Page 196 of North Queen
Norah grabbed her arm. “No. You’re coming with me. And Serene. I’m not leaving you to these monsters.”
Vitalia stared at her for a moment.
“Do you not want to go?”
“No. I mean, yes, I-I do,” Vitalia stammered. “I just didn’t think you would… think about me.”
“You’re my friend,” Norah said firmly. “You’re coming with me. You and Serene.”
Her maid gave her a teary-eyed nod. “All right. We’ll go.” She paused. “Wait. Even if we get out of Ashan, we still have to get through the Canyonlands.”
Norah couldn’t help a small smile. “I know someone who will help us.”
Tahla.
Chapter fifty-six
Darknesshungoverthem.A successful slip-away plan put Norah and Vitalia outside the blacksmith forge, just across the way from the stables. They hid by the walls of the forge. It surprised Norah how easy it had been to climb out of the bath-chamber window in her sanctuary, down the trellis, and to the ground below.
Serene had stayed in the sanctuary and was tasked with making occasional noises—talking, laughing—to confirm occupancy. After the guard change, she was to take a tray of half-eaten dinner down to the kitchen,tidying up. No other staff would be in the kitchen at this hour. She’d slip out the side hall and down the stairs to where Norah and Vitalia would be waiting with horses.
Time passed at a snail’s pace. Norah’s heart raced in her chest. She prayed everything would go to plan. They only needed to get the horses and meet Serene outside the kitchen.
She and Vitalia slipped along the wall of the smith’s forge and silently crossed the cobblestone street toward the stables. But before they reached the side doors, a soldier stepped out in front of them. Norah stopped suddenly, and Vitalia grabbed her arm. The soldier held a spear in his hand—he was a member of the Crest. Norah sucked in a breath. Then she recognized him.
Bhastian.
“You need to get back to the castle, Salara,” he told her. “The captain’s looking for you.”
“Well he can keep looking,” she said sharply.
“Salara.” There was something in his voice that made her skin prickle. “You’ll want to go back.”
But she didn’t want to go back. She couldn’t live like this anymore. “No.” She shook her head. “I won’t.”
“Salar and the lord commander will be returning soon.”
All the more reason she had to go now. “I’m leaving. Step aside.”
But he only blocked her way. She couldn’t fight him—she was no match for a warrior of the Crest. And even if she could get away, she’d lose Vitalia, and Serene. She had to try a different approach. “Bhastian. Please. I’m begging you.” Was Kiran the only one with compassion?
He hesitated, but then shook his head. “I can’t, Salara. I have to take you back.”
“Bhastian,” she pleaded. “Help me.”
He motioned her back toward the castle. Fight flooded her mind, but she couldn’t, she reminded herself. And, since Bhastian was here, they’d likely found Serene. She wouldn’t be outside the kitchen waiting, and Norah couldn’t leave without her.
Defeated, she headed back. As they walked, he waved off the guard that came running, and continued toward her sanctuary. They entered the west wing, but as they reached the main hall, Bhastian halted.
Artem stepped out from the shadows, and Norah’s stomach dropped.
Bhastian struck the ground with his spear in salute and stood at attention.
“I would have thought you’d be more careful with yourself now, Salara,” Artem said with a chilling tone. “All the problems you’ve caused, the people you’ve hurt.”
“You mean the people you’ve hurt,” she snapped.
“You forced my hand.” Artem scoffed. “I initially took you for a sharp woman, but you still fail to grasp your situation.”
