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YOU’D THINK. BUT WHERE Finn’s concerned, maybe not.
Out of all of the new people I’ve met since Weaver and me came to the castle to look for Archer, Finn is the one I know least about.
We’re awkward together because we don’t know each other or have much in common. Is he a good person, a funny person, hot-headed, kind-hearted, lazy, clever? I don’t know.
He doesn’t bug me like Ginata does, and I don’t feel a connection to him like I do with Addyson. I’m not in love with him like I am with Archer, though I’m kind of not now. I love to watch Della with Addyson, and I get a feel for her as a person: she’s kind and selfless. The teacher – my old mate Kenneth – I could watch all day. I’m sure loads of what he says is utter cow dung, like the stuff about the love potion. I’m sorry but I don’t reckon there’s a potion in the world he could make that would make me fall in love with him. I mean, he’s clever, sure and he’s got lovely eyes, but he’s just a weird old dwarf.
And Will, I don’t know, I like Will.
But I don’t want to like Will.
We’re in the middle of a battle of blood for a throne and a crown and I can’t be side-tracked by anyone.
But if we weren’t and I could, then I think Will could side-track me.
If he wanted to.
I shake my head at Finn. “I think you should go back to the castle. I’ll know you’re safe.”
“What are you planning to do here?”
“Just see if we’re right. See if Ginata, Millard and Wolf are here. And then go back to the castle. When Weaver arrives with the army tomorrow, then we’ll come and finish them off. Kill Millard and Wolf, rescue Ginata and then we’re done.”
“So, I can stay for a few minutes. No one will see us and as soon as we see who’s inside we’ll leave.”
I shrug. If he’s quiet, he can’t really get in my way.
I glare at the door, willing someone to walk out of it, or open it fully, or anything.
Finn shifts his weight from one foot to the other, then leans on the tree. I glance at him, he’s quietly good looking. Archer is strikingly handsome – a man you have to look at. His shock of red hair doesn’t help. You can’t ignore him. Will is good looking – a bit quirky looking, interesting to look at. Weaver has a plain face, but such a good heart it makes him lovely to look at.
I shake my head, train my attention back on the door to Ginata’s cottage. What’s wrong with me, worrying about which boy is the best looking? I’m meant to be fierce, a fighter – Everleigh’s best warrior, not a silly girl looking for a boyfriend.
I stare at the door again, willing it to open and, just like that, it does. The door swings wide. Wolf. He steps out into the sunshine, stretching his arms above his head.
I touch a hand to the arrows on my back. If I was still up in the tree I could shoot him, the angle would be perfect. But I am too low down now.
Damn Finn!
I could have shot him, and then if Millard followed him out, I could have shot him as well. Ended this whole thing. Everleigh would have thanked me.
Wolf stands still and looks all around, checking for trouble. His eyes seem to land on me and I freeze, but they scan straight past us both. I turn to Finn to share my relief, he yells out the word “Wolf!” and grabs hold of my arms, twisting them behind my back, and slipping his foot under my legs to knock me to the floor.
I try to protest but my mouth fills with dirt and I can only struggle as he kneels on my back, pulling my arms up at the wrong angle, causing me to shout out in pain and inhale more dirt.
I hear Wolf running towards us, laughing and clapping Finn on the back, lifting me up, the pair of them manhandling me in to the cottage. I fight them the whole way, wracking my brain about how to get out of this, how to escape, how to kill one of them, both of them, everyone. I spit a muddy gob of phlegm on to the floor, my head thrashing, my arms thrashing, and when that doesn’t work, letting my limbs go weak, so they struggle to carry me.
They shove me through the door with a fury that leads me to smack my head on the floor as I fall. I feel like laying down and letting the dizzy sickness take over, but I can’t. I scrabble to my knees, reaching for my dagger, but Wolf strikes me again and I fall.
I look up at Finn and I cannot read the expression on his face. I have no idea what the hell he’s doing, why he’s attacked me, why he’s suddenly helping Wolf and Millard. He could have hurt Everleigh at any time, but he hasn’t. What the hell is going on?
The pain in my whole body is screaming at me to stop battling and be still, but I cannot. As Wolf ties my hands behind my back, I am still struggling and he ties me tighter as a punishment.
They sit me on a chair and tie the rope around both my middle and the chair itself, tethering me.
“Finn!” I spit the word at him, an accusation. And then it hits me; the look on his face. He looks guilty. And I’m even more confused.
Then Millard steps towards me, leans down and looks me right in the eye before whispering, I’ve been looking forward to this, and then I see his fist come at me.