Chapter 229

Opening the door to the cell had created an anxious moment for Kit. Even though the prisoners seemed to understand that they needed to wait to go out the back, Kit was alarmed that they might all rush the exit, their thirst for freedom overwhelming the logic that they’d still be trapped inside of Wrenbrook if they attempted to go that way. But when Eli swung the cell door open, no one made a move.

In fact, the prisoners were as still and under control as Kit had seen them since she’d first laid eyes on The Wilderness. After a quick hug from Terrowin, whom she’d have to speak to later, when they were all safe, Kit began to make her way to the back of the cell where her former guard led her. She assumed he was taking her to Cassius. Along the way, she saw other familiar faces. Dullen’s red hair had grown down past his shoulders, and he was even thinner than he had been when they’d first met. He stepped forward and took Kit’s hand, briefly. Hins was half the man he’d been during Kit’s Exploration. There were others. Guards, friends, men she’d known during her Exploration, those who had taken kindly to her as servants in the castle. Kit could hardly wrap her mind around what it all meant, but she couldn’t tarry to think about it. If the guards got word as to what was happening down below Wrenbrook’s floors, she could end up trapped in here—or worse.

Despite the crowded conditions, the men parted for her. If he hadn’t been wearing a familiar outfit, Kit might not have even recognized Cassius. His face was battered and swollen, one eye opening only a slit. His curly hair was matted in several places, and there were blood stains all over the white and blue Warchester Keep colors he wore.

As she rushed toward him, he tried to rise, but she got to him first and gently pushed him back. Hardly a place on his face was unmarked by Vin and his men. His lips were cut and swollen such that Kit was leery of kissing him for fear it would do him more harm than good, but she couldn’t help but brush a quick peck against his lips. “Thank the goddesses,” she murmured, not even thinking of exactly what she may be kneeling in. “How are you?”

“You’re here.” Cassius’s voice was a weak growl as he reached up and ran a palm across her cheek. “I’ve never been better.”

Kit giggled, glad his sense of humor hadn’t been harmed. “We’re going to get you out of here—all of you. But it won’t be an easy journey. Do you think you can walk?”

“Now that I see your face again, Princess, I believe I could sprout wings and fly if need be.”

Relief that he was relatively all right mingled with the love and affection she held for this wonderful man who’d been severely beaten because of his loyalty to her, and Kit’s heart ached in her chest. “Armant should be waiting for us, once we get to the river.”

“Good. I may need a little patching up before I’m ready to fight. But I will be ready, Kit.”

She knew he would be. Leaning forward, she kissed the top of his head and then got to her feet. Spinning around, she saw Eli had located the door, which was only a few steps away. The prisoners were beginning to crowd closer to the exit, but they made way for her.

“Kit, there’s a possibility that the door on the other end of the chute may be locked, and I might not have a key. If that’s the case, we won’t be able to get out unless there’s a guard at the bottom who opens it.”

Her eyes widened. “That’s a bit of a problem, Eli, don’t you think?”

He shrugged as if it had occurred to him before, but he hadn’t wanted to mention it. “The true problem will be everyone stacking up on one another if we can’t get the door open at the bottom. One of us needs to go first and appraise the situation.”

“We won’t be able to keep these men back for long,” Jate said behind her.

Kit turned to see Landon and Reeve had Cassius up, one arm over each of their shoulders. He was doing better than she expected but still needed help. Behind them, Terrowin, Hins, and Dullen were keeping order. Eli had locked the cell after the party came in, but all the prisoners were aware that he had the key.

“I believe we’ll be able to make our way out,” Eli said, stepping around to look her in the face. “It makes little sense to lock a door to a chute for the dead.”

“Nevertheless,” Kit mumbled. “All right. You go first, and I’ll come with you. Landon and Reeve can help Cassius down a moment or two after that.” She looked at them to make sure they understood. “But then the pair of you should take your time making sure that the other prisoners don’t slide down on him. One of the three of you will need to be last to make sure all of the prisoners get through.”

“I’ll do it,” Jate said without hesitation.

Kit nodded, but felt a tightening in her gut. The thought that he might not get out was alarming to her. She had to let it go and assume everything would go as planned. Quickly, she stepped forward and kissed his lips, hoping it wouldn’t be the last time. The top of a quiver was visible beneath his cloak, so at least he had thought to bring his most valuable weapon with him. She prayed he wouldn’t need it.

“We will help keep them back the best we can,” Terrowin said as Kit moved toward the door. “It will be difficult. There are many that are typically unruly who are only calm now because of the weapons.”

That was understandable. “Thank you, Terrowin. We will have a lot of catching up to do when this is all over.” She squeezed his hand and then looked at Eli. “Whenever you’re ready, Commander.”

Eli unlocked the door and handed the single key he’d used to Jate so he could relock it when everyone was through, assuming he had time. She followed Eli into a narrow, dark passage. Another door made up the entirety of the far wall, and Kit supposed that was how the guards accessed the bodies to send them down the chute without releasing all of the prisoners. It had to be a calculated process, one full of risks, but not as dangerous as what she was about to do.

A round grate sat in the middle of the floor. Eli produced some sort of tool she’d never seen before and kneeled to work the grate open. It took a few moments, and already, the prisoners were getting anxious. Once the grate was out of the way, he looked her in the eyes. “Are you ready, Princess?”

Kit nodded, not sure if she truly was or not, but there was no better time to find out than the present.

“I’ll go down. Count to ten and then follow. I have no idea how steep it may be or what sort of... substances we may run into.”

Once again, her head rocked back and forth but words were hard to come by. Eli gave her a reassuring smile, though it didn’t meet his eyes, and then he was gone.