Last Stand (The Black Mage #4)(27)
So many tiny details were at play, and I knew it would be selfish to prolong a visit when the Pythian ships were closer to reaching our shores with every day that passed.
No, now I needed to focus on Tallus’s escape.
*
Freezing rain turned the entire mountain to slush. Snow melted away, leaving behind dark puddles and patches of ice. Mud splattered against our horses’ hooves, a splish-splash as the procession crawled up and down steep switchbacks on an ever-winding trail buried knee-deep in pine.
I couldn’t ask for better circumstances if I tried.
Storm clouds continued to roll across the cold winterscape, turning day into night and night into black. Thunder rolled in the background like the gods’ angry roar.
A couple more hours and we were forced to dismount and carry on by foot. Even war steeds weren’t immune to lightning, much less pelting hail and a slippery slope that grew worse with each step we took.
Eventually we were forced to make camp, several hours ahead of schedule, to wait out the worst of the storm. The King’s Road was adjacent to a meandering stream, one that had turned into a coursing river within the span of a day. It was a good source to wash in during the summer, but the current now was strong enough to overtake a man.
The group of us sat huddled around a hissing fire—it only held against sleet thanks to an alchemy potion that kept wood dry.
“Here.” Paige handed me an empty mug so she could pour steaming cider from a hot kettle nearby.
“Thanks.” I shot the knight a grateful smile before blowing on the steam and curling my fingers around its heat. The rest of our group was busy in conversation and Paige was never one for talk. Right this moment, neither was I. I was counting down the minutes, waiting for the moment my plan took effect.
“Do you think I should offer some to him?” The girl’s lips curled as her gaze slipped to Tallus, bound and gagged at the edge of our camp. “That filth that calls himself a knight.”
I flinched and made myself look away, focusing on Hadley, one of the mages who was preparing our dinner of dried herbs and hare stew. “He’s cold like the rest of us.”
“Humph.”
“It might prove useful if the prisoner doesn’t freeze. We need him alive.”
My guard grumbled as she poured another cup, cursing as she dripped hot liquid on her wrist, and walked over to Tallus with barely restrained disgust.
The only thing that spared Tallus of the fists of our party was the information he carried.
Two more hours, three at most. I made myself get up and join Hadley at the fire.
“Let me take over. I cooked plenty of meals for camp during the apprenticeship. You deserve a break.”
The Combat mage gave me a small smile. “It’s no bother. Cooking gives me something to do with my hands, and I’m never cold here.”
“Paige has a kettle of hot cider there.” I pointed to the second fire. “And truly,” I lowered my voice to convey my request, “I need a distraction. Thinking about that rebel after my brother…”
“Say no more.” The woman laid her rough hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I will make myself scarce. Call on me if you need help.”
“I will.” I gave her an appreciative nod as the mage left me to fix the meal on my own.
No one noticed minutes later when the contents of two waxen green bottles slipped into the rabbit stew. They were from Nyx’s inventory at the keep. Certainly no one cared that the prisoner was refusing to eat.
“Did you do something different?” Darren poked at his bowl, his nose wrinkled in distaste.
I shrugged. “I followed the same recipe as Hadley. Why?”
“It tastes…” Paige frowned as she dug into her own and took a big swallow, making a face as she chewed. “Strange.”
“Strange can be good.”
“Not as my dinner.” Darren attempted another spoon, cringing as he swallowed. “Something must have been rotten. Or some mice got into the packs.”
“If I get sick,” Paige looked me in the eye, “the gods won’t be able to spare you my wrath.”
“I ate it too.”
“Where is your bowl?” Darren stared at my hands folded in my empty lap. “Ryiah, even if you don’t like your own cooking, you need to keep up your strength.”
“I already ate.” Lie. “And I didn’t taste anything strange.”
“Ryiah, this stew is terrible!” one of the Combat mages started to laugh. “What did you do?”
Another followed. “I wouldn’t feed this to the palace hounds.”
“Leave her alone,” Hadley was the only one to speak up in my defense.
“Gods, I would take the slops those mutts are given over this.”
“See?” Darren’s lips twitched in a smile. “We aren’t the only ones.”
I drew myself up, feigning upset. “I tried to do something nice. Remind me not to offer again!”
“Don’t bristle at us.” Paige rolled her eyes. “We were only teasing.”
“Ryiah,” Darren began, “we didn’t mean—”
“All I wanted was a distraction!” I raised my voice into hysterics, hating this ploy but knowing I needed to act it out all the same. “Three days I’ve been forced to pretend the traitor who recruited my brother isn’t standing three yards away, set to live for a crime my brother never could!”