Page 63 of Of Kings and Thieves

Melion towered over me. “It is for Col that I have not killed her now.” Then, with another look of murder, he turned and went back to his seat.

“Dick,” I muttered. He sat down on the other side of the fire as if he hadn’t heard me and nothing had happened. And returned to his brooding.

“Well,” Scarlet said, letting out a breath, “that was fun.”

“Yes,” said Kolvar dryly. “Perhaps we can all refrain from killing each other before we save Col.” I thought he was chastising Melion, but instead he was staring at me. “My lady Samara, you should not doubt our loyalty. If it weren’t for Col, none of us would be alive today.”

“I’m not a lady,” I said, feeling wrong-footed.

“Then what are you?”

“I can think of a few words for her,” Melion muttered.

“Peace, brother.” Kolvar stared at me, waiting for an answer.

I smiled. “I’m a thief.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The frigid night air raised goosebumps on my skin as we huddled at the lake’s edge. Our breaths came out in little white puffs, vanishing into the darkness. Moonlight danced across the black water, casting long shadows over the rocky shore. In the distance, the docks were lit up with scattered lanterns that flickered like fireflies against the night.

I glanced up at the looming fortress far above over the lake, its dark stone walls lined with the lights of patrolling guards. Col was somewhere behind those walls, along with the alicorn horn.

“There’s no way we’re stealing one of those rowboats without being seen,” Scarlet muttered, eyeing the swarm of guards on the docks. “Not with the place crawling with The Harrow’s men.”

Kolvar nodded grimly. “They know how valuable that iron ore is. We’d be shot full of arrows before we made it out of the harbor.”

I chewed my lip, a dark thought nagging at me. “Do you think The Harrow knows we’re coming? Is he anticipating this?”

Scarlet scowled. “Wouldn’t put it past that snake. But does it matter? We’re here and we’ve got a job to do.”

“Perhaps a distraction, then,” Silvius suggested. “If some of us draw their attention, the rest may be able to slip through their defenses unseen.”

Melion let out a low growl, flexing his fingers. His meaning was clear—he would gladly rip out some throats to clear the way.

I shook my head. “We need stealth. I might be able to lull some of them to sleep with my voice, but I can’t sing loudly enough to reach the whole dock.”

“And then you would alert them to the presence of a part-siren,” Kolvar said quietly. “The distraction seems our best choice.”

A flicker of pain lanced through me, faint but unmistakable. I stiffened, reaching out instinctively along the bond I shared with Col.

Col? What’s happening?

I’m fine, came his reply.

But something felt off. He was leaving something out, I could sense it.

You promised you wouldn’t lie to me, I reminded him. Tell me the truth. Are you really all right?

There was a pause before he responded. I’m not lying to you. I’m okay now. Just... had a rough moment. What about you? Are you safe?

Yes, I assured him, purposely leaving out the fact that I was with the Ironguard, about to sneak into the castle using the very tunnels that had allowed Col to escape all those years ago. No need to worry him when he couldn’t do anything about it.

You’re not doing anything foolish, are you?

When have I ever done anything foolish? Another flash of pain tingled through me, and I regretted my joke. Tell me what’s happening!

The Harrow hasn’t made the alicorn horn into a weapon yet, but he will soon.

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