Chapter 27:
Nepolis
Morning light seeps through the roof’s seams. The silence outside indicates that the Versillian soldiers have moved on.
Trevus jumps out of our hiding spot and then helps me down. I collect the saddlebag and Trevus’s sword, and we step out the tavern together.
The soldiers’ fingerprints cover the city. The streets are a mess of broken pottery, discarded food and the occasional unconscious man. While the inhabitants of Sisarea emerge from their homes, there isn’t a Versillian soldier in sight.
“They’ll reach Nepolis before we do,” I say.
Trevus draws a golden coin from his pocket. “I have a strategy.”
I follow his zigzags through the city streets. He soon finds what he’s looking for – a stable master.
He selects a large brown horse for purchase. As I’m studying the magnificent animal, Trevus reaches under my arms. A yelp escapes me as I’m lifted into the air and placed on the horse’s saddle. The great beast doesn’t budge an inch, as if I weigh no more than a fly.
Trevus climbs on behind me. His chest presses against my back, and I’m sandwiched between his arms as he takes the reins.
He taps the horse’s side with his ankle, and the animal’s large shoulder muscles begin to move.
“Boulder,” I say. “We’ll call him Boulder.” The name suits him well. He’s heavy, unstoppable, and so strong that a home could be built upon his back.
“Very well.” Trevus directs Boulder down the main street, and he begins to pick up speed. “To Nepolis.”
I perk up at the sight of a stone structure behind the trees. Trevus pulls back on the reins, bringing Boulder to a stop inside the forest.
He climbs off the saddle and helps me down.
Is this it? I tread through the crunchy long grass to get a closer look. I should be running in the opposite direction, but after nearly two weeks of traveling, curiosity draws me closer.
As I pass the trees obscuring my view, the edges of the structure become apparent. I have to crane my neck up to see the castle’s crenelated walls. It’s the height of five people head to toe, or perhaps four men like Trevus. Trees in the immediate area around the castle have been cleared, guaranteeing their archers a line of sight on anyone approaching the castle – as we are about to do.
“No further,” Trevus says. “You shall be spotted.”
I return to him. He holds a folded maroon and purple dress sewn together in a complex pattern. “Are these the clothes of a noble lady?” I ask.
“‘Tis a replica gadin – the garment worn only by the Mephian Council of Six.” He hands it to me. “Dress.”
With my back to him, I change from my black dress into the gadin. The gadin dress reaches from collar to ankle, hiding all but my boots. Decorative black strips flow over my shoulders and separate from the dress at my waist, hanging loose. Maroon and dark purple segments are sewn together like a stained-glass window. The design hugs my middle tight, but the material is light, not restrictive like the oban.
Trevus crushes red paste with a pestle and mortar.
“How long until Evecius’s army arrives?” I ask.
He kneels down, putting himself at eye-level with my neckline. He dips his finger in the red paste and draws a semicircle under my eye. “An hour if we are fortunate.”
His fingers trace the bone under my other eye, completing the pair. “You shall play Grand Sorceress Ametha, the Fifth of Six. She is highborn.”
He draws two vertical lines on my cheeks, resembling the path of tear streaks.
My fingers gently probe my face to try picture how I look. Instead of painting eyeshadow as I’d expect, he’s drawn a half ring under each eye and nothing more. “There’s a gap between my eye and the paste?” I ask.
“Mephian sorcerers leave that clear. ‘Tis said when that skin blackens, they are at the peak of their sorcery. If a man were close enough to see it, their life is forfeit.”
I trail the thin gap under my eye with the tip of my finger. The Council of Six must have abilities beyond my imagination.
“Once the guardsmen grant you access, take the opportune moment to set them to sleep,” Trevus says. He wraps a long black ribbon around my waist. “Tie this cord around a merlon, and I shall scale the battlements.”
I just nod. None of this will play out the way he imagines. Using my connection on the guards is a line I won’t cross.
“Your disguise shall grant passage through the gate, but it shall not survive long under their scrutiny. Impersonation in the military is a capital offense.”
The last time I connected with someone to try save my own life, I caused the death that led to this hollow mission.
Trevus guides me towards the castle, and my eyes linger on his features. If I told him that his mother has died, he wouldn’t need to send me in there. “Trevus, wait.”
“Time is not with us.” He keeps going, his arm pushing me along.
“It’s about Mehlia.”
He stops and puts both hands on my shoulders. I have his full attention.
“She…” I trail off. My gaze falls to the sword on his hip. He threatened to end my life with that sword when I first tried to escape. The image of that shining blade over my chest lingers front of mind.
The fear I felt that night grips my stomach again. I was lying with my back in the dirt, dead still other than a slight tremble I couldn’t control. My chest stung from the prick of the sword. Just a few inches further and my heart would be pierced, a movement he’s no doubt practiced for years. I lay in silence, hoping for mercy – mercy I wasn’t sure would come.
That was all for nothing more than running away, a minor transgression in comparison. If he knew that I’d taken Mehlia’s life, that I’d destroyed his only real family, there wouldn’t be any room for mercy. His face would twist in anger. I’d step back and raise my hands in surrender, but it wouldn’t save me this time. I would die right here, my warm blood coating the grass.
“Speak quickly,” Trevus prompts.
“She’s lucky to have you,” I say.
The corner of his lip tugs up in a quick smile. He nudges me to continue.
We step past the last tree that offered any cover. There’s an indistinct shout, and the men on the castle ramparts rush to new positions. I freeze as crossbows are pointed our way.
Trevus nudges me to move. “They take precautions, but they shall not shoot. Sorceress Ametha does not fear her own country’s guardsmen.”
I take a breath and force myself to keep walking.
A mote surrounds the castle, broken only by a thin bridge that leads to a large solid wooden gate with a metal frame. There’s a small free-standing arch on our side of the bridge – where we’re headed.
“Go no further!” A brown-haired man in a leather tunic with gold buckles steps up high in the middle of the castle wall. He’s in charge. It must be Lord Reger – the man who I’m going to have to convince not to carry out my execution if this ruse falls apart.
“Repeat my words,” Trevus says in a low voice. “I am Grand Sorceress Ametha. Grant passage.”
“I’m Grand Sorceress Ametha!” I shout to Lord Reger. “Let me inside!” I change Trevus’s words to sound a bit less Versillian.
“A Versillian army was spotted nearby!” Lord Reger says. “We’re under council orders not to allow even a single soul inside!”
“Have you forgotten that I am of the council?” Trevus whispers. “Grant passage or forfeit your lives.” That’s a bit much.
“I know!” I shout back. “I’m on the council! Let me inside or there’ll be nasty consequences!”
Trevus shoots me a look. “The way I said it was fine,” I whisper.
The guards glance at one another, clearly uncomfortable.
“Reveal your magic!” Lord Reger shouts. “Stand beneath the rahlite!”
“Under the arch,” Trevus says to me.
I slowly approach the arch on our side of the bridge, allowing them plenty of time to give warning with their voices instead of bolts.
A smooth round stone is mounted at the crest of the arch. It looks just like the white shards that the Versillian soldiers used on last night’s hunt – rahlite. As I take my place in the arch’s shadow, the rahlite begins to glow.
“Grand Mage Ametha may cross!” Lord Reger shouts. “But her bodyguard stays behind!”
They’re buying it. I glance back at Trevus, and he indicates to go. The thought of him being my bodyguard, obeying my orders, is ridiculous.
I cross the bridge. The large doors open just enough for me to slip through but not peer inside. Will they know I’ve lied the moment they’re up close? My panic begins to fester, and I search for any escape.
To my left and right is water, ahead are the guards and behind is Trevus. There’s no way out. I shut my eyes, take in a breath and step through the gate.
Author’s Note:
The next chapter, Chapter 28, is one of my favorites, and it’s double length. Both Chapter 28 and 29 will be published together at the same time, as they read better as a pair.
naurrrr 😩😩
girllll gtfo
this is going to hurt
can’t waittt
! I am in gearing up for my finals and get so excited when ur chapters come out
they are my perfect study breaks!
Yay so excited
Body guard lmao
At least she’ll pass this part of it lol
Just tell him already!
So she could die for this plan…
Yeah… he’s being hopeful lol
Can’t wait
Welp, he has bodyguarded you to be fair
ahhh girl!
I thought you’d rather die than use your gift
You’ll either die to him, or the people inside, pick your poison
You still expect her to do so? dude
it’s not just a boulder, Squidward, it’s a rock!
I can’t wait!!
nooooo
I like that boulder. That’s a nice 👌 boulder.” -Donkey
I’m so stressed on her behalf
Aaaaahhh can’t wait😩😩😩
I love the buildup of tension 🙂