Gild (The Plated Prisoner 1)

She looks at the captain. “I’ll say.”

Worry gnaws on my bones like a starved mutt as silence stretches between us. Sure, I tried to stand up to the captain, but she’d already been hurt. Despite everything that’s happened tonight, I can’t assume I’ve earned any kind of loyalty from her.

But she finally nods. “Okay.”

For now, that okay will have to do.

I blow out a breath, shaking out the tremble in my hands, trying to push back the aching tiredness and anxiety pouring over me. “Alright. Now, we don’t have much time before the commander comes for us. We can’t let anyone see this.”

Rissa shoots me an exasperated look. “And how in the world are we supposed to hide him?”

I bite my lip, praying to the Divine gods that the floorboards don’t buckle as I look around the room. But it’s not as if I can simply toss a blanket over him or shove him under the bed. The Red Raids are going to notice when their captain doesn’t emerge from his room.

My eyes catch on the trunk of gold coins next to his desk, and my mind sparks. “I have an idea,” I tell her. “Get dressed.”

Rissa spurs into action and goes to gather her gown from the bed, while I go to the captain’s open closet and snag a pair of thick gloves left on the floor. As soon as I slip them over my hands, the white changes color, like the leather was soaked in a vat of gold.

Since the captain tore the front of my dress, I snag a short brown overcoat on a peg near my head. Unlike the white leathers and furs that dominate the rest of his clothing, this one has large brown feathers down the back and the sleeves.

Despite how light it is, it’s surprisingly warm with the feathery down adding another layer of protection. It’s also short enough in the back that it’s not a detriment to my ribbons, and when I button up the front, it holds my ripped bodice in place.

As soon as Rissa is dressed, she looks over. “Alright. What do we do now?”

My eyes go from the captain to the windows behind him. Rissa follows my gaze and shakes her head. “It’s not possible.”

“It’s the only thing we can do,” I argue. “He can’t be found like this. Under any circumstance.”

She lets out a puff of breath like she wants to argue some more, but settles for muttering under her breath. She then ties her hair up out of her face while I go to the bed and snatch up the sheets.

In all honesty, she’s probably right about this being impossible, but it’s the only chance I’ve got. I’m damn lucky he’s close enough to the window to even attempt it, or there would be no hope of this. Even so, there’s a good chance I won’t be able to shove the bastard out the window.

But I have to try.

With Rissa’s help, the two of us move as fast as we can, knowing that our time is running out. We tie two sheets around the captain’s neck like a noose, leaving ourselves plenty of length to use as a rope.

I secure my sheet and then rush to the window and unclasp it, thanking all the Divines above that both of them open easily. With them now open, it lets in a blast of cold wind, soft snow flurries peppering across the floor.

I feel Rissa’s attention on me, casting clandestine looks. I know she’s brimming with questions, but I can’t afford to have her voice them, and we don’t have the time anyway.

I check to make sure the sheets are secure once more, and we circle around the captain until the window is at our backs. “So...the plan is to just pull like hell and hope we tip the bastard over?” she asks, doubtful.

“Pretty much.”

She shakes her head before rubbing her hands together. The two of us both grip our sheets, wrapping them around our hands.

“On three,” I tell her. “One, two, three!”

Together, we pull with all our might. Hands fisted, arms bunched, back straining, legs plan

ted, we pull. Rissa grunts as she yanks, but it doesn’t move. Not even a bit.

We both let go of our sheets at the same time, panting and cursing.

“Shit,” I mutter as panic begins to bubble up in me. I can’t leave him here like this. I can’t. It’s not an option.

“Shit, shit, shit…” Full of frustration, I kick the captain hard in the shin. Not the best thing to do, considering he’s solid gold. I curse again at the pain that shoots through my toes.

Rissa cocks a blonde brow at me. “Maybe don’t kick the solid gold man statue, okay?”