Chapter 207

The little hovel of a hut was still inside the castle walls, even if it was in the furthest corner away from Wrenbrook, back within the tree line and away from almost every other dwelling. When Eli had discovered it several months before his early morning flight, he’d determined it would be the best place for any of the queen’s enemies to take refuge, should Rona determine it was time for heads to roll. He had prayed at the time it wouldn’t be him who needed this solace, but then, at least he’d managed to get out before she blocked his escape. The thought of what poor Gy must’ve gone through all in the name of getting a good night’s sleep made him sick to his stomach.

Cassius took the horses around back and secured them as Eli made sure the hut was still vacant. He couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to live here. A giant hole in the thatch roof let in enough water that plants were growing in the dirt floor, despite the lack of sunlight. One wall was falling in on itself, and the space was littered with debris and discarded possessions of whomever had lived here before, which had to have been years ago at best. His own family home might’ve been in better shape before it burned for the second time than this ramshackle disaster.

Which is why it made the perfect place to conceal oneself for a bit of time while the queen made her intentions known to the universe.

They’d borrowed horses from the guard, unrecognizable, average-sized, average-paced, brown horses that were well-trained but anonymous, unlike the beasts they would’ve normally chosen. But Aeros and Snowduster would’ve certainly given them away. Eli had hated to leave his best friend in the world behind, especially since he wasn’t completely sure the queen wouldn’t retaliate by harming the animal, but he couldn’t take the chance at being seen.

He could’ve said the same for Kit—leaving her behind had also been painful, and he still wasn’t sure it was the best idea. Even after Cassius returned to the castle, there was no way to know for sure Rona wouldn’t do something reprehensible. Eli felt as if he were running away, not taking cover in order to gain the upper hand, despite the assurances of the others, including Junno who was almost as involved in the planning of this coup as her son-in-law.

Cassius came in a few moments after Eli had taken stock of the situation. The food stuffs, clean water, medical supplies, and weapons they’d hidden here over the last few weeks were still accounted for, concealed in the splintering walls of the place behind fresh timbers made to look old. There was a mat to sleep on but not much more in the way of useable furniture. Eli hoped he wouldn’t have to stay here long unless ending his visit meant falling into the hands of the queen’s loyalists.

“Everything as it should be?” Cassius asked, his voice a rumbling whisper.

“I believe so.” Eli stood with his hands on his hips, wishing there was another way. “I don’t like this.”

“I know. You said so a dozen times on the way here. Just give us a day or two, to make sure the queen isn’t being completely unreasonable, and then we’ll decide how to explain your absence.”

“And if she is being unreasonable?”

A sigh louder than the sound of his voice when he spoke emanated through the darkness. “Then... you may as well join us. I’ll signal you.”

Eli nodded. He knew where to look and what to look for and imagined he’d be checking quite frequently. “If any harm befalls Kit, you will let me know at once? Anything?”

“Of course.” Even in the darkness, Eli could see that Cassius’s word was as good as gold. “Now, I need to get back to the castle and make sure she hasn’t gone and done anything foolish. If she knows what has transpired, and I imagine she does by now, she will likely react without thinking.”

“Kit? That couldn’t possibly be the case,” Eli joked.

Cassius snickered. “You’re right. Our sweet princess always looks twice before she leaps.” He offered his massive hand, and Eli shook it, glad to have found a trustworthy ally in all of this. Rona still trusted Cassius for some odd reason. As long as that was the case, Eli could be certain the princess would be well protected until he returned.

Unless, of course, Kit’s impulsivity got the best of her, and she did something the queen couldn’t overlook.

Cassius bid him farewell and took off, and Eli settled down on the dirt floor, his back against the rotting wall, hoping that whatever Kit was up to, she was safe and that those around her would be able to convince her not to do anything drastic, though he wasn’t sure that was even possible. The princess generally didn’t listen to reason when it went against her insistence that justice always be served regardless of cost.