Page 124 of Rhuyin

“We kill them. We had to leave a lot of the Air Mageia to guard the slaves and eunuchs. Water isn’t as good at holding someone. Ice works for a while, but it’s warm enough here that it would be really challenging for the Water Mageia to keep them bound.”

We would work our way through the Legion. Elex would protect us from the Elusian Suppression ability while I used my powers to immobilize and silence the guards. That would give Rhu and Hel the opportunity to take them out.

I thought of Allard, and a pang of regret struck me at the thought of the imminent deaths of so many guards. I was sure that while most of them were just horrible human beings, at least some ofthem were just following orders, doing what they could to survive day after day. Some of them might have even been kind enough or tried to help from time to time, but we had no way to know which were which. I knew that the King’s punishments were legendary, and while I might be able to just immobilize the guards, I could imagine what punishments the King would come up with for them for not preventing our escape. Personally, I’d rather die fighting. Still…

“We need to give them a chance,” I blurted out, bringing everyone to a halt.

“What the fuck do you mean?” My brother challenged me.

“The guards. Not all of them were hardened assholes. Some of them weren’t that bad,” I said. “Like Allard.”

“We don’t have time for this,” Elex responded, starting to turn away.

I grabbed his arm and jerked him to a halt.

“Wemakethe time,” I said, my voice with an edge of steel in it. I saw my Bonded smile approvingly.

Elex huffed. I knew these assholes had been torturing us for years, but I couldn’t help but think of the ones like Allard that tried their best.

“What are you thinking?” he asked finally.

I took a breath, my eyes catching Rhu’s. I felt his confidence in me, and the reassurance that he felt I was doing the right thing. He smiled and nodded at me.

“Look, we have two Somas with us. We release the Mageia first, then secure all the guards. We tell them we’re here to rescue them. Then we ask them two questions: Do you support Cyrius Alexus and the Elusian government? So long as no one here intends you harm, will you promise not to harm or alert anyone to our escape?”

“Who the fuck cares? They helped keep our people in slavery their entire lives. Why should we care what happens to them?” Maia said angrily.

“Because maybe they aren’t all here by choice,” I said in exasperation, my mind wandering to Stergiou and Allard. “Or maybe they were here because they were trying to preventworsethings from happening. Or to protect a family member. Regardless, if weeventually want the people of Alexandria to realize we are on their side we can’t start this out with a bloodbath.”

“It seems pretty risky,” Elex said doubtfully. “We aren’t going to have much time.”

“I know. But we can’t leave anyone to Cyrius’ mercy if we can avoid it,” I insisted.

“I don’t think we should question only the guards,” Hel spoke up, his silver eyes shining in the darkness. “I’ve run into Mageia in the past who were so brainwashed they only wanted to return to their masters.”

I saw Elex nod thoughtfully, and I remembered he had run into a Fire Mageia in the Machi who had tried to kill him and Hel instead of being rescued.

“That’s… That’s actually a smart idea,” he said.

“The majority of that will fall on Hel,” Rhu spoke up, and we all looked at him.

“A lot of the ability to sense truth from lie is auditory,” he said, tapping the side of his head with a shrug. “Hearing heartbeats, breathing, etc. Scent plays into it some, but it isn’t foolproof.”

Elex’s lips compressed to a thin line as he considered what we’d said.

“Okay. Luke needs someone to watch his back in the fight anyway,” Elex said.

I felt myself bristling at that.

“I can take care of myself, ‘Lex,” I said in exasperation.

“I know you can,adelfos,” he responded, patting me on the shoulder. “I’d just feel better if you had someone else to watch your back. Especially since I’ll be busy countering Suppression and Hel will be interrogating people.”

I started to argue, but Rhu’s stopped me.

He’s agreeing to your plan, he signed.

I halted in shock as I realized he was right. He was. Elex was agreeing with my plan.