Chapter 232

Avinia had quite an entourage with her, including several wagons’ worth of food and water, clean clothes, a few weapons, and Armant with medical supplies. She’d enlisted some castle servants to drive the wagons, and as soon as they reached the remaining prisoners, they also helped the physician as he began to assess wounds and care for the sick and injured. Bea, his nurse who was also a faithful member of the revolt, was there to help as well.

Kit wasn’t sure who to go to first. Both of her cousins, along with their husbands, dropped down from their horses, and Kit could see Avinia’s eyes searching for her through the crowd. But she also wanted to run to Drake and Danyen, who were bringing up the end of the line, along with Gavin, Asher, and a few of the other remaining Representatives.

The men would have to wait. Avinia rushed over, embracing Kit quickly before she backed up. “You smell terrible.”

“Thank you. I just slid through a long shaft intended for dead bodies. How is the situation at Wrenbrook? She knows by now, doesn’t she?”

“Oh, yes, she knows. Soldiers were riding in to report just minutes before we left the stables. There are armed civilians headed this direction from nearly every surrounding province, Kit, and beyond that, others are rushing to lend their aid as well. The revolution has begun, Katrinetta.”

Kit clutched her midsection. The idea of soldiers storming the castle on her behalf was both terrifying and invigorating at the same time. “Are our numbers great enough? I’m certain she’s putting up a fight.”

“She is trying,” Avinia said, her attention shifting slightly. Kit turned to see Eli and Jate helping Cassius over. Snowduster whinnied and made his way through the crowd to see his master.

“Why is it every time I turn my back, one of you ladies is stealing my horse?” Cassius asked, petting his stallion on the nose.

“Because he’s fast,” Avinia replied. “Aeros is tied to the back of one of the wagons. He insisted no one ride him,” she said to Eli.

“Not a surprise at all. Thank you.” He didn’t move to find his horse since Cassius still needed his support.

Avinia repeated her news of the state of Wrenbrook. “The forces from Eastbury are preparing to storm the castle right now. I told their leader we were off to find the princess and then we would be back.”

“You can’t mean to join the fight.” Kit couldn’t imagine Avinia riding into battle. She was still wearing a skirt, after all.

“I have to be there when you claim the throne,” she shrugged. “Thank goodness I brought you something more suitable to wear.”

Kit glanced down at her soiled outfit and was also glad that her cousin had been so thoughtful. Still, the entire proposition seemed dangerous, and she didn’t wish to see her cousins or Seph injured. “Perhaps it would be best if we waited back a bit. I don’t recall ever reading of even a king making the initial charge with the troops.”

“Do you hear that, Kit?” Eli asked as Armant came over to tend to Cassius. Once the other Representative was seated on the ground, leaning back against a tree, Eli was at her side. “That’s the sound of a castle under attack.”

In the distance, Kit could hear trumpets, drums, the clanging of metal on metal, and even what sounded like a whirring noise she couldn’t quite place.

“Catapults,” Danyen said, coming up behind her. “Eastbury brought in three. How they fashioned them, I haven’t the foggiest.”

“Will they knock down the castle walls?” Now, Kit was concerned there would be no Wrenbrook to return to.

“I don’t believe they intend to. That’s how they got in the gate, and now, they may use them as intimidation.”

“They’re launching something.” Drake stooped to give Kit a hug, and then said, “Some damage may be necessary in order to get through the door.”

“They had battering rams as well,” Danyen added.

“I wonder if they didn’t procure them from my old division.” Eli was antsy, clearly wanting to get back to Wrenbrook and into the fray.

“Would the military have handed them over without a fight, or do you think they were taken by force?” Kit asked.

“I’m not sure, but I don’t think it matters now. We should get back there.”

Kit nodded, hearing the urgency in his voice. Part of her was surprised he was allowing her to go with them, but then, as Avinia said, she’d need to be present to take the crown. If all of the fighting was over by the time she reached the castle, and her mother was willing to just hand it over, Kit would be perfectly fine with that. The chances of Rona complying were slim.

Avinia rushed off to find the fresh gown she’d brought for Kit, and when she returned, the princess and her ladies headed into the woods a ways, using a couple of cloaks as screens as Kit changed into a red gown similar to the one she’d worn to meet with her mother the day before when her mother had placed her in the tower. Had it been just that morning when she’d faced her mother again? It seemed like days had gone by since that meeting, where Rona had told her Eli was dead and Cassius had been prisoned.

She had yet to have the opportunity to ask Cassius what had transpired to land him in The Wilderness, but part of her wasn’t sure she wanted to know. After Terrowin’s confession that her mother had propositioned him and the others, she could only imagine that was what had landed Cassius in prison as well. For the first time, Kit contemplated whether or not Pierce was guilty of choosing the queen over her or just not being brave enough to say no.

Once she was dressed, Kit headed back to the location where some of her men were readying the horses. Cassius and Eli were standing next to Snowduster, having a heated conversation. At least Cassius is standing on his own, Kit thought to herself as she interjected herself into the discussion. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, only Eli doesn’t think I’m fit enough to ride, and I disagree.”

“Riding is one thing. Storming the castle is another,” Eli countered.

“And as I said before, if you think I’m letting Kit go in there without me, you’ve lost your mind.”

“All right, enough,” Kit said, pushing Eli back but not daring shove Cassius for fear he’d fall over. “Eli, you have to know you won’t win this argument.”

“I’m just trying to look out for him, something he won’t consider doing for himself.”

“I understand and appreciate that, and while I would also prefer him to stay here with Armant, that will not happen, so we may as well stop arguing about it.”

“Actually, Armant is coming with us,” Isla said as she brought Belle over and handed Kit the reins. “Bea and some of the others will look after the prisoners until we can return for them.”

“What if those soldiers make it through the door?” Landon asked, already in his saddle.

“What soldiers?” Isla looked over her shoulder back toward where the prisoners had come down the riverside.

“Some followed us down the chute. Do we have weapons we can leave the prisoners just in case? Surely, they’ve given up by now and have returned to the castle, since the siege has started.” Jate was also ready to ride out.

Nodding, Isla said, “All of the weapons we brought were for them, should they care to join us. We can leave some here.” She rushed off to take care of that, and Kit turned back to her warring beaus.