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CHAPTER NINETY-FIVE

Ryker

Over the next five days, Tucker and I took turns doing reconnaissance of the prisoners and the daily routine of the guards. During the day and night, they kept seventy-two guards on, two for every prisoner.

I’d hoped they would lessen the numbers at night, but the display of so many guards throughout the day was meant to be a show of force. That show wouldn’t deter me.

Standing in the shadows of the buildings branching off the center of town, I watched the guards. On rooftops across the way, Tucker’s followers crept toward the front of the buildings they occupied.

Beyond the guards, the broken dragon fountain, with its four deteriorating dragons, was a lump against the night. The amsirah moving on the roofs took up positions that would keep the fountain from interfering with their shots.

Despite the number of guards not lessening at night, it was better to move against them now than during the day. We were less likely to be seen, they were probably tired, there were far fewer townsfolk around, and though it had only been five days, the guards had already become complacent in their duty.

Clouds obscured the moons of Tempest, but the torches surrounding the prisoners provided enough light to reveal the guards while the rest of us stayed away from their illumination and hidden. Because of the torches’ glow, the guards’ eyes weren’t as adjusted as ours to the night. That would give us a better chance to sneak up on them.

Some guards stood with their heads bowed and chins on their chests like they’d fallen asleep on their feet. Others talked in hushed whispers, and a few paid rapt attention to their surroundings. They would be the first to go.

The guards wore chain mail, but the arrows would pierce it. Some still donned helmets, but most had removed them. They sat at the guard’s feet or in the crook of their arms.

The most difficult part of our plan would be moving the prisoners after freeing them. We didn’t have time to remove their chains here, but thankfully, their feet remained free of manacles.

How well they would be able to move remained up for debate. Not only had they lost a lot of blood, but they’d also been trapped in the same position for five days with the sun baking them while flies, rodents, and other creatures preyed upon them.

They’d also given the prisoners the bare minimum to eat and drink so they could heal enough for transport to the next town and their next beating. They wouldn’t have a lot of energy.

We’d debated waiting until they moved on to Hallsey, but they would only get weaker, and it would be more difficult to free them when they did. They were weak, but the possibility of freedom should give them an adrenaline rush and spur them on.

If it didn’t, we’d all agreed to leave behind anyone we couldn’t save. I loathed the idea of abandoning anyone to suffer like they were, but I couldn’t die for them. There were far too many others who also required help… and Ellery. I would be here to protect her from whatever lay ahead.

Slipping away from the edge of the road, I grasped the drainpipe of the house I stood next to and noiselessly scaled it. Once on the roof, I spotted Ianto at the back of the house.

Because of how distinguishable he was, he’d mostly stay out of this, but I’d asked him to keep an eye on and provide extra protection for Ellery; he’d agreed. She’d claimed not to need the extra protection but lost the battle.

The giant had promised to take her away from here if things went wrong. She was aware of this, but I doubted he’d have an easy time getting her to leave.

I nodded to Ianto, and he waved in return, but I was here to see Ellery. She lay at the front of the house, her belly against the roof and her bow and quiver before her.

I stayed low as I crept toward her. We couldn’t have someone inside one of the homes hear our movement and come out to see what was happening.

Thankfully, most of the buildings closest to the center of town were businesses and no one lived in them, but a few, such as this one, were homes. Ellery was one of the few who had taken up a position on a house; only the most well-trained and nimble had been allowed to do so.

I settled to her left on the slanted roof. We were a good hundred feet from the guards, but that distance meant nothing to her arrows.

Below, someone shouted, and a door slammed as some of the town’s residents made their way along the street. This late at night, most homes and businesses were dark, but the taverns, bordellos, and gambling halls remained open.

Only one tavern was close to this section of town, and music drifted from its open windows. However, Nottingshire was still far quieter than before, and dozens of prisoners were displayed in the town’s center. Despite the occupants’ desire to lose themselves in alcohol and debauchery, the reminder of what lay outside their door was a mood killer.

Still, when someone shouted something beneath me, I peeked over the side as two men leaned against each other while making their way down the street. Their loud, slurred words bounced off the buildings as they staggered back and forth while trying to hold each other up.

They moved away from the guards who paid them little attention and took a turn in the road before vanishing. The return of the Hooded Robber and the carisle distributed throughout the town had brought a brief period of hope, but the presence of the guards had doused much of it.

I turned away from the alley to study the guards again. Between distributing more carisle throughout the other towns and plotting this rescue attempt, I’d barely slept for the past five days. If all went well, I’d sleep like a baby tonight.

Ellery removed three arrows from her quiver and set them on the roof without making a sound. She drew her bow closer before turning her head toward me. Her hood kept her eyes and features hidden.

“We’re going to succeed,” I told her.

“I know.”

She still looked far too fearful for my liking.

“Are you all set?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I crawled closer, and through my hood, kissed her forehead before slipping back to the end of the roof and over the side. Holding on to the edge, my legs dangled in the air before I released the roof and fell. My knees bent to soften the landing before I hit the ground.