Chapter 66: Chapter Seven

ADA

Toren turned and walked away from where we stood. Cayden would not let us linger, steering me back to the horses as quickly as possible.

There was a huge strike of lightning and a deafening rumble of thunder in front of us as we rode back to the camp. While Silas’s character was debatable, I knew Toren was not all evil.

It was never as simple as that. He was right; I looked fondly on the times we had spent alone together.

It was starting to rain, which I welcomed, since it helped cover the tears falling down my face.

When we arrived back at the camp, there was barely a soul in sight. The rain fell so hard I could not even see a short distance in front of me. Cayden helped me down and I headed straight to Kyra’s tent.

All I wished was to hold my child in my arms. Padriac was already standing near the tent when I arrived back; Egil and he looked as though they were speaking about something serious.

Once they saw us, their conversation immediately stopped. I felt my heart drop into my stomach, and I started running as fast as I could toward the tent.

Egil tried to catch me before I entered, I guess to tell me everything that had happened. I did not wish to speak to anyone. I wanted to see my child. I threw open the flap, preparing myself for the worst.

“Everything is okay,” Kyra said to me as soon as she saw my face. I fell down on my knees and started sobbing at the sight of my child. He was still asleep.

She handed him to me, and I noticed the dressing on her arm. I looked around for Sable, who I noticed was absent.

“I was sitting at the table under the tent when I noticed her fidgeting uncontrollably nearby. She was acting increasingly odd, so I stood up and yelled for her to stay where she was.

I’m sorry, Ada. She would not stop coming toward me. I saw the dagger, ~your dagger~, in her hand. Before she could get too close, I threw a bowl that was on the table at her and started to run away.

That is when Egil rode up and I passed Cay off just in time. She pounced on me and I had to stab her. I had to!”

I didn’t care that Sable was dead. In that moment, the only thing that mattered was that my child was safe and alive. I told her this and thanked her for saving his life.

My only focus moving forward was to do whatever I could to keep him safe.

I could feel Cayden standing behind me. He knelt down next to me to feel our son’s head. He was only able to stay long enough to make sure everyone was all right.

Barra and Sayer had summoned him to discuss the meeting.

Kyra called for someone to bring me some hot soup and bread. She helped me change into dry clothes, since mine were completely soaked from the ride.

I sat there wondering about how long Sable had been under Silas and Ciaran’s employment. Had it been the day I escaped, when I found them together in the tent?

Had Ciaran promised her marriage, money, a better life in exchange for my son’s? Had she been the dark figure Weylin spoke to the other night?

I lay next to my son, reviewing all the times I had left him alone with her. All those times he could have been killed.

With the rain beating on the roof of the tent, it helped me distract my thoughts long enough to fall asleep.

I woke up to the sound of thunder and heard someone walking near the baby. With my back facing them, I placed my hand on my dagger and quickly rolled over to confront the intruder.

Cayden jumped back a little, frightened, and I lowered my weapon. He had also changed into dry clothes.

His armor must have been drying by the fire, since it was rare to see him without it here at the camp. He signaled for me to come with him, slowly lifting up his son.

“Barra wishes to speak with you,” he said quietly, and I looked over to Kyra, who was still fast asleep. He handed me Cay and picked up one of the blankets for us to use as a cover in the rain.

We made it to the table, and all I could envision was the fight that had ensued between Sable and Kyra. It played out over and over in my head, and all my resentment from earlier started to return.

I had trusted Sable with my child’s life for so many months. I saved her from torture and death, and this was how she’d repaid me, with betrayal?

“Ada,” Sayer said for a third time. My eyes refocused from the table to him.

“I’m sorry, I cannot stop thinking about what happened here earlier.”

He nodded in agreement and then began to speak again. “The proposition between the king and our father.”

“Oh, yes. I am assuming it’s not a good one since you’ve called me here alone.”

I looked over at Cayden for some reassurance, but he stood there staring forward. There was something very wrong. Whatever I was about to hear, he had some strong feeling against it.

I could see it stewing in his head. Barra also seemed to notice Cayden deep in thought and began to speak.

“The king wishes to make an exchange. You for Silas.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“He did not say.” Barra leaned back in his seat, the shadows beneath his eyes dark, heavy. “It seems you are more valuable to him than his son. How? I am not sure.

“My other thought is that it could be a trap...but he was very forthright in his manner.”

I thought back to my last moments with Toren. He had been so genuine in his touch, with his words. I shook these thoughts out of my head.

This was the same man who had manipulated me in the past. What would stop him from doing so again? I would not let myself feel sorry for him.

“I have agreed to his proposition,” Barra began again, and my eyes darted to Cayden again. He just looked at me blankly, unreadable.

“You have agreed?” I asked, the words hard to get out.

“Yes, you will go to the exchange tomorrow morning...but it will only be a maneuver to capture Silas. Once Silas is in sight, our men will attack, and you will ride as fast as you can away. What do you say?”

“I do not have much choice in the matter, but for whatever it is worth, I agree Silas must die.”