Page 46 of The Lies of Lena (The Otacian Chronicles #1)

Chapter Forty-Five

T he hours went by slowly—Merrick and Viola were exhausted, and with their hands now separated, they sprawled out on the concrete, finally getting some rest. I was sitting on the opposite bed, watching as Viola slept on Merrick’s chest.

I had always thought they would be a cute couple. I wasn’t sure of either’s feelings, though I knew Viola usually preferred women. Merrick certainly loved her as he loved me—I knew it wouldn’t be weird for me to lie on his chest, either.

I began to hear footsteps and sat up straighter as the door creaked open. Merrick and Viola’s eyes shot open. I couldn’t help the sweat that began to form at my hairline or the quickening of my heartbeat.

You are okay. Those men are gone. They are gone.

Elowen stepped in, escorted by Hendry, who was a whole foot and a half taller than her. Her cuffs had been removed entirely. I exhaled, and my shoulders sagged in relief .

“El,” Merrick murmured, standing and hugging her tightly. She squeezed him back just as hard.

I looked at Hendry, his mismatched eyes catching mine.

“He will be here soon,” he said quietly. “He left Elowen uncuffed so she could finish healing you.”

To that I nodded, and he left, the lock clanking.

‘How are you feeling, Elowen?“ Viola asked, rubbing her eyes as she stood, and pulled her into an embrace once Merrick let go. “They’ve been working you like a dog.”

She squeezed and pulled back. “I’m okay,” she said in her soft, cute voice. “I have been with Edmund, as you know.” She looked to Merrick before her eyes hit the ground. “He’s made sure I get as good of treatment as I can.”

Merrick tensed, but I quickly spoke. “Have they told you anything?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Edmund tries to insist he shouldn’t come—”

“He is coming with us.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry.”

Merrick just stared at her. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Elowen. Why do you care so much for this stranger?”

She blinked a few times. “I…I don’t know,” she said. “I just know that I do. That he does, too.”

Viola shifted on her feet. “You don’t think…” she started.

Merrick whirled his head towards her. “Don’t even suggest it.”

Elowen was staring at him with confidence when he met her eyes again.

“My Gods,” I exhaled. “Elowen, do you think…”

“Yes…” she sighed. “Yes.”

It would be the only thing to make sense. Why else would a soldier, trained to kill and view our kind as monsters, be so sympathetic and kind? Why would Elowen, after witnessing what he contributed to, after seeing her parents’ bodies, insist so greatly on saving him, on healing him—holding him?

There could only be one answer. Edmund was Elowen’s Soul-Tie.

“I don’t accept it,” Merrick snapped.

“That’s not how it works,” Elowen growled. My eyes widened at her tone, as did all of ours. I had never seen her worked up like this. “I know you don’t like him, Merrick. But don’t you think your default hatred of him is just like how the soldiers view all of us?”

Merrick clenched his jaw, offering no response.

“It is,” she continued. “I never planned on caring for an Otacian man. I didn’t plan on any of this,” her voice cracked. “But he means something to me, and I promise you, I mean something to him, too.”

Merrick tensed, and at the sight of Elowen’s eyes welling up with tears, he pulled her into an embrace once more.

Another hour went by. It had to be past midnight now, which meant I would be creating the distraction soon. Elowen was asleep beside me, exhausted after healing me completely, and Merrick and Vi were on the other bed. My eyes were beginning to flutter shut when our door opened, and Silas emerged .

I sat up, squinting at the light peering through, then quickly stood. My friends awoke.

“Stay quiet,” Silas whispered. I walked over to him, his golden eyes flickering over me, then back at my friends. “Hendry and I will be here shortly to release everyone.”

They nodded, and Silas shut and locked the door behind us.

We walked down the hallway until he gripped my arms and pulled me into a dark corner.

“Hey—”

He cut me off. “If anything goes south, I want you to run, Lena.”

I tried to shake out of his grip but couldn’t. “I will not leave without my people. I told you that,” I hissed.

“This is a dangerous plan, and I want it to work as badly as you do.” He loosened his grip on my arms, his hands sliding gently down my arms before stopping at my forearms. My heart fluttered, and I could feel my cheeks start to burn. “But if all hell breaks loose, if we miscalculate, promise me you will run. Promise me.”

“Silas—”

“I’m begging you,” his voice broke.

And there he was.

Quill.

He was still in there. His amber eyes burned into mine, his expression pleading, his face mere inches away. This close, I recognized his familiar scent of pine and citrus. I wanted to lean into him. I wanted to embrace him and kiss him. But no…regardless of his care for me, he was married. He had moved on.

But our friendship…perhaps we could have that again one day.

“I promise,” I whispered, and his shoulders sagged. “But,” I continued, “it would be the absolute last resort. I won’t let it get to that point.”

His eyes flickered to my lips for a moment before he backed away. “Let’s get this done.”

The plan was simple enough. I was to go to the watchtower on the west side of the fortress, which could be reached by climbing alongside the fortress exterior. I would sneak up, set a fire, then sneak down. While that distraction was occurring, I would start fires in various rooms in the Western Wing, rooms unoccupied by soldiers. Silas had told me, “I’d rather lose materials than lose men.”

Considering the prison was beneath the Eastern Wing, most of the commotion would drive soldiers as far as possible, and at the very end, I would create a wall of fire, blocking anyone from entering as my people fled out of the closest exit.

While Silas didn’t press me where specifically I wished my people to go, we both agreed that our destination was in the south.

He handed me a map, and before we went upstairs, Silas opened a cell door for me. I was to give the map to someone who could ensure my people’s safety.

My mother.

“Lena,” she breathed, and I couldn’t stop the immediate tears as I ran and hugged her tightly. “What’s going on?” Her expression went from worry to hate as she beheld Silas behind me. He quietly shut the door behind him.

“There’s too much to explain and not enough time—” I shakily opened the map and pointed to an unmarked Mount Rozavar, making sure Silas did not see. “Do you know this place? ”

“Yes…yes, Igon—” Her eyes went up to Silas, then to mine in fear.

“Good,” I whispered. Igon had mentioned it to her as well. “When the time comes, I want you to lead our people here. Run like hell. Keep running until dawn hits. Get there as quickly as you can.”

Silas went to hand her a compass but decided to separate her cuffs first.

She just stared at him in disbelief. “You still love her, don’t you?”

My eyes felt like they were going to fall out of my head. Silas’s lips parted, but before he could respond, I cut in.

“I will be just behind,” I said, hoping not to sound as flustered as I felt. “But in case anything happens to me, I need someone to be able to lead them. Merrick, El, and Vi know, too.”

Mother went to ask another question, but I held up my hand. “There isn’t much time. I will tell you more after.”

She simply nodded, then looked at Silas. There were so many unspoken words between them. But now wasn’t the time.

I grasped her shoulder. “I will find you,” I whispered. “I love you.”

She nodded with tears in her eyes. “I love you, too.”

We met in Edmund’s room, and Hendry was already there, waiting for orders.

“About time,” Hendry said dryly as we entered the room. It took little effort to sneak up here, considering a majority of soldiers were sleeping.

“I assume everything is in order?” Silas asked .

Hendry nodded, and Edmund propped himself up as best he could.

“Silas, I insist you let me stay,” he begged.

“It’s already decided. I don’t want to hear any more on it.”

“I cannot live with myself if I get you killed.”

Silas shook his head. “You will be just fine. You’ll ride with Hendry on one of our horses.”

“And then what?” he pressed, his green eyes tortured. “I’m useless like this. I’d only slow you down.”

I exhaled loudly, and all the men turned to me.

“Where we are headed…there is a skilled blacksmith,” I said carefully. “Specifically, one who works with enchantment.” My eyes went to Edmund. “Igon made sure to tell me of it the day your people attacked—told me the blacksmith had made his wife an arm, as she was born without one.” I couldn’t help but laugh in amazement. “A fully working arm. He knew this would happen. All of it.” I smiled softly. “Which means that you, Edmund, must be one of the good ones.”

Edmund blinked, “I’ve never heard of such a thing, but,” he smiled and continued, “if it means I can stay by Elowen without putting her in danger, then I am all in.”

We were all startled when the door opened, Roland wearing a smirk before closing the door behind him.

I clenched my fists, and Silas unsheathed his sword.

“Relax, boss man,” he crooned while holding up his hands. “You didn’t think you could leave without me, did you?”

“You’re joining us?” Edmund asked, quickly hiding his happy smile when Silas shot him a glare.

“You heard me,” Roland replied smugly .

Silas shifted his head back to Roland. “We don’t want you to come with us,” he stated sternly.

His friends were clearly conflicted. Silas frowned at Hendry. “You didn’t invite him, did you?”

Hendry cringed, and Silas’s frown deepened.

What did Roland do to make Silas dislike him?

“You don’t want an additional supporter, Your Highness?” Roland asked, crossing his arms.

“I have no issue in killing you, Roland.”

I looked at Silas incredulously, and I could tell he was being serious.

“What’s the problem with one more?” I asked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Silas shot me a scowl. “The problem is it’s another mouth to feed, another person to worry about getting us killed. Regardless,” he pointed to Roland, “I do not trust you, Roland.”

“I have given you no reason not to trust me, and you know it,” he accused, then ran a hand through his brown hair. “Besides, I already know of your plan. I’m coming.”

I glanced at Silas. “We don’t have much time. Let’s not waste it on this,” I whispered.

“Are you saying I kill him?”

I gaped at him. “No!”

That earned me a smirk from Roland.

Silas groaned, sheathing his sword. “Very well,” he grumbled.

We all stood by Edmund’s bed, going over last-minute details. Now that Roland was involved, it was decided that he go with me, though Silas fought on it initially. It would be too much to have just one of them unlock all the cells and separate all the cuffs, and that way, Silas would be there if a diversion needed to be created.

Silas removed my cuffs and gave me a new outfit—a brown long-sleeved dress and a black cloak—before Roland and I snuck our way to the Western Wing. I wished I had a bra, but the dress was tight enough at the top they were held in. He also gave me a pair of Erabella’s shoes, and I was surprised our feet were the same size despite her having a couple of inches on me. Once I was dressed, we all went to complete our tasks.

Most of the corridors were empty and silent as soldiers slept. Roland and I carefully traveled down various stone hallways, occasionally hiding behind walls when a soldier passed by.

When we got to the room with the best access to the western watchtower, Roland quietly locked the door behind us.

I slowly prowled to the large window, the one that I had been told gave an excellent view of the tower. I could see torches lit as soldiers kept watch.

I climbed out the window on to the ledge, my breathing unsteady as I looked at how far down my fall would be if I slipped.

“Can’t you just shoot a fireball or something and get it done quickly? This is…dangerous.”

“If they see a fireball coming, they’ll know they’re being attacked. We can’t have that chaos just yet.”

“Ah. ”

I took the first few steps along the outside of the fortress and nearly shrieked when I slipped, grabbing onto the edge and thankfully catching myself before falling to my death.

“Shit, be careful,” Roland muttered with slight worry in his voice. “Should I follow you?”

“No, wait here. Signal to me when I am good to light it,” I whispered, nodding to the two men stationed on top. “And no more talking.”

He nodded. I carefully began scooting across the outer edge of the fort, being mindful of my footing and gripping any place on the wall that I could use to keep myself upright. The tower wasn’t incredibly far away, fortunately.

The wind began to whirl, and I froze, holding myself as still as possible until it passed. After a couple more movements, I was just below the watchtower. My best bet was igniting the catapult, Silas had told me. Considering the whole fortress was made of stone, the only other option for ignition would be one of his men, and I’m sure he wouldn’t love that.

I exhaled quietly through my nose, listening to the two men above have a conversation about returning to their families in a couple of months.

It was always strange to me, thinking of how men who could kill like it was nothing most likely went home to a spouse and children, went home like it was nothing. I suppose they had little choice, though.

I gripped the side of the tower, now looking to Roland and waiting for his signal. He kept to the side of the window, looking up at the watchtower. The wind hit again, my braid whipping around my face. A few more moments and Roland signaled to me.

Quickly, I hoisted myself up, using all my strength, and held out my fingertips, aiming for the catapult. I felt the heat, then little bursts shoot from my hand. Smoke began to crackle. Enough to cause a large fire, but not enough to give myself away.

Just as I was beginning to lower myself, the soldiers yelled, “Fire!”

I quickly scooted along the edge, my heart beating rapidly in my chest.

Please don’t get caught.

Another gust of wind hit as I made it back to the window, where Roland grabbed me by the waist and hurled me inside.

“Good job. Now, let’s get the hell out of here,” he breathed.

We rushed out of the room, though only for a moment before Roland shoved me back inside. A swarm of guards came running, heading straight for the watchtower.

One of them stopped, and I held my palm over my mouth. I was hidden behind the door.

“Do you not hear the yelling, Aubeze? There’s a fire!”

“I did—was just heading there myself.”

The guard grunted, and after a few footsteps, Roland retreated into the room and turned to me. “Light this room, and let’s go,” he mumbled.

I turned, observing the room that contained a few tables and chairs, documents, and books lining the shelves. Without a second thought, I shot fire at it all, and Roland and I rushed out. He snuck me around on our way back to the cells, having me light up a lavatory and a broom closet .

Our last stop was a maid’s room. Roland peeked in, and then we rushed inside. I noted the empty bed and raised a brow to him.

“She sneaks off every night with one of the cooks,” he smirked, then gestured to her bed. “Light it up, Ginger Snap.”

I rolled my eyes and inched forward before both our heads snapped to each other, the sound of two voices coming closer.

“Shit,” Roland murmured, then grabbed me and pushed me down on the bed until he was towering over me and positioned between my legs. “Forgive me,” he whispered, and I gaped at him as he pressed his lips against mine, one hand of his now on my face and the other holding him up above me on the bed.

My heart thundered in my chest. The voices that gasped as they entered the room were as if they were underwater, my whole body buzzing at the touch of Roland’s lips against mine.

He pulled away, yelling back at the couple. “A little privacy, please?”

The maid nervously apologized, and I heard her scurry out of the room with who I assumed was the cook. I wasn’t sure, as Roland had them partially blocked from my view.

When the door shut, he eyed me and stood back up, holding out a hand to me.

With burning cheeks, I avoided his gaze but grasped his hand and stood.

“I’m assuming it would be unwise to light this room now?” I murmured.

“Indeed. Let us hope the fires you started were enough,” Roland said as he walked to the door, quickly peeking out. “It’s clear,” he whispered, and without another word of our kiss, we left the room with stealth, heading to the cells.