her face.

“I don’t know.” I swallowed hard. “He wasn’t exactly forthcoming with information. But our goals aligned there. He wants the Heart’s dragons, but I don’t know whether he succeeded. If he did, his people should have reached them already.” Oh, Damina. What if LaLa had been taken? And Altan “rescued” her?

I’d never be able to live with myself.

“If the dragons are rescued,” Hristo said, “the Luminary Council will know the information came from you. It wouldn’t be hard to figure out who told the Drakon Warriors where to find the dragons.”

I slumped. I hadn’t thought of that.

“The line of information points straight to you again. If you have to go back to the Pit and the council finds out you told Altan, you will never get out.” Ilina moved to cover noorestones to keep anyone from investigating the light this late. “The other prisoners don’t deserve you going back just for them.”

Ilina was my wingsister, but I didn’t know how to explain Aaru.

“What about Chenda M’rizz? The Lady of Eternal Dawn.” I glanced between Hristo and Ilina. “She’s politically useful to have on our side. Plus, her crime was the same as mine: she stood up against immoral actions and was betrayed by the people entrusted to protect her island.”

“The deportation decree?” Ilina glanced at Hristo, her manner softening.

“She’s the reason I knew about it ahead of time.”

Hristo’s voice was a soft rumble. “Is that why you didn’t recite Elbena’s speech?”

“I couldn’t permit more suffering.”

“You could have used the chance to tell everyone you’d been suffering too,” Ilina said.

“I didn’t even think about that.” It was true. It hadn’t occurred to me to announce my captivity. My fingertips grazed across the bandage on my cheek. “Imagine what Elbena would have done if I’d told everyone about that.”

“They wouldn’t have cared,” Ilina said. “They accused Chenda of feeding information to a Hartan lover.”

They were quiet a moment.

“Four extra people is a lot,” Hristo said. “We’ll have to obtain papers and supplies for them as well.”

The burden I’d placed on them sat heavy on my chest. My decision wasn’t about me alone. It wasn’t just my time in the Pit, the danger I was in. Every extra person I decided to save was an extra weight on Ilina and Hristo.

“Mira, if you insist on doing this, how would it even be possible? Maybe Hristo can get in, but warriors don’t wear masks down there, do they?”

“I—”

Just then, loud thudding sounded on the bedroom door. It was locked, but then I heard the jangle of keys.

“Mira!” Elbena’s voice carried through the quiet inn.

Ilina glanced at Hristo, who drew his daggers.

“Go,” I hissed. “Out the window.”

But it was too late.

Elbena and her Luminary Guard burst into the room.

We scrambled for the window, but it was locked.

Three metal darts zinged through the room, catching noorestone light.

The first landed in Ilina’s neck. Then Hristo’s. Then mine.

One, two, three.

We dropped.





CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN




OUR PLAN HAD LASTED FIVE MINUTES. THAT WAS possibly a new low.

I awakened to find myself on a ship. The Chance Encounter, if I had to guess. The sway of the ship on water was unmistakable. Scents of the sea and sweat filled the small cabin, and all around I sensed the groaning of rigging, the thumps of footfalls, and crewmen singing on the decks above.

Four Luminary Guards stood around the perimeter. All had two daggers at their hips. I’d been shoved in the outer corner, among crates and boxes. One leg stung with blood rushing back into my toes. My face ached worse than before; it felt like the stitches had been ripped out.

Elbena stood in the midst of the guards, frowning. “I can’t say I’m surprised,” she said. “Given your performance at dinner, this latest betrayal is far too easy to believe. But I am disappointed. I didn’t think you’d recruit others to your cause and risk their punishment, too.”

Chills swept through me. My wrists were bound and my mouth gagged, but otherwise I had freedom of movement. I could look around.

Hristo was slumped onto his knees to my right, but his head was cocked, listening. Ilina was on my left, unconscious on the floor. She groaned; she’d wake soon.

Guilt wormed through me. Somewhere in the back of my foolish mind, I’d thought maybe they had a chance of escape. I’d thought if I did the right thing, everything would be fine.

Instead, I’d taken them down with me. What kind of friend was I?

A dangerous friend, Gerel would say.

“It’s a shame what has to happen now,” Elbena said. “But I’ve discussed it with Councilor Bilyana and our Bophan friends. We have authority over disciplinary actions for your little adventure. I hope you know this gives me no pleasure.”

She motioned at one of the guards, who removed my gag. Why had they used it in the first place if they were just going to take it away?