"Gavin, Verdot would be making us a party of six. Five or seven people would be giving us stronger favor."
Achan spoke over Inko's comment as if he did not hear it. "If he's warden, why can't he simply free the prisoners?"
"Because he cannot do it alone. Our men are spread out over thirteen levels. Tomorrow, he scheduled all the guards who openly oppose Esek's claim. They plan to free our men. Since he cannot get to the Prodotez, that's where we will go. Everything will happen at once, which will also create a diversion for our escape. These men are Kingsguard soldiers trained by me and Caleb. We need their help to win Armonguard. We cannot wait. Caleb?"
Sir Caleb's voice came from the other room. "I'll hear your plan. That's all I promise."
Sir Gavin set his weathered finger on Stormwatch. "We'll ready ourselves here and take sleds over the water, northeast of the stronghold." He pushed his finger over the paper and stopped at an X marked above the stronghold.
"Over the water?" Achan asked.
"The sea is being frozen solid for miles," Inko said.
Sir Gavin tapped the X by the words drop off. "We'll leave Inko and Verdot here with the dogs. Achan, Sir Caleb, and I will enter through Northgate under the guise of bounty hunters delivering a criminal to the Prodotez. I'll go by the name Vindo Relz. Sir Caleb will be Wil Markson."
"What criminal?" Vrell prayed the answer was not what she feared. "Me?"
"No, Achan." Sir Gavin's mustache formed a straight line. "The only way we can get into the Prodotez unchallenged is to have a high priority prisoner. Verdot has already sent word to Mahanaim that Achan has been captured."
Achan straightened. "You're turning me in?"
"Under pretense only. No one has ever escaped Ice Island without inside help. We have to be…creative."
"You tell us this now?" Achan said.
"I saw no reason to burden you with details until you required them."
Sir Caleb sighed from the doorway. "Now this also vexes me. Not even two hundred are worth the expense of my king."
Vrell couldn't blame Sir Caleb for his concern. How could Sir Gavin even consider using Achan as bait?
Sir Gavin leaned forward and propped his elbows on the table. "Caleb, Arman has called Achan. He will protect him."
Sir Caleb banged his fist on the wall and Vrell jumped. "Then why must we continually come to his rescue? Arman has trusted him to our care. Why knowingly endanger him?"
"I want to do it." Achan's voice turned every head. "I can do it, whatever it is. I can."
Sir Caleb glared into the fire and released a shaky sigh. The flames flickered in his eyes.
"The Prodotez is a dungeon in the Pillar, this tower here." Sir Gavin smoothed out the map and tapped the center diamond. "It's twelve levels high. The only way up is the north or south towers. The only way down is the east or west towers. There's no other entrance. We must go up and over."
"You're going to pretend you're taking me to the Prodotez in order to break out your Old Kingsguard companions?"
"Aye. I've no doubt we'll succeed in getting in. My concern is the trip back out."
"Will we go out the way we came in?" Achan asked.
"No. The guards will be taking our men out the main gate on dogsleds. But I feel that is too risky for us. So, Inko and Verdot will wait with the dogs outside the southeastern curtain wall. We'll free my generals and return to this point." He tapped an X on the Pillar. "Caleb will toss his boarding hook to Inko and we'll slide down."
Achan's eyes bulged. "To the ground?"
"Over the curtain wall, aye. Caleb, show them what you've worked out."
Sir Caleb stared at Achan, then walked to the closest bed. Chairs scraped the floor as the others followed. Five iron hooks lay on the bed. They were shaped like a letter J with a one-sided barb on the hook end and a fat eye-hole at the top. The hooks were two hands long. Each had a length of thick rope threaded through the eye with the ends tied together.
"You're fortunate Carmack gave me an extra." Sir Caleb picked up a hook and shook it at Sir Gavin. "I still think this plan is reckless. The prince should stay out of Ice Island at all costs." He ran a hand through his shaggy hair, making it stand on end. "After I throw the boarding hook and Inko and Verdot secure the end, we'll each tie one of these to our belts. We all need a thick rope belt. I have extras if anyone has need."
He looped the circle of rope onto his belt and cinched his belt under his armpits. "Might as well start it here. As soon as the hook takes your weight the belt will ride up anyway."
"What kind of hooks are these?" Achan picked up a hook and pretended to snag Vrell in the neck.
Vrell jumped back, caught her breath, and rolled her eyes.
"Dagfish hooks," Sir Caleb said.
Achan tossed the hook back on the bed. It clanked against another. "Must be a big fish."
"Most are twice your size." Sir Caleb lifted the hook above his head. "Once your belt is secure, hang your hook on the line and sail away. I've sanded and oiled the crook of each hook so they won't snag. If you stop, pull yourself along. It's such a steep descent, I doubt that will happen. Try to face the sentry wall, and, before you hit, catch yourself with your feet." He tapped the sole of his boot against the wall.
Vrell frowned at the hooks. "You are certain these will not fall off the rope?"
"Not holding a man's weight. They'll carry us to the sentry walk. Then we'll climb over and take the rope down to Inko."
"Won't there be guards on the sentry walk?" Achan asked.
"Aye. Inko will pick off any trouble-makers with his bow."
"I guess just taking over the mind of the gatekeeper and having him unlock every cell for us is out of the question, huh?" Achan asked.
"We can confuse their minds, but not control them," Sir Gavin said.
Vrell found this whole plan insane. "What will you do once you are all down?"
"Take the sleds back to Stormwatch. No guards there. The towers have been closed since Darkness came."
"And what about me?" Vrell asked. "What will I do?"
Sir Gavin sniffed in a long breath. "You'll wait here. Should we not return, inform Merrygog McLennan in the tavern. I've instructed him to send word to Lord Livna, who'll collect you here."
"But I want to help," Vrell said.
Inko clapped a hand on Vrell's shoulder and beamed. "Five is being a much stronger number, boy. If you are staying behind, you are doing your prince a service."
Vrell scowled at Inko. Sir Gavin's words gave her a more reasonable purpose for staying behind.
"Should we fail, Vrell, word must be given to the right people. Prince Oren, the Duchess of Carm."
"Yes, sir." But Vrell did not like it. What if they failed?
"Achan should be the one to stay behind," Sir Caleb said.
Vrell did not want to be the prisoner. "Can you pretend Sir Caleb is Achan? We cannot risk Achan getting lost."
"I said I'm going." Achan's eyes dared anyone to tell him no. "I'll be fine. No chains have managed to hold me yet."
Vrell huffed. "Not due to your own strength."
"Exactly. Someone will come for me."
"And how long will that take?" Sir Caleb said. "The men we seek to rescue have been imprisoned thirteen years."
Achan stared Sir Caleb in the eye. "I'll be fine."
Vrell could not believe his recklessness. "Do you never worry about anything?"
"I worry about whether or not Sparrow will nag me."
"Enough!" Sir Gavin rolled up the map. "We must trust Arman to protect us. 'Tis his will Achan be king, and his will always triumphs."
Vrell did not doubt that, but faith did not always keep fear from circling.