Page 5 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

The scout’s eyes widened.

“The valuables we took are near the back with Orson and Kasida,” Warren said. “Why pull us away here? A mistake?”

“Possibly. Unless they’re not after the valuables.” Was their aim to separate us? Divide the line? My lips pressed thin as I pondered the sudden attack. But to what end? They might take out some of our troops, but they had to have known they’d be outnumbered. Not to mention attacking us would result in our emperor exacting retribution from their respective city-state. Plus, their honored guest would be—

Ilya.

I snapped my head back in the direction we’d come from, suddenly certain of their ploy. “They’re after our hostage.”

Chapter3

Ilya

Three sharp whistles had called away several guards and two of the captains, including the one I loathed most.

Bastard.

Yes, he’d let Justina stay, but he’d tried to take her away in the first place. Besides, what he’d done to my city, my people, was unforgiveable. Bile burned the back of my throat as memories of leaving Sorrena flashed through my mind. Bodies of the dead being arranged for a mass pyre. Blood leaking over blue and silver armor. Burned buildings. Blackened stone. I shuddered.

The days had blurred into a haze of seething rage. My captors hadn’t shackled my wrists or locked me in a prison wagon, but the coach might as well have been one. I ate the rations they offered—flatbread, smelly cheese, and the occasional roasted hare or deer. I couldn’t slip out in the night and slit their throats, but that didn’t mean I had to talk to them. I’d promised good behavior, not courtesy.

Mother would be dismayed. An heir of Sorrena turning up her nose at anyone who dared approach? Unthinkable. It wasn’t how I had been raised to behave in front of company. But these captors were far from pleasant foreign nobles. Without thinking, I slammed my fist into the coach wall, earning me a wince of pain.

Craning my neck out the open window, I watched for returning forms—or lack thereof. A few guards in their crimson and grey uniforms still lingered about, tending to the horses as they looked off into the forest after their comrades. From this vantage I could see little beyond the thick trunks with their maroon bark and their branches laden with needle-like leaves. The guards wouldn’t be able to see too much more.

Something was amiss, but what?

The river stretched out in either direction off to my left, the steady rush of water pleasantly calming despite the situation. Some horses drank at the grassy edge of the water, but only a few of the emperor’s men lingered there. If I were ever to make a run for it, now would be the time. My skin tingled as I grabbed the door handle. I could do it.

I sighed in defeat, my hand slipping into my lap. Not only would they certainly catch me, but I couldn’t risk Justina. Not for something so foolish. Mother would be disappointed that I even entertained the idea. If I were going to act, I’d need to formulate something better.

A horse squealed. A human curse followed.

I glanced back toward the river in time to see an arrow plant into the ground near the horse’s hooves. A second one already speared the mud nearby.

“There!” a guard called. “Across the river!”

Movement flickered on the opposite bank. Forms moved among dappled shadows amid the trees. My heart leaped. Allies? I embraced the side of the coach, yearning for a better view.

“Too few,” I whispered. I sank my teeth into my bottom lip. What could they hope to accomplish with only a handful?

An arrow crashed into the side of the coach. I yelped and jumped back from the window. A second one whistled through the opening before planting itself in the far wall with a heavy thump.

My heart beat against my ribs as I stared at the fletched end.By The Four, that could have killed me!

A strip of paper had been wrapped around its center and tied to the shaft with twine.

I mustered my courage and peeked out the window. An archer in nondescript colors stood near the opposite bank. The figure gave a dramatic nod before hurrying off into the forest. My skin turned clammy. A message? From Mother?

Hurriedly, I untied the twine. My hands shook as they pulled at the knot. My gaze flickered between the arrow and the world outside. If anyone saw… If they knew…

The paper unfurled, dropping to the floor where I retrieved it.

Rebels rise. Help us.

My eyes widened. Could it be? Not the faintest whisper of rebellion had reached my ears in Sorrena. I turned the narrow paper over. Blank. My heart dropped.

Movement caught my attention out the window. The captains.

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