Page 90 of Her Cruel Redemption

‘But we could perhaps make them sleep,’ he added, wrenching my eyes back from where they had been stuck to the ground. ‘I’m not sure how deeply, or how many we could affect. But inducing sleep is something often done with young ones who struggle, so it’s not a difficult skill. If we used the same technique we would use in a blight with a different song, we might be able to at least reach the soldiers on watch at the gate. Would that be enough?’

I nodded, thinking. ‘Anything that could help us get that gate open is worth trying.’ If the gate watch weren’t alert, and Rhi’s attack on the harbor was drawing attention there, all we needed was to get someone into the city to open the gate. Though, at the thought of Rhiandra, some of my hope turned to unease. Yesterday she had been told not to use magic, and it had ended in chaos. Now we were building a strategy that gave her permission to use it, and I had no idea what that might unleash. But I didn’t see how to justify leaving any weapon off the table now that so many lives had already been lost. If we didn’t do whatever necessary to drive the invaders from Port Howl, all that sacrifice would have been for nothing.

As though I had summoned her with my thoughts, Rhiandra appeared in my line of sight. She looked distracted, her gaze vacant as she walked with arms wrapped tight around her, her dark hair blowing round her in wild snarls. The pants she had come to insist on wearing were still so strange to me, such a clash with the elaborate, striking façade she had always presented when she was at court in Lee Helse. She was not the same woman she had been then. I wasn’t even sure if she was the same woman she had been on the road to Oceatold. I was still grappling with the realisation of her lies, still unsure of how to interact with her now. But even so… I was worried about her.

And then she looked up, saw me, and whatever had been tormenting her fell away, perhaps packed behind a shield she would never let me see beyond. Her steps lengthened, her arms fell to her sides and her eyes sharpened as she beelined for us.

‘Have you asked him?’ she said immediately.

‘Asked me what?’ Elias replied, glancing between us. Then he sighed. ‘This was her idea.’

‘No, it was mine,’ I protested. ‘We spoke about it beforehand.’

‘And I’ve just spotted Mae, so we can sort out that part too,’ Rhi said, staring over our heads and waving a hand.

A moment later, Mae had joined us, her spiral curls freed from their headscarf to bounce around her face. Like everyone else, she looked exhausted, her eyes shadowed. ‘Gwin,’ she said, breathless, as if she’d been searching for me. Her gaze flicked briefly to Elias, then Rhi, back to me, taking in my expression. ‘What’s wrong?’

Rhiandra didn’t waste time. ‘Orym is still inside the city, isn’t she?’

‘Orym?’ Mae’s posture stiffened immediately. ‘I think so. I… I think I saw her yesterday.’ Pain rippled her brow.

‘We need to get someone inside Port Howl. The gate is our best chance of turning this battle in our favour, but we need a way in. If you can get Orym to meet with you, then that person might be you.’

For a long moment, Mae said nothing. Then, ‘No. Orym’s not stupid. She’d never agree to that.’

‘She’ll agree if it’s you,’ Rhiandra said. ‘If you tell her what she wants to hear.’

Silence stretched between them. Mae’s hands curled into fists.

‘You want me to lie to her,’ she said finally.

‘Yes.’

Mae laughed, but there was no humour in it. ‘You think it’s that simple? Orym and I—’ She cut herself off, jaw tightening. ‘She isn’t just some enemy officer I can manipulate. She—’

‘You have history,’ Rhiandra said, voice firm. ‘She’s already snuck into the Living Valley for you. She won’t ignore you.’

‘And you want me to use that to betray her?’

Rhiandra didn’t flinch. ‘I want you to use it to get that gate open.’

Mae exhaled sharply, looking away. ‘She won’t forgive me.’

‘She doesn’t have to,’ Rhiandra said. ‘She just has to believe you long enough to let you inside.’

Mae swallowed, her throat working. When she looked back at us, there was something raw in her expression. ‘Isn’t there another way?’

Rhi held her gaze, her face stern. ‘A lot of soldiers died trying another way yesterday.’

Mae let out another breath, then nodded, just once. ‘Alright. I’ll try. I can’t promise anything, but… I’ll try.’

‘Good.’ There was no sympathy in that single word, and I studied Rhi carefully, remembering our last conversation. Remembering the magnetic energy I’d seen in that negotiating room, two people unable to look away from each other, leaning towards each other like the table between them was all that was keeping them from colliding as they unmasked and inflamed each other in a way it seemed no one else could. Perhaps she would have no sympathy for Mae’s dilemma. She had already betrayed her own lover for this cause, after all.

Mae’s mouth pressed into a thin line. ‘If that’s all you wanted me for, I’m actually looking for Tanathil.’ She held herself rigid as she walked away. I thought about calling her back, but what would I say? That I was sorry she had to do this? Would that make a difference?

Elias exhaled softly beside me, but Rhi showed no sign of unease. If anything, she looked impatient, already turning her thoughts to the next step.

‘She’ll get it done,’ she said.

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