War (The True Reign Series) (18 page)

Since t
he sash was still tied around Audek’s mouth, he remained quiet as they exited the palace.

If
Darmik and his friends were sequestered at the military compound, he wasn’t sure how they would intercept Rema. But he would find a way—no matter the cost.

They left the lush grounds of the emperor
’s palace and headed north, to the stark, functional military compound. Since he wasn’t cuffed, Darmik considered trying to escape. However, the area around the palace and garrison was flat for a reason—so the guards on patrol could easily see what happened at all times. That meant that if Darmik started sparring with these soldiers, someone would see and come to their aid. The best bet was to go with them and be reunited with his friends. Then, together, they would figure out what to do.

Arriving at the military compound,
Gaverek led Darmik and Audek between two buildings, through the empty courtyard, and inside a small, two-story structure.

There was a short hallway lined with
iron doors. Gaverek unlocked one and motioned for them to enter.

Audek went in, Darmik following right behind him. Inside, Ellie, Savenek, Neco, and Vesha all sat, looking
grim. The door slammed shut and Darmik held his hand up, indicating for everyone to remain silent. He scanned the room, noticing only one small window, high on a wall facing the courtyard, allowing light in. Since they hadn’t climbed any stairs, their room was on the ground level and, feasibly, someone could stand outside that window, listening to their conversation. He pointed to the window and then his ear, trying to convey his concern to his companions. They nodded in understanding.

Vesha
started laughing. He glared at her and she mouthed, “Sorry,” pointing to Audek. She must have found the sash tied around his mouth funny. Audek unknotted the fabric, throwing it at her.

Shaking his head
, Darmik motioned for everyone to come toward him. When they were shoulder to shoulder in a tight circle, he whispered, “Rema isn’t here yet. We need to find a way to escape.”

“
Any ideas?” Savenek asked.

“
No, but be prepared. When an opportunity presents itself, we’ll take it.” Darmik went over to the iron door and tried to open it. It was locked. Most likely, there were soldiers standing on the other side.

Neco squatted
, and Ellie climbed onto his shoulders. He carefully stood and moved to the window. Ellie was high enough to see outside. She gave a thumbs-up signal, and Neco lowered her to the ground.

“
How many?” Darmik whispered.

She held up two fingers
. Darmik paced around the room, trying to figure out what to do.

Savenek came over to him.
“What happened with the emperor?”

“
Not much,” Darmik answered.

“
Why are we here instead of the dungeon? Something is off.”

Darmik agreed
—something didn’t make sense. He went over everything that the emperor had said or implied. What was he missing?

“
How do you know Rema isn’t here?” Savenek asked.

“
My uncle said his assassin hasn’t returned yet.”

“And you believe him?”

Darmik replayed the encounter in his mind, searching for signs the emperor was lying. When he had said his man hadn’t returned, he was sitting in a chair, his eyes focused on Darmik. In training, Darmik had been taught to always look a person in the eyes when lying in order to make the lie believable. “No,” he said, “I don’t.”

“
How can we discover the truth?” Savenek asked.

They had to find a way out of their holding cell.
What if Rema was sitting in the dungeon right now? Last time she’d been imprisoned, he had done nothing to save her. He couldn’t fail her again. Thinking logically, if Rema was in Emperion, locked in the dungeon, then the emperor would likely order Darmik and his companions be held at the military compound, in order to keep them from crossing paths.

“
What time is it?” Darmik demanded.

“
I’m not sure,” Ellie said, “but if I had to guess, I’d say midday based on the position of the sun.”

“
Why?” Savenek asked Darmik.

“
All executions are held at sunset.”

Everyone remained quiet, lost in thought.

“Uh,” Audek whispered, “are we concerned that we’re all going to be executed? Or are we talking about Rema?” He glanced around at everyone, his face white.

“
Both,” Darmik said. “I have a feeling they’re only keeping us alive until she’s killed.”

No one spoke.

“We knew coming here was a long shot,” Savenek said. “At least we tried.”

“
We haven’t tried,” Darmik said, his voice harsh. “We’re only getting started.”

****

They sat cross-legged in a circle, heads bent inward, “Our best bet is to get someone to open the door to check on us,” Darmik whispered. “Then we can try to escape.”

“
How do you suggest we do that?” Neco asked.

“
One of the girls can scream, pretending to be injured. Hopefully, someone will open the door to see if we’re okay,” Savenek suggested.

Darmik thought it was a decent plan.
He just hoped the scream wouldn’t cause several guards to check on them. They could handle a couple, but if too many armed soldiers came, their plan wouldn’t work—and they’d only have one shot at this.

Getting into position,
Darmik and Savenek stood on either side of the door. Neco and Audek waited by the window, ready to run forward and fight when necessary. Darmik nodded at the girls sitting in the center of the room, indicating it was time to put their plan into action.

Vesha screamed.

They all waited. Nothing happened. Darmik held up his finger, indicating that they should give it a few more minutes. His muscles were tight, adrenaline rushing through him. This plan had to work.

It sounded
as if there was some sort of commotion on the other side of the iron door. Darmik held up his fist—his signal to prepare to fight. Vesha grabbed her leg like she was hurt, while Ellie sat by her side, comforting her.

The door opened outward, and a soldier
entered with his weapon drawn. Darmik tackled the man, knocking his sword from his hand. Ellie reached out, grabbing it. Darmik twisted, throwing the soldier to the ground. Several additional guards rushed into the room. Darmik pinned down his opponent and glanced about the space.

Savenek and Neco each managed to disarm and
restrain a soldier. However, guards stood behind Audek, Ellie, and Vesha, holding daggers to their throats.

A man
, covered head to toe in a black cape, glided into the room, his face concealed under his hood. “Release my men,” he ordered.

Darmik contemplated his options.
If he refused to comply, his friends would be killed. Nevertheless, would it be enough to buy him an opportunity to escape? Were there additional soldiers in the hallway? Could he sacrifice the lives of his companions to save Rema?

Darmik glanced into Neco
’s eyes. Neco nodded, as if he understood what Darmik was thinking, and he agreed. Sacrifice a few for the good of the many. This is what Emperion had taught him, and what he’d practiced as commander. Yet it was not how Rema operated. She would never sacrifice a few to save others. She would fight to save everyone.

Darmik
growled in frustration and reluctantly released his opponent, Savenek and Neco following suit. Six additional soldiers swarmed into the room. One held Darmik, while another tied his hands and feet together.

Once Darmik, Neco, and Savenek were all bound, lying on the ground, the man in charge ordered
, “Everyone out. I want six of you stationed outside the door. The rest of you are to report to the fifth sector for additional patrols. Dismissed.”

The
soldiers exited and the iron door slammed shut, leaving the man in the cape alone with Darmik and his friends. “I want all of you lined up against this wall.” The man pointed to his left. Darmik shimmied his body over and used the wall as leverage to prop himself up to a sitting position. Everyone else did the same.

“
I’m surprised you surrendered so easily,” he said, his cape still concealing his identity. “Why?”

There was something slightly familiar about his voice.
“I saw no need,” Darmik answered.

“
No need to escape? Knowing full well you’re all going to die? Why not at least try?”

“
I couldn’t risk my friends’ lives just to save my own.”

“
Is that all?”

Darmik sighed.
He might as well be honest. “No, that’s not the only reason.”

The man
bent down so he was eye level with Darmik. His face remained concealed in the shadow of his hood. “Tell me your motives.”

“
She wouldn’t want me to,” Darmik admitted. “I also made a promise to a friend—no unnecessary killing.” He let his head fall back against the wall. He’d failed. Not only was Rema going to die, but so were his companions.

“
Excellent,” the man said, pushing the hood from his head.

It was Trell.

“What are you doing here?” Darmik demanded, shocked to find Trell in Emperion. Was he working with Captain? Did he help bring Rema here? If Darmik weren’t tied up, he would strangle the old man.

Trell held a finger to his lips.
“Keep your voices low,” he whispered. “Rema is here.”

Darmik
felt his heart pulsing in his chest. He’d figured as much, but to have it confirmed was another matter. “Here in the compound?” he asked.

Trell shook his head.
“I’m afraid not. The Execution Tower. She is scheduled for execution.”

Darmik sat there
, staring at the old man. “How are you even here?” he demanded. “Did you kidnap Rema?”

Trell
shook his head. “It’s a long story,” he said. “I’ll tell you another day. For now, all you need to know is that I’m here to help.”

That was good enough for Darmik.
He didn’t have time to sit there listening to explanations. He had to save Rema. “Let me go.”

“
It’s not that simple,” Trell responded. He slid a dagger from the sleeve of his cloak. “Turn around. I’ll cut your bindings.”

Darmik did as he asked, and Trell sliced the rope around Darmik
’s wrists and ankles.

“
Stand next to the door,” Trell ordered. Darmik did as instructed, wondering what the old man had planned.

Trell knocked on the door.
When it swung open, he said, “I need two guards in here to help with something.”

Two soldiers entered, not noticing Darmik
standing silently, against the wall. When the door slammed shut and locked into place, Trell took his sword and swung the hilt against the back of one of the soldier’s head. He dropped to the floor.

Darmik used the same idea and hit the back of the other soldier
’s head with his elbow, then swiped at the guy’s legs, sending him onto his stomach. Trell came over, whacking the back of the soldier’s head, ensuring the man stayed down.

“
You and Neco switch clothes with the guards,” Trell ordered while slicing Neco’s bindings.

Darmik quickly undressed
one of the soldiers and exchanged his basic Emperion uniform for the soldier’s elite one. Neco did the same with the other soldier.

“
Put on the cape, too,” Trell whispered. “Keep your head covered.”

Darmik did as instructed, sheathing the soldier
’s sword on his belt, and shoving the dagger in his boot.

“
Done,” Neco said. “Now what?”

“
Tie them up, just the way you were.”

Darmik took his cut bindings and wound them around the unconscious soldier.
He propped him up against the wall, next to Neco’s soldier.

“
If there’s anything to cover their mouths with, use it,” Trell said.

Darmik ripped off
two pieces of his undershirt and shoved one into each unconscious soldier’s mouth. Then Neco took the bottom of his undershirt and ripped two longer sections, tying them around the soldiers’ mouths and heads.

Trell ordered
Darmik and Neco to stand at attention with their backs facing the door.

Trell stepped into the hallway. “I need the rest of you in there now.” The remaining four soldiers entered the room.

Trell slipped his sword from its scabbard, flipped it around, and wacked one soldier on the back of his head, rendering him unconscious. At the same time, Neco went after another soldier, and Darmik knew he was responsible for the remaining two.