than she could. “I’m not asking to be put in the front lines. You’ll have healers and medical staff staying behind the lines in the battle. I’ll stay there.”
“That won’t mean you’ll be safe. Armies are routed and overrun all the time.” Averett touched her arm. “If you were killed during the battle, it would shatter Farrendel. He would not wish for you to be hurt trying to rescue him.”
No, he wouldn’t. He would want her far away and safe.
She had to balance the risk to herself and the risk to Farrendel. If she could stay as safe as possible and be able to help Farrendel, then it would be worth it.
“There is another reason she should come.” Weylind shifted. “Gror Grar is large, and the dungeon tunnels winding into the mountain are extensive. When we attack, we might not be able to reach him before they kill him if we wander the tunnels blindly. But there is a chance Elspetha will be able to sense where he is.”
She could? Essie closed her eyes. Was she imagining that she could tell the general direction Farrendel was in? It was such a subconscious thing, she had not even noticed it. Yet, hadn’t she always found herself turning in that direction when she thought about him?
“This just gets better and better.” Averett waved a hand, his arms still crossed tightly across his chest. “Not only do you want her at risk behind the battle lines, but now you want to send her into danger during the attack on the fortress of Gror Grar.”
Essie scowled and crossed her own arms. “This is my choice, Averett. If I can help save Farrendel, then I want to try. You’ll have until the assault on Gror Grar to come up with a plan to keep me as safe as possible.”
“Of course. That makes it so much better.” Averett’s scowl deepened.
Julien stepped to Essie’s side. “She’ll have all of us along.”
“We’ll keep her safe.” Edmund rested his elbow on her shoulder. “What could go wrong when she has all three of us guarding her?”
“Four of us.” Jalissa stepped to Edmund’s side. “If Elspetha is going, then she will need another female along with whom to share a shelter.”
Essie grinned. “I’ll be happy to have you for a bunk mate.”
That made Weylind scowl and cross his arms.
Averett raised his eyebrows. “See. Not so easy accepting that your sister is determined to put herself in danger, is it?”
Essie elbowed him. “You don’t have to rub it in.”
“Yes, I do. It’s the one thing I can do to make myself feel better.” Averett’s mouth twitched as he fought to stay frowning instead of smiling.
Essie wrapped her arms around Edmund and Julien. This was it. Tomorrow, they would launch the attack. One step closer to getting Farrendel back.
WHEN PRINCE RHARRETH allowed her into Farrendel’s cell the next day, Melantha ate her meal next to Farrendel, trying to make conversation. As he was still giving her frosty silence, it was not working.
After they had eaten, she convinced Prince Rharreth to let her haul buckets of water from the spring of water that trickled from the rock wall in an alcove just on the other side of the door to this wing of the dungeon.
While Prince Rharreth led her there, she was able to get a glimpse of more of the dungeon. Not much. Just more tunnels branching off into the darkness. But at least she had learned they were deep in the warren in the mountain that formed the trolls’ dungeon.
Not exactly helpful information, but surely Farrendel would find all information she could gather useful. If she could not bribe him into speaking to her by helping him, maybe she could with information.
Two buckets sat next to the pool formed at the base of the steady trickle of water. Convenient for trolls fetching water for prisoners. Or washing out dungeon cells after torturing their latest victim.
Prince Rharreth leaned against the wall, eyeing her, as she dipped first one bucket, then the other into the water. When she hefted both of them, he did not offer to help.
As she passed him, both hands laden with full buckets, she gritted her teeth and glared. “I am not going anywhere. You could help. Unless it is beneath your dignity as a proud troll warrior.”
His dark eyes remained hard as they focused on her, his mouth tight. “I am not prey to be baited.”
Melantha huffed and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. That was a