Aligning the Forgotten ✓

Chapter 48: Renit

Never in his life did Renit ever believe he'd sneak into his own home at the risk of being caught and killed. He grew up in the castle, ran through the halls, learned every bit there was to know about schedules, private chambers, secret passageways, and anything else that might help him in a time like this. All that information swirls around in his brain, one piece before the next, as he pulls leather gloves over his steady hands.

The plan is simple. They'll approach the castle in the dead of night, contrary to daylight since they'll be easier to spot, and Tesha will take out the two guards monitoring the front gates to the castle entrance. Being that they're likely bored and not paying attention, it'll be easiest to cut them off at once with no downside. And—better yet—the guards monitoring the castle aren't able to see that far out, not in the dark. Renit has been there himself and knows of the conditions, no one can see to the front gates.

Once the guards are taken care of, Bren and Renit will take the guard uniforms for disguises and the witch of flame will monitor the front gates for any suspicious guards while Renit sneaks onto the castle grounds, as nonchalant as possible. Alaric, on the other hand, will monitor from the woods to the east side of the courtyard, beyond the stone fence covered in thick vines.

It is then the most important factor in this entire plan will come into play—the guards monitoring the castle need to be taken out. Every last one. Those in the courtyard, on the top of the castle, and those in the halls. They're aware of Renit's features, could spot them from a mile away, so allowing them to live will not get Renit what he desires.

In the small attic space they've considered their home over recent days, they dress from head to toe in what could be their final armor. The room is stale, no one speaks, and the only sound is Tesha placing her arrows inside the quiver to pair against the other strapped against her spine. She'll need two, the guards might not go down easy.

"We have one shot to do this," Renit sighs. "If we don't get it done...we can kiss our chances goodbye."

Tesha grunts her disapproval and retorts with, "You're an optimist. Why don't you kill us all right now so we don't have to do it in the first place? We will end up dead, anyway."

The look Bren gives her is one of warning. Everyone has been on edge in the past day, they know what's coming and also know of their lack of ability to avoid such a fate. The castle is going to hold more than one danger, the king will be there, as will the rest of his closest supporters—and Roux, who isn't in her right mind, and will do anything to protect the witch on the throne.

The thought still makes Renit sick to his stomach. Everything she's had to do for him...none of it has been anything she'd be proud of. The banished prince hasn't allowed himself to think past what it will take to get her out; if she's bruised on the inside, he doesn't know how she will handle it. Roux might bounce right back and be the person he fell in love with, or she might turn into an empty shell of herself with no ambitions.

Now that he thinks about it, Renit's optimism sinks even further. He woke up this morning, expecting to be excited for this time, when he finished strapping on his armor and was antsy while waiting for everyone else to do the same. Being here, in this moment, he's not ready. How can anyone ever prepare to be ready for something like this? The odds are against them in more ways than one; if they were mere humans, this would be dangerous, but witches are different. The powers they hold create more problems than the mortals have to deal with.

"We do this quick," Alaric instructs. "No rushing. If we miss our window, we're done for. Don't move too slow, don't move too fast. Does everyone have their titanium?"

Renit fishes around in his pocket and pulls out two titanium bands. Not for him, not for the rebels, but for Roux and possibly the king, if something changes. Capturing her would mean she's close enough to slice their throats and clamping a titanium band around her wrist will help dull the power and give them the slightest bit of an advantage. Although it'll be difficult, trying to get a titanium band around a witch with the king's training is nearly impossible, Renit will give it all he has.