When I wake, my head is pounding so hard that I want to cut it o๏ฌ. My mouth tastes like something died inside it. Iโm disoriented, my vision a bit fuzzy, but I recognize the walls of the workshop.ย ๎ขree small candles are lit on the table, and when I sit upright, I discover Quint is half asleep on the darkened hearth.
But no one else. โQuint,โ I say.
He startles and straightens immediately, but then he grimaces as if in pain, and presses a hand to his side. โCorrick. Rocco brought some water from the barrel. Let meโโ
โWhereโs Tessa? Whereโs Harristan?โ I blink at him and try to make my brain work. โWhat happened? Are you hurt?โ
โ๎ขeyโre gone,โ he says. โYour brother le๎ย to negotiate with the rebels.โ
I stare at him. I force myself to blink twice. โAm I still sleeping or did you just say my brother le๎ย to negotiate with rebels?โ
โTessa has gone with him to help.โ
I press a hand to my face. โ๎ขey what?โ My thoughts refuse to focus. โHe le๎ย us here alone?โ
โNo, he le๎ย his guard Rocco, whoโโ โRocco!โ I call.
๎ขe door opens almost immediately. โYour Highness?โ โDo you know where my brother went?โ
โTo attempt to stop the rebels in their attacks.โ โAs I said,โ says Quint.
I have to rub at my eyes. Finally, I can peer at the guard. โRocco, we need to get back into the sector. We need to help him.โ
For the barest moment, I think heโll refuse. Heโs of my brotherโs personal guard, and they wonโt take action that would upset Harristan. But maybe heโs equally worried for the king, because he says, โYes, Your Highness.โ
I force myself to my feet and my head swims. I have to grab hold of the table.
Rocco steps forward to catch me.
I look up at him. โIโm sorry youโre not getting that easy night you hoped for.โ
โI did not hope for that.โ
โOh good,โ I say. โQuint, are you coming? Weโre going to need toย nd horses.โ
