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“I WORRIED IT MIGHT kill her. The shock.” The teacher looks down at her, concern on his face.
“Really? Why did we do it like this then? I should have hidden somewhere else. Let you explain everything first.”
“You’re right. But I was excited. I wanted to see her reaction.”
“Well, she fainted, a great reaction. Now what?”
“She’ll get over it pretty quickly and she’ll be fine. And she’s alive. Cover her with your cloak.”
Archer kneels next to Everleigh, placing his cloak over her and smoothing the hair off her forehead. He smiles over at Brett as he stands up. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Archer. I’ve been trying to make amends since that day in the woods. I feel like I’ve done it now.”
“You have.” Archer gives him a hug, still amazed that the two of them can even be in the same space without fighting.
“He would have killed her if someone else caught her. Wolf, or any of his men.”
“I know. I’m glad I managed to get her away.”
“You should get back before you’re missed.”
“You’re right. Go on, hit me.”
At Brett’s say so Archer pulls back his fist and punches him, hard in the face, once, twice and a third time. He helps pull him to his feet, wincing at the pull in his side. “Sorry Brett.”
“It’s fine. It’s what we decided.” His speech is slurry through his fat lip, and the blood in his mouth. He shakes hands with the teacher and with Archer, and, letting the blood drip over his clothes, gives them a nod before ducking out of the cave.
“Brave man,” the teacher says, watching Brett walk away. “Do you think it will work?”
“I think so. The punches were real.”
“People only see what they want to. I don’t think Millard will suspect him.”
“I hope not. I wouldn’t want to see him dead. Not now.”
“Me neither. He did a good thing.”
The two men are silent, looking down at Everleigh. “I should never have let you talk me into doing it like this.” Archer kneels next to her again, shifting himself until he’s comfy. “What can I do?”
“She’ll come around. Just give her time.”
“I’ve got time.” He takes hold of her hand and holds it tight.
***
WILL GROANS AND LIFTS his head up. He has no idea where he is or why he’s in such pain, but it can’t be good.
“Hey, lay back down.” Ginata gently pushes him back until he’s lying flat again. “You took a pretty big whack to the head.”
“Did I?”
“You don’t remember?”
He rubs at his head. “No...I...”
“What’s your name?”
“Will.”
“And my name?”
“Ginata.”
“Where are you?”
He raises his head enough to cast his eyes around. “Your work room. In the castle.”
“So, no permanent damage done. I think.”
“Good...so what am I missing? Who hit me?”
“Brett, I think. One of the King’s men. Millard was going to hang you. He let you go, but you were escaping with Everleigh when you were knocked out. I think. I wasn’t there.”
“Where were you?”
“I was with the King. Bringing him back here. His arm was burnt.”
“So where is he now?”
Ginata takes a deep breath, steadies her voice. “He’s tied up in his rooms. Hidden. We took his crown.”
“You took his crown? We won? Where’s Everleigh?”
“Taken. By Brett. We think. After he hurt you. We don’t really know. It’s such a mess.” She sits down on the stool and puts her head in her hands. “Ceryn followed me here. Do you remember her?”
“Yes. Archer’s friend. The girl with the mark.”
“Yes. She followed me up here and hit Millard over the head, twice. We tied him up and then moved him to his rooms. We figured that whoever hurt you and took Everleigh would take her to the King.”
“Have they?”
“We don’t know. Ceryn has gone looking for Everleigh in case we were wrong. Weaver’s taken Addyson, Della and Finn back to the cottages. I’m looking after you.”
“So, who’s watching the King? What about Wolf?”
“Wolf was attacked by Weaver. We think he’s still unconscious – at least he’s not been in here looking for Millard. No one is watching the King, but he’s tied up. Weaver will come straight back.”
“So, what do we do?”
“Well, you need to rest and I need to...”
“What? What do you need to do?”
“Nothing. I’ve done enough.”
***
WEAVER FOLLOWS FINN, Della and Addyson into the cottage. “I think you’ll be fine here. I’ll go back to the castle, watch the King, until either Ceryn finds Everleigh or whoever took her brings her back. As soon as we know something, we’ll come and get you. Addyson, you’ll be able to go home.”
“Thank you. I want to thank all of you. It’s been a horrible few days. I’ll be glad to go home.”
“I’ll miss you, little lamb.” Della takes hold of Addyson’s hand and holds it to her cheek.
“Will you visit me?”
“Try keeping me away.”
Weaver nods to Finn to follow him out. “I won’t be any help if anyone comes looking for the princess.”
“I don’t think they will. No one knows Everleigh was here. If she has been captured she won’t give up Addyson’s whereabouts. Just be vigilant. Try to keep them calm. I’ll see you soon.”
Weaver claps Finn on the shoulder and then heads back to the castle. The King is tied up, but Weaver will feel better when he’s being guarded as well.
***
CERYN IS SICK OF SCREAMING out the same word over and over again.
Everleigh.
It’s pointless. She won’t be roaming the woods around the river; whoever has her will have hidden her or locked her up...
Shaking her head, Ceryn wonders if it’s too obvious. Would Millard have had her locked in the tower? It’s worth looking and if she’s not there, she’ll go back to the King’s rooms, stay with Weaver and wait until Everleigh is brought back to the castle.
She rides faster than ever and tethers Pitch in the stable. The tower is unmanned and even as she pushes open the door; she knows that if Everleigh were in here, it would be locked up and heavily guarded.
She has to check though, and once she has, she heads inside to help Weaver. She only takes one wrong turn on her way to the King’s rooms but finds her bearings pretty quickly.
She pushes open the door, expecting to find Weaver standing outside the closet, standing guard, and Millard in an unconscious heap on the floor inside, neatly tied up, waiting for Everleigh to dole out the appropriate justice.
But the room is empty.
No Weaver.
She throws open the closet door.
No King.
Cursing, she storms out and heads for Ginata’s room.