The Wand & the Sea (10 page)

“I'm okay, just get him,” Ben said, panting.

They turned back to see Avery cornered at the far end of the dungeon, his hand on a long rope. He had pulled a dagger of his own, though it looked no bigger than Holly's pocketknife. It trembled in his hand.

“Stay back,” Avery said, his voice shaking. “This bell will summon the king's knights in an instant.”

“Dinnae be daft, lad,” said Bittenbender in a low voice. He pulled a crossbow off his back and aimed it at Avery's chest. “Ye'd drop dead afore any knights came to yer aid.”

“One more step, and I shall call them. Let me speak. I have no wish to harm thee.”

“There's a likely story,” Ben said. “He's a liar, always has been.”

Again, Everett felt a surge of pity for the prince. Ben was right; he
had
betrayed them. But even when it had happened, Avery taunting them from astride his stallion, Everett hadn't quite believed it. There was a bitterness in his voice then, a sense that he was doing something he
had
to do, not something he wanted to do.

“Let him talk,” Everett said now. “He won't get two steps before we kill him anyway.”

“Ask the prisoners—the little men,” Avery said quickly. “I have been naught but kind to them. The man-horse as well. I have brought food—”

“Ye hadn't brought much, from the look of 'em,” Bittenbender growled.

Avery seemed to realize the truth of this, and backpedaled. “I did my best, good sir. It has not been easy—but I wouldst aid thee—”

Swikehard spoke behind them. “We got no time fer this, Bittenbender. I say gut 'im while we have 'im.”

“You will need maps!” Avery cried, and they all halted. Even Ben looked more confused than angry.

“Maps for what?” he asked.

“Nautical maps. I—I have heard the Mounted and the other prisoners, whispering of a voyage to find the Adepts. But the sea is vast, you have no chance of finding them—”

“And ye ken where they be,” Bittenbender guessed, inching forward. Avery tightened his hand on the bell pull.

“I—I do not, but I do know where the king keeps the seafaring charts. If any documents show the Island of Exile, it must be they.” Avery was babbling now, his chest heaving as he eyed the Dvergar's crossbow.

“Don't trust him, it's a trick,” Ben said.

“But he's right,” Everett said. “Even Almaric said the island would be hard to find. And Avery
has
seen the king's maps. He talked about them last year, remember, Ben?”

“
I
don't remember. But then, he wasn't pretending to be
my
best friend.”

“What choice had I?” Avery broke in. “The king had decreed I betray you—but I
did
want to see your world—”

“Haud yer wheesht!” Bittenbender said. “Here's the bargain, Yer Highness: ye'll come wi' us, under
our
terms. Ye'll find these maps fer us and hand 'em over. One wrong move and I'll slit yer throat without a second thought.”

“It's a trap,” Ben said desperately. “He'll lead you right to the king, or the knights, or whoever.”

“It'd be worth it,” said the Dvergar. He gestured with his crossbow, and Avery moved away from the bell pull. “He kens well that I'd be happy to give me own life if I could gut
him
first.” He yanked Avery by one arm. “Now bind him fast.”

Holly held her lantern up higher. Could this prone figure be the knight she had just been thinking of?

Loverian's shoulder-length brown curls were matted and bloody, his cheeks bruised, and he held one arm at an awkward angle that told Holly it was probably broken. The young knight looked up at her, surprised out of his weariness. “Lady Holly,” he said, his voice raspy. “Leave this place at once. 'Tis not safe.”

A wave of nausea washed over her. “You're here because of me. Because you defended me in the Battle of Midsummer, when Grandor attacked.”

“I . . .” The knight's voice caught in a coughing spasm, a wet, dangerous sound.

“Jade, we have to get him out of here. He's sick.”

The cat's green eyes glowed in the lantern light. “My lady, we cannot shelter a king's knight.”

“But he saved my life!”

“As you saved mine,” the knight said in a low voice. “Our score is settled. Leave me to my fate.”

“No way.” Holly pointed the wand at the lock.
“Osclaígí!”

The lock fell open. Holly darted inside and slipped one arm under Loverian's uninjured shoulder. “Okay, on three . . . I don't think I can lift you by myself. . . .”

“Lady Holly.” Gently Loverian disengaged his arm from hers. “I cannot go with you. Your familiar speaks truth. I am a knight of the realm.”

“But that's just
wrong
,” Holly said, raising her voice. “You don't owe the king anything. Look what he's done to you!”

“I battled an ally in favor of his enemy,” said Loverian. “I ought to have been beheaded at once.”

Jade hissed in the dark. “There is no time.”

Holly dashed her hand across her eyes. She couldn't be crying, not about a king's knight. But neither could she leave him to die in the place. But at a steely look from him, she backed out of the cell, and he pulled the door gently shut.

“Will . . . will you be all right?”

Loverian only bowed his head.

“Lady Holly,” said Jade, his voice uncommonly gentle. “We must go.”

“I know.” She wiped her nose, turning away from Loverian. She couldn't bear to look at him. “But where are the others?”

“We be here,” came a rough voice down the corridor, and Holly saw Bittenbender's lantern bobbing along in the darkness. “And we got ourselves a guest.”

An icy dread pierced Holly's chest when she saw Avery, and she could hardly believe her ears when Bittenbender said he was going to lead them to the nautical maps. “Are you crazy?” she said, and everyone winced at her furious whisper. “Just throw him in one of the cells. Ranulf can barely stand up, and the Dvergar aren't much better. I can't drag them all over the castle.”

“You don't have to,” said Everett. It figured he'd buddy up to Avery again, as if he'd totally forgotten that the prince had tried to burn them alive in the forest. “Take Ranulf and the others back to Almaric's. We'll stay and get the maps from Avery.”

She turned to Ben, who put his hands up. “Don't look at me. I think it's nuts.”

“But he's the only one who knows where those maps are,” Everett insisted. “We'll never find the Adepts without them.”

“That's what
he
told you,” Holly said. “Forget it. We're not doing it.”

Bittenbender stepped around Avery's back, bringing his dagger to his throat. “And
I
say we
are
doin' it, lassie. He's too big a prize to let go. Dvergar settlements will be marked on the king's land maps, and I've a mind to take those as well, if there be any.”

“It's suicide,” Holly said, struggling to keep her temper. “Ranulf, what do you think?”

She hated to ask him. He leaned against the dungeon walls, his every breath a rasping chore. He raised his good eye to her. “You may well exchange one set of prisoners for another. His Highness . . .” Ranulf winced as some bruise pained him. “His Highness cannot be trusted.”

“It's not up fer a vote,” Bittenbender cut in. “Ye got two choices, Adept. I kill 'im here, or I take 'im wi' us.”

Avery's face went white, and he made some gurgling noises through his gag. His wide blue eyes pleaded with her.

“Lady Holly, think on it.” Jade kneaded her ankle with one soft paw. “Without maps, our quest is doomed, even if the sea witch arrives. We would be more likely to find a single acorn in the Northern Wood.”

“Maybe . . .” Holly searched her brain for some other idea. “Maybe we could come back for them?”

“And breach the castle a second time? Nay. The time is now.”

Holly shivered in the damp air. She hated this. She couldn't let Bittenbender kill Avery, and if he
did
know where to find the sea charts . . .

“All right,” she said, turning back to Bittenbender. “I came here to free Ranulf and the others. This other idea is on your head. But you do it on your own. Ben and Everett are coming with me.”

Bittenbender's lips curved into a nasty grin. “Suits me. Wiggers, go with the prisoners and be assured they get out all right. Swikehard, you'n me'll follow His Highness to the maps.”

“No!” Everett pulled Holly aside and whispered. “Don't you see? They'll just kill him once he hands over the maps. Then they'll tell you that he double-crossed them.”

Ben joined them. “He's right, Holly. Avery doesn't stand a chance if we don't go along.”

“
You
said the plan was nuts. What do you care about Avery, anyway?”

“Nothing,” Ben said, straightening his back. “I just don't like to see people—
kids
—get killed in cold blood.”

“But . . . But . . .” She was supposed to keep them safe. It was her job.

“But you cannot,” said Jade quietly. How did he always know what she was thinking?

“Fine. Do what you want.” Holly put one arm around Ranulf's waist, letting him lean on her. “But I am not breaking back into this castle to rescue you guys. You got that?”

“Just do your bit,” Everett said. “We'll get the maps.”

In spite of her anger, she gave Ben a quick hug, and looked Everett in the eye. “You won't have a wand, you know. And not many weapons.”

“It's okay. Bittenbender and Swikehard will watch out for us,” he said.

Holly shook her head. If only she could believe that.

It figured, Holly thought, that the boys would go off on some impossible quest and leave her to do the real work, which was getting the prisoners out of the castle. But at least the smaller group was easier to manage, especially with Ranulf. She and the Dvergar might fade into the castle walls, but there was no disguising a centaur. They had to get out as quickly as possible.

Still, she couldn't help feeling she should've done more to keep Ben with her. She was supposed to lead them, and it was her job to protect her brother. But lately he'd started acting like he didn't need protection.

She could hardly spare any of this much thought as they climbed the winding stone staircase back up to the heart of the castle. It was tough going for Ranulf, who paused at every landing and heaved great, rattling breaths. More than once Jade leaped onto his back and puffed into his face as he had done in the dungeon cell; this seemed to revive Ranulf enough to move on. Meanwhile, Holly was half dragging one of the Dvergar prisoners, a man called Onck. Wiggers brought up the rear with Kepswich, the other prisoner. It was a long trip up the staircase.

It was much worse going out than coming into the castle. Ranulf's hooves echoed off the stone floors. The corridors somehow stretched longer than before, but they didn't dare move too quickly, for fear of sounding like an attack of cavalry. The rescued prisoners could only shuffle along, the Dvergar occasionally moaning as they went, even though Holly and Wiggers took turns whispering, “Quiet!” as loud as they dared.

As it turned out, she needn't have worried. They met no one until they reached the moat, where Holly again cast the
tubhair eas
spell over the castle guards. The centaurs spied them and slipped into the moat. In a few moments they had crossed the water and stood shivering on the far bank.

“But where are the others?” Hoofstone asked.

“It's a long story. They'll be coming soon,” Holly said, hoping she was right.

The centaur gazed across the moat at the enchanted guards. “We watched when you cast the spell the first time, my lady. It lasts only a few moments.”

Which meant the guards would be on alert when the boys came out.

“They had to make things more complicated,” she said, her anger covering her fear. “Now what do we do?”

“Brune and I will stay, Lady Holly,” said Hoofstone. “And see that the lads escape safely.” He pulled his longbow from his back.

Holly hated to put the centaurs at risk, but it seemed the best plan. She thanked Hoofstone, then led Ranulf and Wiggers, along with the two Dvergar prisoners, to the edge of the wood.

“But it be a fair walk back to the Elm,” said the little red-haired man. “How will the prisoners bear it?”

“No worries,” said Holly, sounding braver than she felt. “I can do the Vanishment spell. I learned it last year.” She didn't mention to Wiggers that she'd only succeeded in doing the spell a few times. “Now, gather around. Everyone needs to be connected.” Holly took hold of Ranulf's hand, and she felt Jade's velvety paw on her knee; the Dvergar each took an arm or shoulder. She pulled out the wand and took a deep breath.