Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 6

Tesha's presence is one of the most intimidating I've been up against. She walks at a quick pace but doesn't completely ignore my presence as she has to keep her eye on me. I have no doubt she'll be ready for any plan I might have, a foolish move in escaping. What she doesn't know is that I will not leave Renit behind, dying in that cell.

Outside of the underground dungeons, the rebels don't bother with fires. Although summer has yet to provide warm nights like it will a month from now, they huddle under the blankets and coats, some even going so far as to cuddle together underneath the stars.

They're too close to Fosux and through the trees, overseers can spot the faint flicker of fire even from this much of a distance. We're far enough out to be separated by a few clusters of trees but that doesn't guarantee their hiding for much longer—if anyone decides to use this area for something other than the slaves, these rebels will resort to killing.

If they're not afraid to put an arrow through the shoulder of a prince then they'll have no problem defending each other. Right now, their recognition is what matters most. The king knows of them but they're merely a flicker in the night—nothing they've done is worthy of attention until now. Is the king worried about his son or does he expect Renit to be home soon, with more blood on his hands?

I'm not comfortable leaving Renit behind in the cell. If he wakes before I'm back, he might panic, and his body doesn't need that unnecessary stress. I'm breaking the exact promise we made in the back of the prison wagon, don't separate. With Tesha standing at my side, leading me through the group of rebels towards Bren siting on a stump, carving a stick, all rules are being thrown to the wind.

The rebels avert their eyes when I pass but I feel them lingering, glaring into my spine as I walk next to one of their fellow, trusted partners. The mines have settled for the night, the slaves are sleeping outside on their cots before another full day of work tomorrow. Compared to the overseers underneath the warmth of a roof, the slaves are in terrible conditions.

I couldn't imagine how many lives are lost in winter because of them freezing to death.

Fallen leaves crunch underneath my boots and Tesha stops in front of Bren, crossing her arms over my chest. His eyes rise to us, hardly any recognition on his focused features, and he clears his throat to say, "Take a seat."

Tesha scoffs. "I summoned your coddled prisoner and that's the thanks I get? A seat on the wet ground?" With every word she says, she's testing his anger. Coddled prisoner. Is that what all of these rebels think of me?

Instead of arguing, I take a seat on the ground and cross my legs together. I will listen to what he has to say because Bren already has so much on his plate, anything else and he might start bursting at the seams. I've seen his anger firsthand and when he finds himself so deep in a mood it's impossible to climb out, it's best to leave him alone. Tesha will contest to that.

He drags a hand over his face. I'm still baffled by how much older he looks. "Please, just sit. This won't take long," he pleads. An owl hoots in response, the only sound near the mines except for the haunting whisper of lost spirits gone too soon in their young lives.

Tesha rolls her eyes to the sky but she plops down next to me, far enough away so we don't look like friends. If she hates the prince, that feeling must be the same for me, too. I've been in that castle and part of the princes' lives, so close to the king I'm considered part of their court.

"I need to discuss the plan with you two. If we're to leave the princes out of it—"

Tesha releases a strangled groan from the back of her throat. "Leave the princes out of it? We never agreed on that! I was promised the chance to kill the one in the dungeons."