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THE MORNING SUN CREEPS through the windows, waking them all up, and filling the room with a soft glow. Della turns over, and covers herself with the blanket, refusing to face the day, and the teacher shakes his head when Addyson reaches for her. “Let her sleep.”
“Why?”
Everleigh takes Addyson’s hand and explains about Finn. The same version that Ceryn told Della. Addyson has tears streaming down her face and they leave Della in bed, and stand in the main room together, just looking at each other. Each of them silent and tense.
“Addyson. I know you’ll hate this, but if Millard comes here today, you have to be out of the way. We cannot risk you being hurt.”
“I’ll stay with Della. She’ll need me.”
“We can put someone on the door. Just one of the squires, with a weapon.”
“Millard will only look for her if he kills the rest of us. We have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Everleigh kisses the top of Addyson’s head and pulls her close. “Thank you.”
“I’m only eleven. And besides Della needs me.”
“We need to get ready. We need to eat. It could be a long day.”
“I need to get changed too. I cannot help you all in this big old dress.”
“You cannot help at all. Addyson has to stay safe, and so do you.”
“I will not stand back and do nothing. I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Archer opens his mouth to argue again, but sees the defiance on Everleigh’s face.
“Right. But you listen to me and Ceryn and you stay in the background. Don’t go off on your own, don’t try to find Millard on your own. Don’t try to win this alone.”
Everleigh nods her head. “I will be careful.”
“I’ll go down to the kitchen to get breakfast,” Will says. “And then I’ll ask one of the little maids to find you something different to wear. Some livery or something. Something practical.”
“Get clean stuff for Ceryn too. She’s all bloody.”
Ceryn shrugs, she’s not bothered what she’s wearing, as long as she can kill Millard.
“We need to make some arrangements, speak to the squires, the pages, the stable boys. Get as much back up as we can.”
“I wish we knew how many men he has.”
“We just have to be ready, as best we can.”
“I hope Weaver gets here in time.”
“He thought he’d be back today. He has no idea what he’ll be coming back to, though.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s always ready to fight. We all are.”
Will comes back, followed by a stream of little maids. They have food, drink, wood for the fire and clothes for Everleigh and Ceryn.
They eat in silence. Archer next to Everleigh, Will next to Ceryn and the teacher between them.
“Let’s change.”
Addyson has tucked back into bed, the covers up to her chin, her face pale, worried. Della is sleeping. She hops out of bed to help Everleigh undress to her slip, then Everleigh and Ceryn dress quickly, in the same livery as a page. Trousers, and a shift, not smart but much more practical than a dress. Ceryn transfers her weapons and keeps hold of her sword.
“I’ll give a dagger to Will but what can we give you...”
“A sword?”
“You can’t just have a sword. You’ll chop your own head off.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“Not stupid. But swords are heavy. They’re not easy to just wave around. You need something, so you can defend yourself, not just join the fray and fight. You have to be safe. I’ll get you a knife. Something sharp, but you have to stay out of it, as much as you can.”
“I get that, but I don’t want to be useless.”
“You’re not useless. You’re what we’re all fighting for.”
“I wonder when he’ll get here.”
“Who knows? But he’s going to be so angry. Ginata and me got away. He’ll be furious. Murderous.”
“What’s new?”
They join the others and Archer gives a whistle. Everleigh blushes. “Do I look like a boy?”
“Oh, no. No fear of that.”
Archer’s eyes are fixated on Everleigh, and Will is looking at Ceryn with the same dopey look on his face.
The teacher claps his hands. “What’s next?”
“Ceryn and I will gather up everyone we can. Men and boys over the age of thirteen who will fight for you.”
“Fifteen. Thirteen is too young.”
“We need fighters. If they want to fight, we’ll let them.”
“What if they’re really on my brother’s side?”
“Once the fighting starts, it’s almost impossible to tell who’s fighting who and for whom. It’s every man for himself. We’ll keep the youngsters as safe as we can, but we cannot face up to Millard and who knows how many men, with just us two. He will laugh before he kills us. We have to have some shape.”
“I’ll go to the kitchen while you gather help, talk to the little maids, make sure they’re all out of the way. Will can come with me. The teacher can stay here with Addyson and Della.”
“We’ll give you a weapon just in case,” Archer tells him.
They all leave at the same time, Ceryn and Archer heading for the burnt-out stables, Everleigh and Will to the kitchen.
“It’s going to be a long day.”
“It’s the waiting, the not knowing. He might be on his way right now, or he might come tonight when we’re all in bed.”
“We’ll wait for him. None of us will sleep until it’s over. And if I am left to look after you, I’ll do it properly this time.” Everleigh hugs him tightly and they are both tearful when they draw apart.
“Let’s get on with things. I want anyone who’s vulnerable out of the way.”
“Does that mean me?”
They both grin. “I’m pretty sure Ceryn won’t let anything happen to you.”
Will doesn’t even argue, just grins a massive grin. “I hope not.”
“I think you’re both really sweet.”
“Ceryn is not sweet.”
“True. I mean the two of you together. You deserve to be happy.”
“We all do.”
They hold hands as they head into the kitchen.