We must act now. Tonight.
With a deep breath and a raised chin, I address my Guard. “The fate of Joya d’Arena and the world stands on a knife’s edge, so pay attention. Conde Eduardo’s adviser Franco, the man who tried to assassinate me and who kidnapped Lord-Commander Hector, is dead at the commander’s own hand.” A few soft cheers greet this announcement. “We crossed the border into Invierne and learned much about our ancient enemy. Then we journeyed to Basajuan, where I met with Her Majesty Queen Alodia and Her Majesty Queen Cosmé. To make a very long story short, I will just say that they swore fealty to me and to Joya d’Arena. You are now an Imperial Guard.”
They gape at me.
“We then leveraged our newfound accord to bargain for peace with Invierne.” I have an awkward moment where I pull the robe over my head just so I can reach my pants. I toss the robe aside and retrieve a roll of parchment from my pocket to wave at them. “This is a peace treaty, signed by me and members of Invierne’s ruling council.”
More gaping.
“I share this with you so you know what is at stake. The treaty can only remain effective if I am in power.” I pause to consider my next words carefully. “But this is not about me. Our actions will not be remembered because of which blundering, disposable ruler we put on the throne. They will be remembered because they turned the hinge of history and determined whether or not the world would have peace.”
I give them a moment to consider, to absorb.
Then: “Are you ready? Will you do battle on behalf of the world tonight?”
We are in hiding, so I do not expect a cheering assent or even an “All hail!” But someone draws his sword, slaps it against his thigh. Others follow. Soon the cavern is filled with the low, steady slap, slap, slap! of nearly a hundred soldiers ready to lay down their lives.
We are a small force stacked against incredible odds. I must use them to strike fast, hard, and smart. But this is what I do. This is my power.
I smile wickedly, and when their slapping has faded to silence, I speak.
“I have a plan.”
39
I’M sliding daggers into the legs of my boots when I feel a presence looming over me, and I know it’s Hector even before I look up.
He stares down at me, his heart in his eyes. “God, Elisa, do you have any idea how dangerous this is?”
I straighten to face him. “Not as dangerous as waiting for Eduardo to strengthen his foothold and then engaging in an all-out war that sets friend against friend, brother against brother.”
“I mean dangerous for you.”
“I know what you mean.”
A muscle in his jaw twitches. He opens his mouth but changes his mind. Then he turns and strides away.
I ache to call him back. Instead, I bend back to my daggers, mentally going over the plan to make sure I haven’t forgotten something important.
Conde Tristán and the Selvaricans will dress as peasants and attend evening services at the monastery. Afterward, when all the petitioners are exiting the audience hall, they will mill about the courtyard with everyone else, gradually moving into place. Tristán will give the signal, and they will strike fast to take the gate. Then they’ll create a distraction, drawing as many city guards as possible, and when approximately half of them have rushed the courtyard, he will drop the gate, dividing their forces. Then Fernando and Mara will pick them apart from the ramparts.
They’ve exchanged their uniforms for the civilian garb of the villagers, donning ragged pants and patched blouses, rope for belts. They can’t hide swords beneath their clothing, but Tristán has assured me that daggers will do at first, that they will be able to arm themselves with the swords of fallen soldiers. I’ve watched him fight. With the arguable exception of Hector, he’s the most terrifying bladesman I’ve ever seen.
Fernando and Mara will don priests’ robes ample enough to hide their bows. Red and a few of the village children are tasked with delivering quivers full of arrows to the palace, ostensibly for the palace garrison that mans the gates. Instead, the children will stash them in prearranged caches around the inner courtyard for Mara and Fernando to grab when they can.
Hector will take his most seasoned warriors through the tunnels that lead to the catacombs and into the palace. The entrance to the catacombs is likely guarded by two men. It will be no easy task to silence them before they can raise the alarm. Then Hector’s men must move swiftly to the palace barracks and the prison tower, where General Luz-Manuel and his top aides reside. Hector will take the general alive if possible.
The barracks are among the few palace structures made mostly of wood. Highly flammable wood. So Storm will accompany Hector.
Captain Lucio and I will lead our new recruits through the secret egress tunnel to the king’s suite. From there, he’ll lock down the palace residential wing, isolating Conde Eduardo and any other nobles in residence. He also has orders to capture rather than kill whenever possible.
All three insurgencies must happen at once for us to be successful. So Father Nicandro has agreed to sound the monastery bells—which can be heard throughout the city—the moment services let out, as the signal to proceed
I could spend all day imagining ways it could go wrong. Instead, I check and recheck my weapons. Then I spend some time mingling throughout the cavern, offering an encouraging word here and there, thanking the men for risking everything for Joya d’Arena.
A hand grabs my upper arm. “Come with me,” Hector says urgently. “To the barracks.”
I wrench my arm from his grasp.
“I don’t want to let you out of my sight,” he adds.
“You know I can’t,” I say, though I know how he feels. The thought of him going off to battle without me makes my heart shiver with terror. “I’m the only person in all of Joya who outranks Conde Eduardo. I must be there to give official orders. Otherwise any hand raised against him is an act of sedition.”
He steps closer until we are almost touching. “Then let me come with you.”
“I need my best fighters to engage the general’s men.”
His voice drops low. “If this doesn’t work, I’ll come find you. We’ll go away together, like—”
I wrap my arms around his neck and press my body against his, kissing him as thoroughly as I ever have. He crushes me to him, kissing back with a desperate finality.
Hector’s men cheer softly all around us, and we separate, both of us wearing shamefaced grins. “That was for just in case,” I say.
“Promise me you’ll live,” he insists. “Because when this is all over, we must discuss how you sometimes kiss me to shut me up, and how I’ll no longer stand for it.”
I reach up to trace his jaw with my fingers. “I’ll promise to live if you will.”
His lips press into a firm line, and he says nothing.
Tristán declares his men ready, and I step over to wish him and Mara luck. “Just one more tunnel, right?” she says as she adjusts her robe. “And then no more. Ever again.”
“Just one more,” I say, and the tip of her bow jabs me as I hug her tight.
Belén joins us. “Ready?” he says to me, and I nod. “This might be your last chance, Mara,” he says. “Say you’ll marry me.”
“You know I can’t.”
He smiles sadly. “Worth a try.” He leans over and kisses her cheek, then takes my arm and escorts me toward Captain Lucio’s group.
I stare across the cavern toward Hector, shoring myself up with the sight of him.
We lock gazes. The rest of the world fades away, and without saying a word, we say good-bye.
Then he and his men turn toward the tunnel leading to the catacombs, and the rest of us climb the stairs toward the Wallows.