Page 110 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

“Cease your magic,” the first called back.

Lucien held firm. We’d get nowhere like this.

“Are you friends of Zurina? Her birds?” I asked. If they were the emperor’s men, they wouldn’t understand my meaning.

The snort of horses filled the heavy silence. I waited for an arrow to whiz by or a man to charge through Lucien’s wall of illusions. Instead, a hesitant, female voice called back. “Yes. We are a mighty flock.”

Lucien let the illusion fall. At least a dozen men and women stood in a crescent around us. Others occupied spaces between the dense pines and blocked the road ahead. Simple clothes, dyed in browns and greens, adorned their bodies. No official colors or uniforms marked them. The rebels. It had to be. The closest, who advanced on us down the dirt path, wore a leather breastplate covering his chest. Greasy, dark hair hung long around a dirt-smeared face.

“We’ve come to find you,” Lucien replied, clearly coming to the same conclusion I did.

“Kill us, more like.” The lead man spit on the ground.

I reared back. “Did you not get Zurina’s message?” Had she been unable to send it? Did it not yet arrive?

“Oh, we got it. But that one”—he pointed to Lucien—“turning on the emperor? I think not.”

My lips thinned. “I’m Lady Ilya Valerious of Sorrena, and I vouch for him. We come as friends.”

The rebel stared us down. A woman, perhaps the one who’d spoken, stepped in front of the man. “Ignore him,” she said. “I believe you. Though perhaps you’d lower your weapons?”

Lucien and I shared a look.Please.

Though armor concealed much of his features, I could almost read the indecision etched there. We couldn’t have a fight out here in the woods, not if we planned to join with the rebels. Not to mention they outnumbered us. At length, he sheathed his sword, the others following suit. The rebels, in turn, lowered their weapons as well.

“Good. I’ll lead you to the camp,” the woman said.

The man frowned. “If you turn on us, we’ll send your head to the emperor with his.” He pointed to Lucien.

I held in a sigh. Of course, they wouldn’t all forgive Lucien’s actions, not with his history, but the open hostility didn’t bode well. We might have as much to fear from our would-be friends as our foes.

* * *

We were led fartherinto the hills. The sky turned from bright blue to bold orange, fading into dark azure. A flicker of flames danced on the ground beyond far trees. Their camp.

Calls like off-tune bird songs rang through the air to join the natural creatures of the forest and the crunch of our trek along the overgrown path. Through a break in the foliage, I spied crude tents arranged in a clearing with the fire. Various people wove around them like fish in the reef. Beyond, a stone structure rose up in the distance. Its woodwork was tinted green with either moss or mold. The last rays of sunset trailed up the building, landing on a roof bearing its own patch of yellowing underbrush.

The whistling calls ceased as men and women flocked our way. Curious glances crawled across my skin. Whispers tickled my ears.

“Let me through!”

I gasped at the familiar voice, scanning for the sight of its owner. Men and women stepped aside as a tanned, dark-haired man pushed through the crowd to us. It was hard to be certain, but that hooked nose, the angle of his chin…

“Nyke!” I cried.

Our captain of the guard in Sorrena.

All at once I was home, his voice ringing in the council chamber as he discussed governance with Mother or critiqued my skill as he provided me secret lessons in combat. We’d thought him dead in the battle, lost in the sea of bodies we’d burned in a mass funeral.

He drew to a halt, stiff and straight. “Lady Ilya?” It was him—not an illusion.

“I’m so glad.” I slid from the horse. My vision blurred as I blinked away threatening tears.

He pulled me into his arms in a fatherly embrace. “It’s true. We were so concerned it was some kind of trick, that maybe Zurina had been forced to send a false message. But you’re here.” He released me, his gaze sliding past me to take in the rest of our company. His eyes narrowed.

Nyke turned me away from Lucien. “You really think we can trust that one?” he whispered.

“Yes. I’d stake my life on it.”

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