Besotted (The Fairest Maidens #3) - Jody Hedlund Page 0,78

over, not knowing which of us would live to throw it—or if any of us would. I wanted to throw all three so the courier would know we’d all lived. But we didn’t have the time to spare.

Instead, I chucked the stone in what I hoped was the right direction, praying my strength was sufficient for the rock to reach the other side.

Other than our heavy breathing, the night around us was strangely silent. The complex at the hilltop was too silent, devoid of revelry either from within or without the great hall. Even the usual noises of the nocturnal creatures were absent.

Had the queen’s men discovered our plan to cross the basilisk pit tonight? Were forces even now waiting to trap us?

“Let’s go.” Chester hauled himself to his knees.

“We need to wait for Mikkel and Vilmar to make their move.”

“They will.” Chester was already crawling up the hill. I didn’t know how he had the energy or ability to keep going after almost dying. Though my limbs were yet weak, I moved after him. If he could keep fighting in his condition, I could too. I had to. I had no other choice.

Just as we crested the hill, shouts arose from the drawbridge path, and I breathed out a prayer of gratitude that Mikkel and Vilmar had gained the news and were now doing their part. A moment later, shouts and the slapping of footsteps resounded in the lodge as the soldiers raced through the complex and rallied to fend off the attack.

“Here’s where we split up,” Chester whispered. A few new lights flared above us, adding to those already glowing in a lone window here and there. It was enough that I could now see Jorg and Chester more clearly as well as the outer walls of the stone buildings.

“Remember,” I said, “we cannot leave without Princess Ruby.”

“The young princess isn’t my consideration.” Chester pressed against the wall and slid toward the region of the bedchambers, where he planned to enter through a window.

“I vowed to Princess Pearl I wouldn’t leave without Ruby.”

“Your mistake, not mine.”

My humor at Chester from moments ago dissipated, replaced by annoyance. Sometimes he was too stubborn for his own good. “Then if I find Aurora, you will take her to safety while I ensure Princess Ruby is freed.”

Chester didn’t answer, and I didn’t waste any more time trying to persuade him. He might be stubborn and gruff at times, but I’d witnessed his kindness and goodness underneath. He’d never willingly leave behind someone in need, even if that meant he had to risk his own life—just as he’d done for me and Jorg in the basilisk pit.

I wanted that to be true of me as well. But was I still too selfish? Was that the whole point of my Testing? To strip away everything else so I could ultimately see just how selfish I was? If so, I was learning the lesson well.

I crept in the direction of the low buildings that housed the infirmary. My limp was pronounced since I’d had to leave behind my cane.

Jorg stepped into my path, bringing me to a halt. “I’ll be nearby. If you run into any trouble, you only need to shout, and I’ll hear you.”

“Likewise.” He was entering a window in the servants’ quarters. Hopefully, they would all be asleep, although with the commotion the guards were making, perhaps they’d roused.

The danger of this mission was beyond anything he’d agreed to, and yet he was still taking his duties as my scribe as seriously as he had from the start.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“For what?”

“For being a good companion and a faithful friend. I couldn’t have done all this without you.”

He paused, as though he hadn’t expected my heartfelt praise. “Sounds like you’re saying farewell.”

It might very well be farewell, but I wouldn’t dwell on that yet. “We’ll get Aurora out in no time and be drinking hot ale by morning.”

“Don’t do anything foolhardy.”

“You know me,” I jested. “I never do anything foolhardy.”

He didn’t guffaw or tease back.

I started off. If I waited any longer, he’d suspect I had every intention of doing whatever it took to free Aurora. I couldn’t have him tagging along trying to stop me. It was best if we parted ways here. I could only pray he wouldn’t hold himself responsible if something happened to me.

Chapter

25

Aurora

Though the guards attempted to hurry me, I walked down the corridor carefully, trying not to disturb a hair on my head. After the servants