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I maybe could have stopped it before. Today proved that. It had listened to me.

No. Liam was lying …to protect me.

"Now, enough of that," he said, voice firm. "You need to focus on what's important. We make port tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" someone gasped, others echoing the question.

"Yes. Tomorrow."

Cheers rose throughout the block, smiles breaking on a few faces.

A woman's voice broke through the rapidly changing mood. "What do we do about those who were taken, like my daughter? If she's on this ship, we have to find her and take her with us."

"Agreed," Liam said, a tinge of excitement filling his voice. "During my work shift tomorrow, I'm going to look around and ask questions. If everyone could do the same, we might find answers before the ship docks."

Gods be damned.I sat up, heart pounding in my ears.Of course Liam wouldn't leave his gram and sister behind. Why hadn't I considered that?

How many others would refuse to escape because their loved ones might be aboard the ship?

I wrapped my hands around the bars, debating my options. I had no sway with these people, though …

"Look," Mr. Harlsted interrupted. "I want to save the force-bonded as much as you. But we haven't seen them anywhere on this ship, so we have no idea if they are even kept on the ship."

My shoulders relaxed, and I rested against the wall again. He had this under control.

"And even if theyarehere," he continued. "We don't have the numbers to carry a hundred unconscious people. There aren't even a hundred ofus."

People immediately started talking over each other again.

"Our best bet —" Mr. Harlsted yelled, pausing until the commotion died down. "Our best bet is to get to the Rogues. They have the resources to actually give us a shot at saving them. As much as I hate to admit it, we must focus on the escape for now."

Voices rose as people directed their anger and frustration at Mr. Harlsted while he worked to corral the unruliest of the group, but they weren't happy about it.

Eventually, though, everyone fell in line.

I looked back to Liam's cell, but he'd retreated out of sight and had fallen conspicuously silent. No doubt brewing his own plans to find Gramand Mirrim …

He was alive and healthy, though. I had not hurt him, and the Harlsteds were on the verge of being free.

A wave of relief swept over me.By tomorrow night, they will all be free.

I looked out at the talking villagers and debated staying awake to help. It was still early. I didn't have to fall asleep yet.

But what could I possibly offer them?

No. The best thing I could do now was to stay quiet and out of sight.

My eyelids drooped as exhaustion from the day finally caught up to me.

Crawling on shaky arms and legs, I made my way to my bed of straw and fell in an exhausted heap.

Just one more day.

Chapter 10

Kaiya

Iwoke in the middle of the night to movement outside my cell. Looking up, I saw Mr. Harlsted and three other prisoners quietly passing by, carrying large mounds of … something.