Even in her semiconscious state, seeing me had clearly hurt Kestra, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit it hurt me too. I couldn’t look at her without hearing the cries of my mother. And maybe the same was true when she looked at me. Had I seen guilt in her eyes, or the reflection of guilt in mine? Any choice I might’ve made behind Rutherhouse would have been the wrong one.
I watched Wynnow ride off with Kestra’s nearly lifeless body and prayed she would make it to Loelle in time. I really didn’t know if she would, or if Loelle could save her against such powerful magic.
But once they’d left, Basil handed me the reins to my horse. “We’ve done all we can here.” When I didn’t move, he added, “I’m worried about Kestra too, but we have a job to do.”
Without replying, I climbed on one horse and he took another. Two horses were left behind for Huge and Gabe, if both returned here. Considering what the Ironhearts had done to Kestra in such a short time, I doubted there was much chance for Gabe.
The explosions had long ago ended when we rode into camp, but that didn’t mean the camp was in any better order. Senior officers shouted at junior ones, several of whom found places to hide from their orders and insults, which was convenient for us when we attacked two of them behind a quiet tent. The uniform I stole fit perfectly, but Basil’s was a little small. In any other circumstance, I would have laughed at him, but tonight it required all my concentration just to take the next step forward.
Basil had explained he lost his halberd when he carried Kestra from the camp earlier. Now he fixed the Ironheart’s sword at his side. “I’m not trained with this weapon,” he explained.
“They’re simple,” I said wryly. “The pointy end goes in first.”
We returned to our horses, grateful that with the uniforms and this dark night, we would pass for Ironhearts. I even rode directly past Sir Henry and he never looked my way.
I certainly saw him, though, and heard him. “Heads will roll for this,” he yelled. “I’ve already sent a messenger to notify Lord Endrick. We will have our revenge in Reddengrad!”
Basil eyed me. That was confirmation of where the Dominion was headed next.
Most of those around Sir Henry took a noticeable step back. He saw it too and ordered his officers to round up anyone who had behaved cowardly during this attack. Then he added, “I want to know how many Coracks there were. Fifty? A hundred?”
Twelve. And four of us weren’t attacking. This was a temporary Dominion camp, hastily set up, the soldiers unfamiliar with their own area and poorly prepared with defenses. But this would still be seen as an embarrassment to the Dominion. If retribution was coming, then I intended to be there for it. I had a personal score to settle with the Dominion, and now Kestra to avenge along with my mother and possibly Gabe.
When the other soldiers were excused to search for us, we left with them, but turned off at our first opportunity. Basil caught up to me and said, “Gabe could be anywhere. We’ll never find him in all this confusion.”
“Then let’s cause as much damage as we can while we’re here,” I said.
Basil surveyed the area. “What do we do?”
I tossed him the fire starter kit that Kestra had packed into the saddlebags, then pulled out my own kit.
“Make sure to leave us a way out,” I said. “We burn one tent, then ride to another part of the camp, keep them confused.”
We started at the tent nearest to us, without any idea of what was inside. Basil lit one corner and I took the other, then we leapt onto our horses again, riding away to shouts of alarm behind us. Three rows down, we did the same, but this time, didn’t get far before something inside that tent exploded, startling our horses who bolted away, leaving us on foot in the midst of the damage. It wouldn’t be hard for anyone to figure out that we were responsible.
“Stop!” a voice ordered. We turned and saw a young, inexperienced looking boy with a lever blade as long as his arm and shaking in his grip. He could threaten us with it, but I doubted he had the courage to use it.
“Lower that and we’ll let you live,” I said, a fair warning.
“If I lower it, Lord Endrick will kill me. I’m an Ironheart.”
Kestra’s nearly lifeless face flashed in my mind. Endrick knew she had disobeyed his orders—an order that had probably involved me—and she was paying for that now. I said to the boy, “Come with us, and help us fight against him.”
He licked his lips, considering my offer, which I hadn’t expected, then said, “I have to hand you over to my superiors.”
“No, you don’t.” From behind, Hug
e wrapped a massive arm around the boy’s neck, who quickly passed out. “Sleep well,” he whispered, then motioned us toward him.
We followed Huge up a hill where Gabe was tucked beneath some bushes, barely conscious. His body bore the marks of having been badly beaten at Rutherhouse, and maybe here as well. We had to get him out.
Huge already had two horses ready. He lifted Gabe onto one, then said, “I’ll escape just fine. But Gabe is running out of time.”
While Basil rode with Gabe, I pulled out my sword and took the lead, fighting off anyone who got in our path. True to his promise, Huge ran behind us, easily knocking down anyone who was foolish enough to challenge him. Within minutes, we were back at the abandoned home where the two horses we’d left behind still remained. Huge mounted the largest one and then took the reins of the other horse to ride alongside him.
I looked at Basil, almost incredulous that I was putting my trust in him again. “Can you get us to Loelle?”
Basil nodded. “I can. We’re going to save your friend’s life.”