Page 93 of Veinblood
Twenty-seven years of imprisonment, and I’ve never felt as trapped as I do in this moment.
I cross to where Mira is standing near the edge of the square, Varam at my side, his eyes on me, worry clear in his expression.But he knows better than to say anything while we’re in public, where everyone can see us.
“I think Sereven is eliminating witnesses. Anyone who saw me in that cage. Which means they’ll come for Greenvale next.”
Is Ellie safe now?
“We need to find out where the Authority forces are now,” Varam says, still frowning at me.
I send my raven out, searching across the mountain paths and valleys. It takes a few minutes, but eventually it finds the Authority camp two hours’ march from here.
“Fifteen soldiers, making camp in Thornwood Valley.”
“They’ll be waiting for nightfall to attack. When everyone is at their most vulnerable,” Varam says.
“Then we must attack them first. Twenty fighters should be enough to overwhelm them. We surround the valley before they can break camp.”
“What’s the ground like where they are?”
The raven drops lower, showing me clearer details. “A natural depression with steep sides. There are three ways out. North, east, and south. If we block all the exits, they’ll have nowhere to run.”
“We’ll need to move quickly,” Varam says. “Before they break camp.”
“Wait here.” I cross the square to where Erya is overseeing a group of people building temporary shelters. Touching her arm, I draw her out of hearing. “We have found the soldiers who burned Millhaven. They’re camped two hours south of here.I’m going to take some of the Veinwardens and deal with them before they can do the same to Greenvale.”
Her face pales. “Do you have enough men?”
“More than enough.” Mira’s voice comes from behind me.
“But what if more soldiers come while you’re away?”
“Nyassa will stay here with the rest of our fighters. You’ll be?—”
Exhaustion buckles my knees, and my vision blurs.
“My Lord?” Erya’s voice comes from a distance.
I force myself to focus on the conversation. “Protected. You’ll be protected.”
“Lord Torran.” Mira steps up beside me.
“Go and pick out twenty Veinwardens.” I ignore her questioning look. “Now.”
It takes less than thirty minutes to gather twenty fighters from among those who came from Whiterock, and we set off toward the Authority camp.
The trek through the mountain passes takes two hours on foot. Sparse mountain firs and rocky outcroppings provide cover while my raven circles overhead. An hour into the journey, I stumble, anger flooding through me.
“My Lord?” One of the fighters looks back.
"Keep moving."
What is happening? What could have provoked her to fury?
The question gnaws at me as we continue.
Thornwood Valley spreads below us like a natural amphitheater. The patrol has made camp at the lowest point.Fifteen men, sitting around a fire, believing themselves safe from any attack.
They’re wrong.
