Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(20)
“I’m not. I just don’t like fools.”
The corner of his lip turned up. “Fair enough.”
Thankfully, the conversation took another turn as some of the guards began to exchange stories of my knight when she was a squire. I was grateful for the change in topic. Paige was far too observant for her own good. It wouldn’t do for her to renew Darren’s suspicions when we were halfway through Gavin’s men. I couldn’t let him suspect they were hiding something.
Not for the first time, I wondered where my guard’s loyalties would lie. But, like Darren, I knew I couldn’t put her devotion to the test. I was trapped lying to the two people I was closest to, and it was eating me alive.
I could only hope Nyx had a clever plan for her rebel “reveal.” It would take a lot to fool the most intelligent warriors I knew.
*
The next day came and went. We made our way through the rest of Sir Gavin’s squad. I hadn’t expected the interrogations to last so long. After all, most of the men and women were innocent.
The second squad, on the other hand, was not. After the first three men and the head lady knight, it was clear Jinna’s squad had a dramatically different air than the first. Nyx might have warned her people, but most were not used to hiding their allegiance after so many years in service. They weren’t tasked to recruit with lies and a smile on their face. It worried me.
Luckily, Darren and the rest of our guards believed the growing tension a natural progression. “Nothing out of the norm,” one of our knights had noted, “when one believes a traitor is in their midst.”
It hadn’t occurred to my party that the “traitor” was most of the keep.
Whenever we passed the men in the halls, they watched us with the wariness of the hunted. They were like a flock of tense birds.
Or coiled snakes ready to strike.
The sixth morning my worst fear came to pass.
“Neither of you noticed when a pack of thieves snuck in through the back of your camp and stole fifty pounds of medical supplies?” Darren’s voice boomed across the dank dungeon walls.
Across the cell were two cowering soldiers. Sweat was pooling across the man’s forehead and the other had trembling hands she shoved into the pits of her arms.
I already knew the truth. The rebels were building an army, and clever Nyx had found a way to make the Crown indirectly pay for it. All those years of missing supplies and armor—I had a strong feeling there were secret storerooms in the keep hoarding the very supplies in question.
I stood against the wall, watching my husband pace back and forth in front of the two guilty rebels, running his hand along his jaw as he glowered at them both. I knew Darren hadn’t wanted to find a rebel. I knew he wanted his suspicion to be wrong.
“It was dusk, Your Highness.”
“T-thought it was the horses acting up,” the second stuttered.
“Your squad has suffered more losses in the last year than the others combined. Three of those losses were suffered during your patrol! Each time your reports explain those circumstances away, but you know what I think?” The prince took a menacing step forward, his eyes flashing crimson in the shadowy cells.
Which one did Nyx choose? I watched the young woman swallow, the lump in her throat rising and falling as the prince scrutinized them both. Both of Nyx’s picks were doing a terrible job; were I in Darren’s shoes, I wouldn’t fail to suspect them both.
“I think the both of you are the worst soldiers in the land, or—” His move was so sudden. A flash of the Black Mage’s hand and the two were slammed against the wall, clutching their throats against an invisible hand that held them in place, their brawny legs struggling in vain to reach the ground. I heard the panicked squeal of leather and metal as each fought their hold. “Or you are both cowards and liars and part of the rebel cause.”
My heart jumped to my throat, the panic beating against my skin like quickening drums. I knew Nyx had instructed her rebel to put up a fight prior to confession, but it wasn’t making this easier to watch.
This is the price of your lie, a part of me nagged. Had you chosen to tell the prince the truth, none of this would come to pass. I dug my nails into my arms and stilled, telling myself that the rebels knew what they were doing. They could brave Darren’s attack—the Black Mage would never kill without a confession.
But why did there have to be a second rebel? I wasn’t prepared to watch Darren hurt two.
The prince was too focused on scaring his prisoners to notice my sharp intake of breath.
I couldn’t watch Darren turn into his brother; I had to do something.
You think stopping him will solve anything? You hold your ground and let them give the prince a good show.
But that made Darren the villain.
I shoved my way forward, channeling my panic into fury as I grasped Darren’s wrist. “Allow me?” My voice didn’t waver at all, and for that I was grateful.
The Black Mage’s casting faltered as Darren’s gaze flitted to mine and then back to the two soldiers struggling for air. “Are you sure?” His question was rough, but I had seen the flare in his eyes. “I thought after your brother you wouldn’t want—”
“You watch their reactions as I lead.” I willed my words to steel and refused to look away, even as I heard the older knight and his retching gasps. “I’ll give you a confession.”