Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two (36 page)

I shifted my feet and crossed my arms over my chest in
discomfort. “I won’t ask you to . . .”

“Aylen,” Hesper said, cutting me off. She paused for a
moment before beginning again. “Sister. The decision is mine, and it’s already
been made.”

I stared into her eyes, always lit with laughter and
mischief. This time, they were grave and unyielding. My arms dropped to my
sides in defeat.

“Meet me here tonight at half past one. Pack lightly.”

Hesper’s face broke into a grin. “Food?” she asked.

“Bring some of that as well.” I tried to return her smile
and added, “Especially any leftover fruit pies from tonight. Those were good.”

She gave me a sloppy, facetious curtsy and turned to go. I
watched her disappear down the hall before I entered my chambers, prepared to
face the long night ahead.

After rallying the camp, Tereg didn’t stay long. Before he
left, he came to see me once more with the promise that he would take me to
Aylen himself once all danger was past. He also vowed I would be treated with
respect during my stay with the rebels. In this, I didn’t doubt Tereg’s word,
but I doubted Baen’s.

“Are you going straight into battle?” I asked.

Tereg frowned. “No, but I’ll be in the thick of it. I’m
meeting with Paelor’s brother first. He serves the king in word but supports
the rebellion in action. He claims to have protected information he’ll only
deliver to me.”

“And after you meet with him?”

“I’ll fight.” He looked at me in confusion, no doubt
wondering what I hoped to glean from his answers.

“Then may the unconquerable spirit of Vairda be with you,” I
said.

Tereg pulled me into a hug. In spite of myself, I returned
it.

Prior to his departure, I passed him the tiny note I’d
written to Aylen. I doubted she’d ever see it but he accepted it with another
promise to find a way to send it to her.

Once he was gone, I marched through the camp, aware of the
shift in how I was treated. People stepped aside to allow me to pass, hardened
men nodded as a show of esteem, and some of the women managed to smile at me. I
wasn’t sure whether to attribute it to Tereg’s instructions or defeating Baen
in our duel.

 After my walk through camp, I found Baen helping sort
through a pile of armor with several other men. Most pieces of armor were made
of many different materials and seemed to have been collected from diverse
sources.

“Sai,” he said when I approached him. His tone was cautious.

“Do you intend to follow Tereg’s orders to detain me in
camp?”

He looked back down at the pile of leather and metal and
pretended to shift a few pieces around. “Of course. Everybody listens to
Tereg.”

“Then I’d like to request something that will make my
inactivity easier to bear.”

He glanced up, his curiosity piqued.

“I want Nil released. Faema will make us suffer as long as
he’s imprisoned and he’s no danger to you confined in the camp.”

Baen seemed to think on this for several moments. Finally,
he shrugged. “Fair enough. I’ll send word to the jail keeper. He can share
quarters with you.” He grinned at me before turning back to his task. “But be
warned, you’re responsible for him and will answer for his missteps.”

I shrugged. “There isn’t a punishment you could threaten
worse than being forced to remain here.”

He ignored the comment so I forged on.

“There’s one more thing. My clothes are in tatters. Much of
that is due to the tasks I was forced to perform. Since my friends’ clothing is
in similar condition, I’d like it all to be replaced.” I paused before adding,
“And I want to bathe.”

Baen’s jaw twitched as he considered my demands. “Fine. Go
talk to Sareff. We have spare clothing in storage. I’m sure he’ll help you find
something that will work, but your friends need to get their own from him.”

With a nod, I turned to leave. As I walked, I couldn’t help
the triumphant bounce in my step.

 The place was bursting with commotion as rebels attempted
to prepare for battle. Most would be marching out the following morning while a
few were attempting to leave late in the night in order to catch up with a
nearby group Tereg had already contacted.

I tried to ignore a sudden pang of envy. If all went
according to plan, I would reach the battlefront long before any of them.

After a short stroll, I found Lirig sitting on a bench near
the edge of camp. A large purple fruit rested in one hand, his legs sprawled
lazily in front of him. Haji stood nearby talking solemnly with several rebels
who seemed to be hanging on every word she said. I figured Faema was with Nil
as usual.

I seated myself next to Lirig. “Baen has agreed to release
Nil.”

Lirig responded with a grunt.

“I’ve got a plan to get us out of here.”

This time, Lirig gave me a sideways glance. “What do you
mean ‘us’? We’re already leaving.”

I gaped at him is shock. “What are you talking about?”

“Baen says Tereg didn’t include the rest of us when he
insisted you remain. He simply said that since we were a support to you, they
should consider keeping us together. But Baen claims they have need of our
skills.”

”When do you leave?”

Lirig shrugged. “Haji was going to use the Travel Gem Baen
made you steal to transfer some of the rebels closer to the battlefront.
Apparently they carved into the heart as soon as you delivered it to them and
made it ready for use. It was supposed to be tonight.”

“Supposed to?”

“The gem is gone. They’ve sent people above ground to see if
they can find a replacement. They discovered it missing a few hours ago.

I chewed on this information for several moments. I had a
good idea where the Travel Gem had gone but I wasn’t about to share my hunch
with any of the rebels. I had my own plans for the gem.

“Haji!” I called. When she turned and spotted me I waved her
over.  She said a few quick words to the people she’d been talking to before
making her way past a pack of rebels engrossed in battle preparations.

“How are you?” she asked. I ignored her question.

“You’re not really planning on leaving with these people,
are you?”

“Not if you have a better idea.”

With a smile, I motioned Haji and Lirig closer. They leaned
their heads toward me.

“When you aren’t being observed, bring your gear and weapons
to my bunk. Cover them with the spare blankets. Then meet me there three hours
before dawn.”

Lirig peered at me, skepticism written across his features.
“What do you plan to do?”

“Get us out of here.”

I slapped Lirig on the back and gave Haji a nod.

“And don’t forget to pick up some extra clothing from
Sareff,” I told them as I turned to leave.

After a bit of wandering, I asked someone to point me toward
Sareff. Apparently, everyone knew who he was and when I found him, I saw why. A
large crowd in a long, messy line blocked the entrance to the storage room
where Sareff stood, arms crossed over his chest. He shouted rules to each
person he let pass. Only two were allowed into the room at a time.

“You may only choose clothing for yourself!” he yelled when
someone emerged with an extra set of clothing.

I sighed. This was not going to be quick. Still, I settled
into a place in line and firmly moved up with the rest of the crowd every time
someone new was let into the room. I watched the faces of the people who
eagerly waited for their turn and realized most of them were dressed as poorly
as me. The difference was that their clothing wasn’t destroyed due to activity
and abuse. It was just badly made and constructed of cheap, flimsy material.
For these people, going into battle was an opportunity to receive better
supplies and clothing, something I doubted few ever had. I thought of my own
upbringing. While not easy and definitely devoid of luxury, it had been
comfortable. I wondered how much comfort anybody in this camp, or in Miranasch,
had known. It seemed a tragedy to have to face battle and most likely death
just to be able to enjoy something simple like a change of clothing. With these
thoughts, it became easier to be patient while I waited for my turn.

When I was finally at the front of the line, I tuned out
Sareff’s list of rules since I’d already heard them countless times, and strode
past him into the room. There were tall rows of shelves stacked with trousers,
shirts, vests, and cloaks. They were sorted according to color and I headed
straight for the dullest shades I could find. After several minutes of
searching, I found a pair of pants that seemed long enough. They looked like
they’d fit in the waist as long as I had a belt. The one I’d been using was
still fine so I moved on to look for a new shirt and a better vest with more
pockets for weaponry.

I rushed through each section, pulling out articles of
clothing as quickly as possible until I thought I’d found everything I needed
except for boots. There wasn’t much of a selection for shoes since most rebels
had very little in the way of quality boots. I glanced down at my own now
ragged pair and decided they would have to do. I wasn’t about to take a pair
away from someone who needed them more.

I left with my arms full. “Which way to the bathing rooms?”
I asked Sareff on my way out.

“Needing a swim, sea-boy?” he sneered.

“Not if you enjoy my stench.”

He pointed to his left. “East chamber. Men’s are the last
door.”

“Thanks,” I grunted.

I found the room without too much trouble and was happy to
find it empty. Apparently people were more concerned with supplies than baths
during war preparation.

Inside the room were stone steps leading down into a rock
lined pool. A small spring trickled down one wall and trailed into the pool,
providing a constant supply of fresh water. I stripped down and jumped in.

The water was cold and invigorating. I let out a whoop as my
head broke the surface before sinking below again. I had to remind myself not
to breathe underwater without my gem but I stayed under as long as possible.
I’d forgotten the feeling of complete submersion in water. It was almost enough
to make me forget my purpose in coming to Miranasch.

Almost.

After a long, refreshing bath I forced myself to leave the
pool and put on my new clothing. They fit better than I’d expected. With my
personal needs taken care of, there was only one more task left before I could
put my plan into motion. And it all depended on one person.

Reluctantly, I left the bathing room and headed toward the
prisons. There weren’t many cells since most people who joined the rebel cause
were enemies of the king. However, Nil was still untrustworthy according to
most rebels. He’d been playing both sides too long, but it was a risk I was
willing to take.

Only a couple of guards stood at the front of the entrance
leading toward the cells. They nodded at me as I approached.

“The girl is still with him,” one of the guards said.

“Did Baen tell you Nil was to be released?” I asked.

“No.”

“Well he is if I decide he’s ready. Go talk to Baen if you
need confirmation.” I walked past with confidence. When I glanced back, I
smiled to myself as one of the guards took off toward the last place I’d seen
Baen.

It was several cells in before I spotted Faema. She sat on
the ground in front of Nil’s cell and her head leaned against the wooden slats
of his door. Her hand rested on one of the slats and Nil’s hand was only a few
centimeters away. Through the wide spaces, I saw him, resting against his side
of the door, his head close to hers.

“Faema,” I said. She startled but remained where she was.

“Hello Sai.”

“You need to pick out some new clothing and pack your gear.”

“I already told Baen, I’m not leaving.”

“I’m not talking about Baen. I’m talking about us. The
friends you came here with.”

Her eyes grew wide and darted to Nil.

“Faema,” I said, in the gentlest voice I could manage.
“Trust me.”

She glanced back into the cell once more before holding her
hand out to me. I took it and helped her up. “Thank you,” I whispered. She
stared at me intently for a moment before shuffling past in silence. When her
footsteps had receded, I turned to Nil.

“Is it getting cramped in there yet?” I asked.

“Actually, I’ve kind of gotten used to it.”

I chuckled. “Liar.”

“I get called that a lot.”

“There’s a reason for that.”

Nil snorted as he stood up. “Truth is relative. What some
may consider a lie is just a different way of looking at things to another.”

“That’s the most warped sense of logic I’ve ever heard.”

“Really?” Nil shot back. “Interesting coming from someone
who promised his girlfriend’s father he’d stay in camp. But from what I just
overheard, it doesn’t sound as though you plan to keep that promise.”

I bristled. “How do you know about Tereg?”

Nil took a step back and shrugged. “Faema told me. She finds
it easy to talk to me. In fact, I think I know far more about you than you
could ever hope to learn about me.”

“Is that what this is about? You’re playing her for
information?”

Nil laughed. “I don’t have to play anyone. I can get
whatever I need on my own. I’m merely pointing out that you’re not always as
moral as you claim to be.”

I gripped the slats in silence, my jaw locked on sharp words
I wanted to spit at him. This wasn’t going as I’d planned. Worse, I hated that
his comments rang true. I had lied to Tereg. I’d taken weapons from my family
before I’d left Vairda. Now I was planning on using a stolen gem. And while I’d
convinced myself that everything I’d done was for a good cause, there were
plenty of people who would have disagreed. I shook my head in frustration.
There were so many good reasons lately to do the wrong thing.