Page 50 of A Kingdom of Lies

“Then we do share something in common,” I replied slyly. “I just have not worked out what it is you want from me yet.”

“Ifwe make it to Lockinge you will find out.”

CHAPTER 17

There was no room for complaints as I lowered myself into the muddied bath. By the time it was my turn to bathe, the water was almost black with grime, a concoction of blood and ash swirling in the lukewarm liquid. It was a relief, nonetheless, lowering my aching limbs into the belly of water. It was no wonder Althea had taken so long when she’d gone first. Gyah had to go in and check on her, only to find her curled in a ball crying over her actions that day.

Whilst it was Gyah’s turn to wash her despair away, it left me to console Althea, whose silence spoke volumes of her desire to be left alone. Thankfully, the time Althea had without the iron cuff allowed her healing to accelerate. She no longer looked to be in pain, besides the mental war she currently fought.

I slipped beneath the water, still catching the faint scent of lavender blended within the less pleasant smells that left my body to join the gore of my friends. Only when my head was submerged and the sounds of Finstock were muted did I truly feel relaxed, even with the constricting iron cuff still locked around my neck.

I lay like that for as long as my lungs allowed, entirely submerged, as I willed the lapping of water to soak off the blood, ash and unpleasant grime that had clung to me since leaving Wychwood, convincing myself that if I stayed here then the worries of the world beyond would not matter. But then I remembered Briar’s threat of Erix, which urged me back out.

It was stone cold by the time I was finished. The iron kept me separated from my power, returning my body to human state. Only the heat from the many melted candles provided me comfort in the empty room, and even their effort was pathetic. With winter devouring Durmain beyond Finstock’s walls, everything was tirelessly cold.

I dressed quickly, back into the dark clothes that I had worn upon my arrival. We had comforts as Duncan’s prisoners, but not luxuries, and a set of clean clothing was not an option.

As I entered back into the adjoining room Althea and Gyah immediately stopped whispering.

“Have I interrupted something?” I asked, too exhausted to care for niceties.

Althea looked to Gyah and shook her head slightly, stifling whatever comment was about to come out.

“You can tell him,” Gyah encouraged, lips pulled thin.

Althea stood, hands folded before her. The skin around her eyes was red and swollen, pale lashes clumped together from all her crying, yet she still presented herself with the air of command, back straight and red eyes full of authority. “There is no saying what Erix will do when he reaches us, and I cannot afford the risk of waiting and finding out. It will be the perfect distraction for us to escape, and we did not discuss it with you because we know your stance. That is if Duncan doesn’t agree to your petition for us to leave before.”

“He will,” I said, almost confident of the fact.

“You seem sure,” Gyah muttered quietly. “Then again you do seem to be fraternising with the enemy.”

“That,” Althea said quickly, flashing Gyah a telling look, “has nothing to do with it. Robin was right, Duncan is different. We need the Hunter to trust him, and that goes for what me and Gyah were discussing. It would not be a wise decision to be involving you if it could affect your treatment once we are gone.”

It was a lonely feeling, knowing your only friends had plans to leave you. Even though the plan had never involved them in the first place, I had grown accustomed to their closeness.

“If I can help, I will.”

“Next time he comes to visit I recommend you’re not here.” Gyah’s knuckles clicked as she stretched them out before her.

“There are not exactly many options for me to go,” I replied. “Doors are locked unless he opens them. Finstock is crawling with Hunters who would stop you even if you made it past him. I’ve tried to convince Duncan to leave, but he is a fool thinking he can stand against Erix.”

“Everything will be fine.” Althea paced towards me, resting a hand upon my shoulder and squeezing. “The moment we reach my mother’s army, I will tell them about the Below. We will follow you.”

“And if Duncan doesn’t agree to free you?”

“Well, Briar seemed to make it within this place without another even sparing much of a glance – that or the Hunters didn’t care. If there is a way in, there is a way out.”

I looked down to my feet, an unwanted sadness twisting in my gut.

“The easy way out is never the smartest.” Althea’s smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “There is no telling what will happen when Erix reveals himself. There is a chance he would arrive late and my people have already been and gone. But I doubt that. I know his determination, even when not fuelled by his controlled state. If Doran gets word that Briar failed, he will pull all the stops to make sure Erix finishes the job.”

“You must not focus on that,” I insisted. “Only getting out of here, one way or the other. Tell me what I need to do, and I will try.”

This was my fault. Althea being forced to kill Briar, for both of their captures. It was all my fault. There must be a chance for me to put it right. Althea looked to Gyah, sharing a moment of tense silence as though they spoke through their minds.

“Just stay out of the way,” Gyah finally said, taking over from Althea who seemed to shrink back into the shadows of the darkened room. “And stay alive. Play innocent. Because when we leave, and you are left to face Erix alone, you will need Duncan on your side. He has proven his desire to keep you breathing. Let us not ruin what already balances on a taut, frayed piece of string.”

As we expected, chaos arrived to Finstock. We’d been taking turns sleeping, when the only sound was the gentle whistle of wind that caressed the fortress walls. I would’ve even described it as peaceful, until that all shattered.

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