“They’re still there, Kingston,” I told him, motioning for Denig and Skif to step forward. “The people in the village you told me about. They still protect the dragons after all this time.” I motioned to our new friends. “This is Denig, and Skif. They’ve come to fight with us.” As they stuck out their hands to shake with him, I told them, “This is our commander, Kingston.”
“Come,” Kingston instructed the moment he finished the introductions. “Now that you’re here, we have no time to waste.”
Before we all started for the tent, I turned to Night Phoenix, giving the dragon a grateful pat on the snout. “You can wait in the mountains outside camp if you’d like.” And it nudged up against my hand and took off into the air with Pine Shadow.
“Are we the last to arrive?” Nira asked while Kingston led us all into his tent. He nodded, motioning us around the war table set up at the center, with a large replica of the castle on top, and we all spread out around it.
“And Hazlitt’s already infiltrated the castle,” I predicted.
“Yes,” Kingston confirmed. “An inside source reported that it happened two days ago. That was yesterday.” His chin dropped with the sign of loss. “We’ve not heard from him since.”
“And Cornwall’s rulers?” Nira asked.
“We’ve no word,” Kingston said. “No idea whether they live or not.”
“There may be hope,” Ava told him, pausing until he motioned for her to continue. “Hazlitt’s ultimate goal is to establish himself as High King.” We all nodded. “He’s cruel, and ruthless, but he’s not stupid. I believe he would try to negotiate or force their allegiance before killing them—sway a ruler’s loyalty, and their subjects follow more easily.”
“If such were the case,” Kingston agreed, “and given that Valens and Cornwall appear allied outside the castle walls, we must assume that Hazlitt got his allegiance.” He glanced around at each of us. “This is no longer a rescue, but a conquering of our own.”
“The plan, then?” I prompted.
“Our army goes head to head with Hazlitt’s,” Kingston answered, pointing along the outside of the castle walls on the model. “We keep them occupied while those of you who are willing infiltrate the castle.” At that, he looked questioningly at Denig, Skif, and Rhien, because he already knew where Ava, Nira, and I stood.
“We’re going,” Denig said, and Skif nodded his agreement.
“I am too,” Rhien said.
Nira set her hands on the edge of the table, leaning in with interest. “How do we do it?”
“There are three main entrances to the castle,” Kingston began, showing us on the replica. Because it was carved into the mountain, the castle was longer and higher than it was deep. Its length was curved to follow the shape of the range, and there were massive entrances in the middle and on either side. The long bowed stretch between the two side entrances was only one floor, but there was a tower on each end that rose stories upward. “The throne room is here,” he said, pointing to a place near the center of the castle, situated within the mountain. “You should enter at the heart of the castle and fight your way to the throne room. If luck is on our side, Hazlitt will be there.”
“If not?” I asked.
“Then I’m not sure where he’ll be,” Kingston admitted. “He could be anywhere in the castle, and our insider is missing.”
I glanced over at Ava, hoping she would know some bit of information, be it Hazlitt’s habit or a better layout of the castle. When she recognized my searching gaze, she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’ve never been to Cornwall.”
“Nor I,” Nira said when my eyes transferred to her.
“We will do everything we can to fight our way in and to you,” Kingston continued. “But you’ll be largely on your own, and Hazlitt will have troops beyond the walls and in the castle. Not to mention his magic, which we still have no idea about.”
“We’ll find a way,” I assured him.
He nodded, pausing for a moment to look over the war table and think. “I have no doubt that they saw the dragons. It’s a sight more intimidating than I thought it’d be.” He reached over to a stack of parchment at the corner, pulling one to him and grabbing the quill from the inkwell beside it. “I’ll send a messenger. We’ll give them one hour to agree to our terms of surrender.” We all watched while he scribbled out the message, and then whistled to call for a soldier, who came in to take the parchment. “Rhien,” Kingston prompted when the soldier left, and she looked surprised at the fact that he was addressing her directly. “I received an earful from one of the masters for sending you to war.”
Her eyes widened. “I am so sorry, Sir,” she blurted, her face turning redder than even mine did when I was embarrassed. “My vows are my responsibility, they should not have brought that on you.”
“Vows,” Kingston repeated. “I do recall that being a theme of my reproach.” But he was smiling as he reached down under the table, pulling up a small wooden chest the size of a bread loaf, which he set on the edge of the table with a thump. “And I believe it’s why they sent this with me.”
Rhien inhaled a shocked breath, reaching out to take the chest from him. “Bless them,” she whispered, lifting the lid of the box. “I hadn’t time…” She ran her hand over whatever was inside as she looked up, catching our curious expressions. “Potions,” she explained, picking up a fist-sized, round glass vial, with a cloudy maroon mist inside and sealed with a cork. “Non-violent means of fighting, to help me keep my vows.” She put it back only to grab another. “There are only a few, but it’s better than none.”
“Good,” Kingston said, glancing around our group. “If I might speak with Kiena for a minute.” They began to filter out, but as they passed through the exit, he seemed to have changed his mind. “Ava,” he called, and she stopped and turned, making her way back to us. He didn’t say anything right away once the others were gone, and instead simply stood there, staring directly between Ava and me like he couldn’t quite bring himself to speak.
“Are you alright?” I asked.
He nodded, took a few more moments to collect his thoughts, and then met my gaze. “Kiena,” he said, “your father died fighting for a better life, for you, and for your mother.” He paused and swallowed hard. “But now you’re here, defending what he couldn’t.” He glanced at Ava, gave her a small smile, and then returned his gaze to me. “You have both suffered. You should owe nothing more to your kingdom, or to this rebellion, but you’re here, risking all that you’ve got left. I want you to know that I recognize it, and I’m at a loss to express the depth of my gratitude.”
Both Ava and I nodded, and he looked over at her again. “Ava,” he began, his voice low and gentle, “a casualty as grave as the queen’s is not something which could escape my knowledge.” Her chin dropped, and as if to assure her that he knew of her pain, and to offer comfort, he reached out and set a hand on her shoulder. “I can’t imagine your grief, but not once during your imprisonment was our life in the caves threatened.” She glanced up, meeting his eyes with shock that he knew exactly what she’d gone through. What she’d given. “You’ve displayed a strength of heart and will that I admire greatly.” He paused, saying almost cautiously, “It’s the kind of strength that could guide Valens to prosper…”
Ava’s eyebrows furrowed as it sank in what Kingston was suggesting, and though her gaze fell and she didn’t look at me, she reached out blindly and took my hand. “Thank you, Kingston,” she said, meeting his eyes once more, “for your sympathy, your acknowledgment, and your faith. But if Kiena and I truly owe nothing more to our kingdom, then that’s a sacrifice I should hope never to make. I have no desire to be queen, and the people of Valens deserve a ruler who is motivated to guide them.” She smiled at him, saying with utmost confidence and sincerity, “They deserve a ruler who started fighting for them long before I was born. A ruler who has experience leading, and who’s more than proved his devotion to their wellbeing.”