Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(17)

Darren’s grin spread. “Some rules were meant to be broken.”

“In that case…” I raised a brow.

The prince gave an unexpected laugh. “Very well. When this war is over, you’ll get your chance, love. You win and I’ll hand you the robe myself.”

When this war is over, will you still care?



*

Two hours later, we left the practice court, our guards trailing sluggishly behind. I wasn’t sure who had trained harder, the Black Mage or me. Our faces were flushed and we were dripping sweat from a battle against opponents no one else could see. Pain was preferable to the shadowy recesses of our minds.

We were one and the same.

Fifteen minutes of winding, spiraling passages and we were at the narrow hall that led up to the keep’s prison. Just as Commander Nyx promised, a hundred men stood nervously in line, waiting for the Black Mage and his team. The hall could barely fit five men shoulder to shoulder. The twenty-two of us had to make our way to the end of the hall, one by one, waiting for soldiers to move aside as we passed. Paige scowled at every face along the way.

The walls were looming, almost cavernous. The passage lacked any natural light. We were in an offshoot of one of the keep’s many floors, and the air was a bit musty but clean. This was nothing like the rot and festering odors of the palace dungeon. The cells to the prison were just beyond a pair of heavyset doors barred by steel.

I had always wondered why the commander sent local criminals to the jail in Gilys instead of her dungeon at the keep, but that was before I had found out she was recruiting them to her cause. No one had ever been going to jail.

I stumbled, choking on air as a familiar set of hazel-green eyes caught on mine in passing. And then another. And another.

And then I was face to face with Sir Gavin at the front.

Derrick’s former regiment preceding his promotion had been mine. How could I have forgotten? Ian, Lief, Ruth, Sir Gavin, the soldiers that hated me, as well as a few of the disgruntled knights, I had seen them all many, many times before.

I had to swallow down the panic and focus on the torches flickering above their heads. I could do this. I could feign indifference. This was my first test.

“I am sure all of you are wondering why we are here.” Darren cleared his throat loudly as he addressed the squad before us. “Why Nyx summoned you to meet with me under such discreet orders. I’m not going to bother with formalities. It has come to the Crown’s attention that the rebels might reside north instead of the south like we formerly thought. The king has sent a team to help me identify potential traitors in your keep or information that might lead to their capture. I will be interrogating each one of your comrades over the next couple of days, and I have no intention of leaving until my men and I’ve met with each and every one of you.”

There was a hushed collective of breath. I dared myself to look. Not a one appeared upset or suspicious. Even Ian had wide eyes and a perfectly timed “oh” framing his mouth. It was almost convincing.

Then again, most were probably oblivious to the truth. Sir Gavin’s squad sought to test potential recruits’ loyalty to the Crown. There were only a select few who knew the truth in the starter squad. The rest were promoted to one of the higher squads, like my brother and Ella.

Darren carried on as the rest of our guards examined the crowd.

There was no point in trying to hide our purpose. Darren was wise to see how an investigation would carry rumors to the other squads. In truth, his speech was more than a little convincing.

The prince carried just the right degree of emotion as he touched on our upcoming war and the lives we had lost in past rebel attacks. There was a hint of a plea as he beseeched them to turn over any information they had while promising not to charge any man or woman brave enough to come forward.

And finally, the threat: should someone with information fail to come forward, the Black Mage would embrace less favorable methods of interrogation.

When Darren was finished, our guards split in two. All but the prince and I remained outside to keep an eye on the crowd.

I followed Darren into the dungeon. The information Nyx had promised was stacked neatly in a pile on a slab of stone that could only remotely resemble a desk.

“You spent close to a year in this keep.” The prince’s voice was much softer now that it was just the two of us inside. “If you notice anything—”

“I’ll speak up.” My stomach seemed to curl in on itself, and I forced myself to state the obvious aloud. It was better to warn him now. “Sir Gavin was my squad’s leader. I know this group well.”

Darren ran a hand through his hair and then cast his eyes warily toward the door. “That means Ian is out there, isn’t he?”

I bit my lip, wondering how he would react.

“It doesn’t matter.” Darren shook his head, the decision already made. “I’m not here to settle old feuds… Perhaps his infatuation will help for once.” His gaze fell on the scrolls at the desk, and he began to sift through them and their list of names. “Ian might be willing to spy on his comrades if he believes he is doing it for you.”

“I can try but…” I grimaced. “Whatever Andy said at the Victor’s Ceremony, Darren, she was wrong. Ian didn’t come to the keep because of feelings for me.” The best lie always started with a bit of truth. “He’s very loyal to the Crown. I know he would be more than happy to help.” And point you in the wrong direction.