Page 20 of The Lionheart’s Bond (Bonds of Dusk and Dawn #1)

JUDEL

E ver since he heard about Isidore’s revelations, Judel had struggled with guilt. To think he might have been right there, where Lord Joceus was held captive. Even if reason dictated it was impossible for him to know, the thought he had potentially been so close to them that night was hard to bear. How was he ever going to make up for that?

That single thought had led him, last night, into the hall and right to his sister’s side, demanding to be allowed to lead the rescue mission.

‘Absolutely not,’ she had said.

But he was prepared for her refusal.

‘You’ve said over and over again we don’t have the resources. Why not sent your best knights then? Brin, Nel, Hina and I can get it done.’

Nahel had looked up at him with fire in her eyes.

‘And what do you think the four of you can do, other than throw stones at the castle?’

‘Why do you always think we’re going to take the castle by force? There are other ways.’

His sister pushed back into her chair. Was she considering it?

‘No, no way!’ She returned to her letters.

He stared at her, frustration at her close-mindedness eating at him. But he wasn’t going to give up.

She had a brand new refusal for every argument he had.

‘You’re being too stubborn even for you, sister! You need to trust us more, you need to—’

‘I need to keep you safe!’ she yelled, standing up from her chair, slamming the table with her hand. ‘What I need is to make sure you stay alive, and I can’t do that if you’re gallivanting in enemy territory.’

‘Gallivanting is not—’

‘I can’t help you if something happens to you out there, Judel. I can’t go find you, I can’t… All I can do is sit here alone and hope you come back.’ She choked, at the end.

Judel’s words froze in his throat, taken aback. When she stood in front of them, close off and wall-like, it was hard to remember she had only been a young girl when their parents die. Too young still to be left alone. Too young to become queen. She hid her sorrow so well, it was too easy to forget she, too, was burdened by fear as well as responsibility.

‘You can’t keep us lock up in here in the hope that nothing will ever happen to us.’

‘Watch me,’ she grunted, trying to recover her usual mask of strength.

‘Nahel, how will we ever break this curse, if we stay hidden behind the castle walls? Is being safe that important when we’re not free?’

Her movements halted, as if the words had thrown an obstacles in her course of action, but it resumed quickly, quietly, and she sat down, letter in hand.

‘Sister, we know where they are, we can find them. It’s not just anybody, it’s Lord Joceus.’

His sister still refused to look at him, and continued with her work. Judel had sighed. He would try again tomorrow, he had thought to himself at that point.

‘You’ll take some extra men with you,’ she said all of a sudden. ‘Brin will fly back and forth to report on your progress.’

‘As you wish,’ Judel said, holding his breath for fear his sister might change her mind.

‘If this goes wrong, I will have you locked in a pen.’

‘Of course,’ Judel grinned. ‘Thank you!’

Judel turned on his heels, keen to begin with the preparations.

‘And one more thing.’

That had been last night, and he wasn’t any happier about that one more thing now than he had been then.

The column at the far end of the room cast a shadow over him, ensuring he was hidden from view. Judel didn’t want anyone to notice his presence, Isidore less than anyone else. Having found the perfect spot, he had listened to the entire conversation. His confidence wavered later, as the boy scrutinized every face around him. Carefully, Isidore had inspected every face, from the captain’s and each and every one of his siblings, to the many guards in the room. Once done with those, his sight had extended farther into the shadows. If Judel hadn’t ducked at the right time, flattening his back behind the column, Isidore would have seen him. Conflicted feelings of relief and disappointment fought each other in his chest.

Only in the solitude of his room, would he admit he was dying to see Isidore, but every time he even considered it, this fear grasped at his chest. Fabina’s face popped out of the corner of his mind where he had learnt to relegate her, and the feelings of foolishness and betrayal washed over him anew.

The door closed behind Nel, away to escort Isidore back to his cell. The dungeons being damp and cold, he worried Isidore would become ill. Would his sister consider giving him better lodging now that he was helping them?

‘And me thinking you didn’t care about us anymore, brother,’ Brin said, slapping a hand on his shoulder. ‘It turns out you were here all along.’

Judel ignored his brother’s taunting and leaned over the table.

‘Show me,’ he demanded instead.

Nahel and Hina pointed at every spot Isidore had.

‘Neisha was right, we’re lucky. If we had found out about this any later, and Isidore is right, we would have been faced with an almost impossible task. The terrain will work in our favour.’

‘Wouldn’t it be difficult to attack their position considering they’re surrounded by forest?’ Naran asked, leaning over the map, his elbow on the table as he rested his chin on the heel of his hand. His long hair fell over his side like a curtain, strands curling over the scrolls on the table. It was unusual for Nahel to allow the youngest ones to stay, and he often forgot they had no battle experience nor way to understand their conversations.

‘If we were approaching with an army, yes, it would work against us but with a small force, tree cover will ensure we have the element of surprise. We might even meet more relaxed defences, if they rely on that. It sounds like the Duke’s men focus more on enjoying themselves than defending their position and their people. It’ll make things easier.’

Everybody agreed by way of grunts and mumbles, but their younger brother wasn’t so sure.

‘What if he’s wrong?’ Naran asked, big eyes looking up at him. ‘What if the prisoners are not even who we’re looking for?’

‘They’re risks we need to take, I’m afraid,’ Neisha said, crossing his arms. ‘But maybe what you mean is something else? What if he’s lying?’ His older brother scratched the back of his head, not quite sure how to answer.

‘He’s telling the truth. Or at least, the truths he believes.’

To Judel’s surprise, it was Nahel speaking.

‘Nel agrees,’ she continued. ‘If he can fool both Nel and me, well…’

‘He fooled me,’ is what Judel wanted to say, but he bit down on his words and nodded instead. His pride aside, misleading Nel was near impossible, and the only reason he added ‘almost’ was because he couldn’t reject the idea that somebody might be able to, in the future. But given enough time, Nel could get the truth from a stone.

As if summoned by their recent words, the man himself came through the door, rubbing his neck, his brow furrowed. Nel smiled when their eyes met; a tense, straight line that seemed to say, ‘what a fucked-up situation.’ Judel’s first instinct was to ask him what was wrong, but Nahel was already calling him over.

Judel sighed, planning this incursion was more important, after all, even if they didn’t need him for it. They’d tell him what the plan was once they were done. They could tell him on the way there, for all he cared. Nahel, Nel and Neisha would strategize for hours and since they wouldn’t allow the rest of them to contribute, it only added to his frustration

Any other day, he would have left by now. Disappeared into the training room. A scenario developed in his own mind, a daydream. Going to the training ring, finding Isidore there, shirtless and sweaty from training. Running his palm along the line of the other man’s back, up until his fingers could close into the red curls at his nape. Steam escaping from the boy’s parted lips, ready for him. Pushing his erection against him. Pinning Isidore against a wall, holding him still so he could touch him, spread him, enter him. Hear him gasp with pleasure. Emptying himself in his gorgeous body.

All of that happened in his head in less time than it took him to blink, and he had gotten hard equally as quick.

Fuck.

Why must he yearn for Isidore so much?

‘Judel?’ His older brother’s voice brought him back to reality and he thanked the Gracious Gardens for the dimness of the lights around them, because he could feel his cheeks burning.

‘What?’

‘We were asking what you thought.’

Judel blinked at Neisha, as if he didn’t understand the question.

‘You’re the expert in small incursions, after all,’ Nel said. ‘I feel like my approach is clumsy.’

Judel frowned, stepping closer to the map.

‘Where?’

Nel and Nahel talked their plans through, moving counters across the expanse of the map as they explained.

‘You’re over thinking it,’ he said once they were done. He studied the map, the disposition, the number of men. ‘We can’t bring that many men, we’ll be discovered immediately. No armour either. No livery.’ He leaned over the map and adjusted the number of counters, changing their placement, explaining his thought process.

‘We’ll travel off the roads and at night, as much as possible. Brin, Nel, Hina, and me leading a small force of no more than six men.’

‘Kan would do better than me out there,’ Brin blurted out.

‘Kan is busy elsewhere and doesn’t do well during the day.’

‘Gasper, then,’ Brin tried.

‘Good luck prizing him away from Kan,’ Nel retorted, amused.

Brin was about to say something else, but Nahel glared at him, forcing him to roll his eyes and nod.

‘We can’t be careless, we can’t be seen,’ Nahel insisted.

‘We?’ Nel asked. ‘You think you’re coming?’

‘I am the queen, I go where I choose,’ she said, her voice hardening.

‘You say you’re the queen and yet behave like no regent I’ve ever encountered,’ Judel said, crossing his arms. ‘Not only is it dangerous for you to come, but we’re plenty capable to do this ourselves.’

‘Now who is being overprotective?’ she threw at him.

‘Not the same, sister. You’re the queen.’ Judel smirked at her.

Nahel glared, considering whether to call him out on his insubordination. Taking orders from her came naturally to him, knowing Nahel dealt with enough rebellion as it was for them to add more to it, but not this time. Allowing her to go with them would be reckless at best. He glared back, standing his ground, until Nahel’s face turned red, and her jaw was so tense it might snap. She knew she was not being reasonable.

‘Fine, I’ll stay,’ she said, holding his gaze. No doubt there would be retribution for him in the future, likely once he had forgotten all about it too, but for now, it was what needed to be done.

‘So Judel, Brin, Hina and Nel,’ Nahel counted on her fingers, ‘six soldiers—’

‘And Isidore,’ Nel added.

‘Isidore?’ The question came unbidden, a reflex he hadn’t been able to control. Why would he be coming?

Every head turned. Nel looked inexplicably happy, a smile in his eyes, noticeable even as he tried to keep his expression neutral. Nobody could dupe Nel, but Nel couldn’t dupe him.

‘There is a chance the path is not quite as he remembers it. There is a difference between a map and reality. Not to mention you want to travel off the roads,’ Nahel explained. ‘And he speaks Kaletian.’

‘It was my idea,’ Nel grinned, his head high, as if it was cause for pride. ‘I was the first one surprised when our gracious queen agreed.’

Judel’s glare towards his brother plainly communicated his wish to throttle him at the first opportunity. A reckoning would come for Nel too, later.

And later came fast enough. Judel grabbed Nel by the collar of his shirt as soon as everyone else was out of sight, and shoved him against a wall.

‘I’m surprised you didn’t run out of here when you had a chance,’ he grunted in Nel’s face.

‘I suspected you might want to have a chat,’ Nel grinned that irritating, bratty grimace of his.

‘Why did you have to suggest Isidore come with us?’

‘For exactly the reasons Nahel provided. He knows the terrain, the layout, the exits and entrances. He probably knows things he hasn’t even realized he knows and won’t be aware of until he’s right in front of it.’

It made sense, and if it was anyone else, he would accept it, but it was too innocent a reason, too straightforward, for his younger brother.

‘And that’s all it is?’

‘I swear,’ he said, pressing his fist to his heart.

Judel glared down at Nel, still pulling at his collar, his jaw tight.

‘I know you’re playing some sort of game… If I find out you put him in danger just so you can amuse yourself, I will beat you into next week, do you understand me?’

Nel smirked.

‘What do you care if I put him in danger or not? I thought you hated him.’

Judel dropped his brother like he was a burning iron. He raked his hair and took a few steps back, anger coursing through him.

‘Which is fine, brother. I might not be as picky as you, though. The poor soul is devastated, and I have no issue comforting him while we’re on our way. He’s so pretty.’ Mischief sparkled into those black eyes.

‘Nel,’ he turned to his brother, his eyes bulging with rage, his voice a warning.

‘I mean, if through consoling him we grow fond of each other,’ he continued, grinning, ‘what could I possibly do?’ Nel shrugged and Judel took two steps in his direction, his fists tight, at which point Nel ran away. His laughter echoed through the corridors long after he was out of sight, leaving Judel alone and overwhelmed by his own desperate need to punch a hole into a wall.

It took two weeks to make it to the winter lodge, and the days that came with them. It would probably have been less if it wasn’t because of their daily transformations. The travelling arrangement had been somewhat complicated, but they were managing. The soldiers and Isidore advanced during the day and the princes were forced to follow while they could, only keeping their distance when they felt their consciousness slip. On those first few days, they often found themselves left behind or too far in the wrong direction and had to find their way back to the rest of their men. But as the days passed, this happened less and less. Maybe they were getting used to it, but when their awareness returned, they were never too far away from Isidore and the soldiers.

The first part of the journey had been a matter of stealth, forced to cross the lands of their old vassals, they feared their group might raise suspicions and be arrested, only to be recognized. It was easier, once they were in Kalye proper. There, they could pretend to be simple travellers, and they openly used the main road, at least while they were still in the South. The real trouble came at sunset and sunrise. The central Kaletian plains were vast, and cover was scarce. Fields and fields as far as the eye could see. It was difficult for a mountain lion, a deer, and a fox to go unnoticed, and they were often spotted when they couldn’t get under any cover.

‘A lot of these fields are abandoned and look dead,’ Nel said one night, sitting by Isidore’s side. That jerk was never far from the younger man and Judel tried not to scowl.

‘The farmers complain a lot of a sickness in the land, but the king sends supplies, I believe, to relieve those that are struggling.’

‘I see,’ was all Nel replied, likely saving that information away for later use.

They rested briefly at night, and advanced as much as they could before they shifted in the morning, only lighting fires when it was absolutely necessary, and bearing the cold the best they could the rest of the time. They rested uneasy, feeling as if the trees were watching them, ready to pounce. Nonsensical as the thought was, all of them were on edge.

As for Isidore, he coped well. Judel’s concern for him had been an overreaction. Proper food and rest must have made the young man stronger.

Once they approached Stonehollow and abandoned the road, they were alone in the wild, allowing them to avoid any prying or suspicious eyes.

‘We don’t like to be in the forests,’ he had overheard Isidore tell Nel. Nel had pursued the conversation and gained more information and smiled openly to the other man. He had expected the flirting and the taunting, but that Nel would smile so openly, so genuinely, had been a surprise and that unsettled Judel even more than if his brother was shamelessly trying something. Isidore and Nel had become inseparable. Everyday Nel took any opportunity to curl up in Isidore’s lap. A red fur ball nestled between Isidore’s crossed legs, Nel purred like a cat as the man ran his hands from the top of his head to the end of his tail.

Even Brin had grown closer to him. He perched on Isidore’s shoulder, so much so that Brin had fashioned a leather harness from one of his bags, to protect Isidore from his talons. Hina didn’t seem to care so much, but, at the same time, never strayed far. Being aware of Isidore’s gift with animals and how many beasts he had befriended back in Stonehollow did nothing to alleviate the jealousy burning through his heart.

Judel could have delt with it fine if it had been Hina. But Nel, and even Brin, shared their passions with a different man every week, if not every day. Their desires burnt themselves with the activities of the night. When it was over, they dusted themselves off and walked away, ready to find a new paramour.

Worst of all, Nel looked at Isidore with true affection. Judel feared it would be another incandescent love interest.

‘What are you doing?’ he confronted Nel as they entered the third week of their journey.

‘I’m pretty sure it’s self-evident, brother,’ he said, turning back to the tree he was facing. ‘Physical needs call, as you probably well know, though I wouldn’t mind relieving my bladder without your eyes on my neck, if it’s all the same to you.’

‘You know what I mean,’ he grunted, turning around.

‘Not a clue, Jud,’ Nel insisted, short on patience.

‘Stop playing with him; he’s not a toy to amuse yourself with.’ It had been years since anyone called him Jud.

Nel didn’t answer, distracted maybe by what he was doing. Judel only turned to him when he heard the distinct sounds of clothes being set back into place.

‘I am not playing with him,’ Nel said, turning to face him as he adjusted his cloak. ‘You see, I happen to truly enjoy his company. He’s kind and thoughtful and when he smiles, it’s like a Divine Spirit is watching over you. Maybe it’s because I haven’t lived through the particular experiences you have, Judel, but when Isidore gives me his attention, I see him for who he is, all of it, and I like it all, not only the part that flatters my ego and soothes my wounds. He is an entire human being with his own desires, his own reasons, and not only there to sew your heart back together.’ Nel watched him, his usually perfect blank face altered in what he could only read as anger. ‘The thought that he had some duty to reveal to you all his secrets when he was alone and scared, wounded… When all he has known until then was indifference at best. The idea that he owed you something… I didn’t know you to be so arrogant and full of yourself.’ The emotion lingered in his brother’s gaze for a moment, and then, just as it had come, it vanished. Nel adjusted his clothes once more, as if donning a new outfit, and faced Judel, his expression calm once more. ‘But don’t worry yourself too much, my dear big brother. Even if Isidore wasn’t so madly in love he’s entirely blind to anyone else, my sights on him extend only as far as gaining a good friend goes.’

The pat on his shoulder put an end to their conversation. If Judel hadn’t been too stunned to react, he’d have a few choice words for Nel. As it was, all he could do was stand with his mouth open and watch him leave. Nel’s words danced in his head and stabbed at his confidence and pride.

His gut screamed to deny it all. He wanted to tell Nel none of it was true. His feelings for Isidore were not that shallow, were they?

The thought that he might have used the boy to mend his wounds sat ill with him, yet he couldn’t bring himself to voice his aversion to it. Deep down, he knew at least some of it was true, and he gritted his teeth against it. How many times had he sought that gaze knowing he would find it full of adoration?

That discomfort plagued him as they continued their journey, as they walked, ate, slept. He was so engrossed that, for a while, he completely forgot their destination and purpose.

One thought, though, he found hard to believe. Friends? He scoffed.

But Nel hadn’t as much as held Isidore’s hand. It was his only respite. As long as there was no physical contact, Judel could keep his jealousy at bay.

It was the rest of him that was harder to control.

Isidore was always so close. Always in his sights, even when they went to sleep. More often than not, he could see his back, or even his legs, as he huddled with the rest of the men to keep from the cold. Judel remained close with his brothers, tossing and turning and making it difficult for all of them to sleep, a fact they didn’t keep quiet about.

‘I swear to Divine Mossel, Judel, if you don’t lie still, I will knock you unconscious with this rock!’ Brin had threatened, a stone the size of a grapefruit in his hands.

But how could he, when what he wanted was so close, and yet so far? Fuck Nel and fuck his introspection. He’d own to making mistakes, but his feelings had not been fuelled only by self-service. This emotion beating in his chest, making rhythm with his heart, was too overwhelming to be something so small.

So why wasn’t it powerful enough to burn through his resentment?

After three weeks of cold, rain and not much food, they came across the stone Isidore had described. Despite his warning, they had not expected it to look so much like a bear.

‘Wonder what Neisha would make of it,’ Brin said, tilting his head at the sight of it.

‘He’d compete with it to see who is larger,’ Nel replied, walking past it. ‘Where now, Isidore?’

‘Across from here, and up the hill,’ he said, pointing the way.

Judel followed his movements. It was easy to find the young man, to watch him. Even if it was difficult, Judel would manage it, unable to stop himself. And yet, their gazes had not met once.

Nel’s description of Isidore’s feelings for him had made his heart skip several beats and his chest swelled so large it might burst through his shirt. But Isidore hadn’t spoken to him or even looked his way since they left. Could it be that Nel was wrong?

‘Put out that torch now,’ Brin instructed the guard.

‘It’s still half a day away,’ Isidore said.

‘Better safe than sorry,’ Nel added, right next to him.

‘Let’s go,’ Judel nodded, as the light went out, leaving them in the dim, grey light of the early morning. It was time to let those thoughts go and concentrate on the task at hand. Maybe a petty or irresponsible thought, but Judel was grateful for this mission, as it gave him a break from his constant obsessing over the other man.

The lodge came into view bathed in the orange glow of the sun beginning to set, when he had only just recovered his consciousness. Just under two hours before the shift came and they could ready for their incursion. The wait would be welcome; it would allow them to rest before they engaged in the most dangerous part of their mission.

They stopped, an hour walk away from the lodge, still in animal form. Each of them sat at different angles, resting against rocks and trees. Judel patted the ground, clawing at it, trying to make it softer, and dropped onto a pile of leaves that had gathered between an oak tree’s roots, his eyes trained on Nel, who was now rubbing his head against Isidore’s chin like a damn house cat. He growled, a reflex he was unable to repress, attracting Isidore’s attention. Their eyes met for the first time since they had embarked in this journey.

Even in the shadows, he could discern the green of his irises. They lit up with an internal fire. The exchange lasted maybe a second, ending as fast and casually as it had started. Isidore returned his attention to the fox. Nel’s eyes were observing Judel though. He could swear his younger brother was smirking, and he growled low, annoyed, resting his head on his crossed paws. He forced himself to look away, or he would end up pouncing on his brother.

The sun set slowly, if only because they were waiting for it, and at last they were bathed in the darkness of the night, able to shed their animal coats and stretch into their human forms. They dressed in silence, the cold air wrapping around them like a taut net.

Tensions ran high. They found themselves looking over their shoulders often, as if expecting to find a Specter of the Pit watching them with their big, unnatural eyes.

‘Keep going East,’ Isidore whispered behind Judel, ‘you’ll get to the back of the lodge.’

Judel nodded as he continued moving.

‘Stay back, Isidore.’ Nel whispered.

Judel frowned. He should have been the one to look after Isidore.

Smoke billowed from many of the chimneys and light shone through the windows. The loud yelling and singing of inebriated men rang from the other side of the house.

They skirted the building, towards the stables, and found an array of opened, rusty cages. The stench was unbearable as they walked out of the forest and onto a clear, dirt ground.

The house was long, with only one floor, but the windows were high, minimizing the risk of being discovered. They would only get caught if one of the house’s inhabitants was purposefully looking for them, but no one seemed to be alert. No shadows or movements behind any of the windows.

Judel waved a hand at the men behind him, each one passing the message to the next. Nel and Isidore stayed by him while Brin and Hina covered the other end, circling around to the other side, half their soldiers in tow.

‘Which way now?’ Judel turned to Isidore.

‘Down that hatch.’ He pointed at a set of double doors leading underground.

Judel opened it slowly, careful not to make it creak, but he almost dropped them when the air from inside hit his face. A hot, putrid smell wafted out from under the house, sticking to his nose and palate. He gagged.

‘That’s not good,’ Nel said, his voice rough, burying his nose and mouth into the crook of his elbow.

Judel started down, his steel bare.

‘I can’t see anything down here.’

‘I can,’ Isidore said.

‘What?’ Judel turned to him.

‘I know where everything is. Just keep to the left. The enclosure is on the right, you might fall in if you go that way. There should be torches on the walls.’

Judel braced himself.

‘There should be a guard there,’ Isidore whispered, almost to himself.

There was no one there. Not where the guard should be. And eerie quiet spread through the darkness, and Judel began to fear their mission had failed.

People shuffled behind him. The shorter presence of Nel, right next to him until now, changed for a taller one. He swallowed, sensing Isidore.

‘Keep going, the cells are just round the next corner.’

‘This quiet is not natural.’ Nel said from the rear.

‘You’re right. It’s not usually this quiet. But this is where he keeps the prisoners and the animals,’ Isidore tried to reassure them. The young man seemed to be swallowed by the silence too, not even breathing.

The heat at Judel’s back became more distant. His hand shot back out of reflex, looking for the young man, and found a hand, long callused fingers, scars covering the skin, but the hand squirmed out of his grasp and Isidore moved farther away from him, his steps fading.

‘Isidore,’ he whispered loudly.

But Isidore didn’t answer, nor did he come back.

‘Keep going,’ Nel urged him. ‘We’ll find him after.’

Isidore hadn’t just stepped back. He had left.

Judel grunted. The idea of letting Isidore out of his sight didn’t sit well with him but they were here on a mission and that must remain their priority.

Pushing aside every other concern, he stuck to the wall the until the corner forced him to turn. At the end of the corridor, a lonely torch cast long shadows towards them. The wall gave way to bars, wide open metallic doors lining the walls.

A slim ray of moonlight penetrated the first cell through the narrow opening above their heads. It allowed enough light in to confirm it was empty.

‘No one here,’ he said to the men behind him. ‘Where is Nel?’ First Isidore and now his brother. What was going on?

‘Here,’ Nel said, coming through the door, the torch in his hand.

They made it to the next cell, only to find it as empty as the first one. The rest of the cells’ inspection yielded the same results.

‘There is nobody here,’ Judel grunted, angry. He wanted to slam his fist into something, but making noise now would risk alerting the men above them, no matter how drunk they might be.

‘Maybe there are other cells elsewhere,’ Nel ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep his hopes up. ‘Let’s find Isidore.’

Judel led the way back, his weapon still in his hand, the torch in the other.

‘Isidore!’ Nel called quietly, but no answer came. ‘Isidore?’

The more Nel called, never receiving an answer, the louder Judel’s heart pounded in his chest. Did he escape? Was he taken? Was he hurt?

‘Isidore,’ he called, finally cracking.

‘I’m here’ the answer came at last. A wave of relief washed over him like a warm blanket on a cold day.

Moonlight flooded the dirty cobblestones under their feet as they approached the open hatch, too bright after the darkness of the underground cells. Isidore walked into the light, coming from the other side. The silver light shone on his face, now blackened with dirt, and made trails sparkle on his face. He was crying.

‘What’s wrong?’ Judel asked, breathless.

‘The animals.’ His voice was barely above a whisper. ‘They’re all dead.’ And he looked down. Judel followed the direction of Isidore’s gaze. He was looking at his hands. As Judel approached, the light of the torch shone on the boy’s palms and what had looked like dirt before, was slick and red now.

It was blood.

Unable to stop himself, Judel sheathed his sword and took Isidore hands in his, squeezing them, hoping to offer some comfort.

Isidore cried quietly, not moving, not even looking up.

‘The prisoners?’ he asked, forcing himself to calm down.

‘Not here,’ Judel said, his voice harsher than he wanted it to be.

‘S-sorry.’

‘Let’s get out of here before it’s too late,’ Nel said, slapping a hand on his back.

Everyone regrouped outside, sticking to the walls, afraid they might be spotted from the windows.

‘Fuck,’ was all Brin said, once they heard the news.

‘Would they be inside the house or at the front?’ Hina looked around, as if they might be just behind him.

‘It’s not impossible, but it’d be a first. It is more likely that the Duke was called back to The Quarry and took them with him.’

‘They might not even have been here,’ Judel grunted, annoyed. All he wanted was to throw something at a wall and watch it shatter. It would be pointless, but he’d feel better.

‘They were here. Those were the beasts we took with us when we left The Quarry last. They haven’t been dead that long,’ Isidore insisted.

The expression on the young man’s face was hard to decipher. It was possible he was lying. I was possible he was leading them into a trap or wasting their time to serve his plans.

Those thoughts came to him unbidden, ideas born of fear and distrust.

As quickly as they came to him, they changed. As if changing focus, he saw them under a different light, with a different voice, maybe they had occurred to someone else. They felt foreign. He had never been like that before. When had he lost his faith in people?

‘What do we do now?’ he asked, though he was speaking to himself. Everyone turned to Isidore for an answer, but the boy looked back at them like a terrified rabbit.

They looked at Nel, then, who shrugged.

‘You’re the boss,’ he said, nodding at Judel.

‘We’ll wait till morning, watch the place. As animals, we might be able to explore the place better, make sure the prisoners are not inside. Brin can fly over, early morning, scout the whole area,’ he offered. ‘If they’re not here, we’ll have to make our way to that fortress and find a way in.’

‘But there is no—’ Isidore jumped.

Judel’s glance shut the boy up. It hadn’t been that harsh, but Isidore looked at him with those same fear-filled eyes. His jaw clenched. There would be a time to resolve that. They had a mission to complete right now, everything else would need to wait.

‘Let’s go,’ he said, turning on his heels. It would be much later before he realized that’s when things started to go wrong.