Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 15

Renit is sleeping when I arrive back in the cell. He lays on his back, using the limp satchel as a pillow. When I brush my hand against his forehead, checking for a fever, he doesn't stir. Good. He doesn't need to be awake for the argument happening up on the ground.

"I don't trust her."

"I was promised revenge."

"Why should we believe her? She can run right to the king and tell him the truth."

All voiced by Tesha. She keeps her voice down but I can still hear every word. I can only hope she quits soon if Renit decides to wake and ask me what happened. I cannot provide the truth nor do I want to if it means we're one step closer to bringing him back home. I can't allow him to die here, despite Tesha's wishes.

Bits of Akeno's argument have come in as well, a much softer voice in respect to my wishes.

"Silas will be a good king. I've seen that to be true."

"Many of the other rebels are agreeing with this plan, you should too."

That one earned a scoff from Tesha and something like her kicking her boot against a rock to send it skittering down the stairs. She wants the prince to know so this plan won't work. Tesha needs more than revenge—she craves blood.

An argument between the three of them took much longer than I wanted it to. But eventually, Bren spoke up and said this is the plan they were going with, the simplicity being their driving force. If they can get their hands on the king, secretly, then Silas won't be able to hunt them down in the end.

This may cause Renit to hate me forever. If he finds out I was the one that devised this plan then he might kick me out of the kingdom entirely. The king has done terrible things and although Renit said he didn't love his father, that doesn't mean he's not loyal to the crown. And the crown he has to protect.

Once Tesha is silenced, the rebels are quiet again and before long, the entire world is slow-moving as they sleep for the night. I too find myself underneath the wraths of sleep, huddling next to Renit so he'll stay warm down in these dungeons.

The healer didn't come today. She didn't heal more of his infection. I toss and turn, listening for her, but she doesn't arrive. The quiet soul with wide eyes and gentle hands doesn't secretly make her way down the stairs until the middle of the night—after I'd long given up on seeing her face.

Her eyes dart nervously back and forth, from us to the stairs and the night beyond. She carries fear with her like a ghostly acquaintance and when her hands shake as she unlocks the cell door, I know something is wrong. Something is different tonight. She's unattended.

This is it. We're getting out of here. Tonight.

I shake Renit's shoulder gently, ushering him to wake so she can heal him. With a grunt and a quick squeeze of his eyes, he's awake and looking around, puzzled. "It's time for your healing," I whisper so no one hears. Did she act alone or was this Bren's doing? Her caution don't provide an answer, it could be either way.

Renit sits up, his back against the wall and his legs spread out before him. The healer, without saying a word, kneels at his injured side and begins working quickly. On the back loop of her belt, three keys hang. My heart skitters in my chest.

With Renit distracted, groggy and still waking, I take the three keys and stuff them into the pocket of my tunic. Two keys for our titanium bands and one for the cell door in case it locks and we're somehow trapped in here again.

She takes longer this time, healing every last bit of the injury. I don't bother meeting her eye, a silent thank you written on my face, because I don't know how she will fare after this. If Tesha wasn't involved in this plan, this healer may be using her magic one last time. Is that why she's nervous? Or is she naturally as scared as a wounded animal?