Page 149 of When Sisters Collide
A young stable hand led out two more horses, their tails swishing as they stepped from their stalls. Another approached with saddles. Pinaria took one, and together with Katell they moved with quiet efficiency, securing straps and loading bags.
Once the stable hands left, Pinaria’s gaze lingered on Katell, her expression softening as if she could sense the storm of emotions beneath her calm exterior.
“Did you see your sister?” she asked. “In Tiryns?”
Katell stilled, a tight knot forming in her chest at the mention of Alena. Since the battle at the hillfort, she had shared fragments of her past with Pinaria—small, guarded glimpses of her life before everything changed, including stories of her sister. But she had never spoken of the Freefolk, the secret she’d entrusted only to Dorias.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Alena helped me escape.”
Pinaria hesitated, her expression softening further, almost pained. “And she’s the one who told you about your friend in Dodona?”
Katell nodded, fingers tracing absent patterns over the horse’s flank. “She was furious. Blamed me for what happened to our people… She believes I’m the reason they were enslaved.”
Pinaria frowned, tightening the straps on a rolled blanket. “But that doesn’t make sense. We know the Emperor needs more labour for his temples, but you’re from the Deep River. Why would the First—or any legion—invade foreign lands when they have closer territories? Your people have their own gods, their own magic, their own?—”
“My people have no magic,” Katell cut in, her voice tight. “They renounced the gods long ago. Anyone with a Gift was cast out.” A bitter laugh escaped her. “They turned their backs on those who could have protected them.”
Pinaria blinked, then her eyes widened with realisation. “Laran’s shield… You mean the Freefolk?! They’re real?”
“Yes.”
Pinaria let out a slow breath, absorbing the revelation. “If that’s true, they were easy labour for the Emperor—just like the Non-Humans—despite how far out they live.” Her gaze met Katell’s over the horse’s back, her expression turning grave. “What will you do?”
“I don’t know yet.” Katell’s fingers tightened around the saddle strap, knuckles white. “But if my friend, Leywani, is there, I’m getting her out. Tarxi be damned.”
Worry creased Pinaria’s brow. “It won’t be simple. He can control minds. We’ll need a plan.” Urgency crept into her tone. “And if Dalmatius doesn’t vouch for us, we’ll be branded traitors. Enemies of Rasenna. They’ll hunt us down—no hesitation. No mercy.”
Katell didn’t need reminding. She’d seen the legions’ justice firsthand. On the northern front, when the cold drove men to desert, their executions were swift and brutal, carried out by their own. Fortunately, none had been from the Sixth.
“Dalmatius will make it in time. We have to trust him,” Katell said firmly. “But if things go wrong…” Her throat tightened under the weight of what she was asking. She didn’t deserve their loyalty. “I need you to promise me?—”
“Kat—”
Katell reached over the saddle and gripped Pinaria’s hand, cutting her off. “Promise me that you and Arnza will run. Do you understand? Don’t risk your lives for me. Whatever happens, I’ll survive. But if either of you gets hurt…” Her voice wavered. “I couldn’t live with that.”
Pinaria’s breath hitched. For a moment, she looked ready to argue. Instead, she pressed her lips together and blinked back the tears welling in her blue eyes.
Squeezing Katell’s hand in return, she whispered, “I promise.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
ALENA
It didn’t take long for the Tirynthians to act. After Katell’s escape, Alena, Nik, and Leukos were seized by palace guards and confined to their quarters. At dawn, a summons came, and they were escorted to the throne room.
Queen Charis and Danaos waited atop the dais, while the full Tirynthian council formed a living wall around them, faces carved from stone.
Alena swallowed hard and stepped down the long aisle.
Beside her, Nik’s mouth curved in a wry half-smile. He muttered low enough for only Leukos and Alena to hear. “Theo’s going to kill us when he finds out. He spentmonthsnegotiating this alliance.”
Alena’s gaze lifted to the throne. Queen Charis’ cold eyes stared back, sunlight from the high windows igniting the gold thread in her amber-and-white peplos and sparking along the crown at her brow.
Alena drew a slow breath. “I’ll take full responsibility?—”
“Not a chance,” Leukos cut in, voice hard as steel. The guards shepherded them forward, Alena bracketed between him and Nik. “No one comes near you.”
The queen’s brows angled sharply, the only crack in her composure. “Prince Leukos. You betrayed the alliance.”
