Chapter 3

The tunnel let out at the burial ground on the edge of the city.

The moment we came out, we ran straight into the rebel army blocking the exit.

Only then did I understand: to protect Gloria, Cyril had sold the location of the tunnel exit to the rebel army, buying himself the chance to slip past the palace siege.

When the rain of arrows swept down, Third Blade, walking at the very front, took three of them meant for me.

The shafts punched clean through his chest, and he did not so much as groan.

He only raised his blade and charged, carving us a way out.

The remaining five closed around me, fighting and falling back, every step forward paid for in blood.

I had never seen slaughter so brutal.

Six grown men who had followed my father out into the world,

hacked me a path to safety with nothing but their own flesh and bone.

By the time we finally broke through the encirclement, only First Blade and Sixth Blade were left at my side, both badly wounded.

Still we did not dare stop. We could only push on, whatever it cost.

By the time we reached the southern lands, Sixth Blade could hold on no longer.

As the breath left him, he gripped my hand and said, “My lady, you must avenge His Grace the Duke, and don't grieve for us... the few of us gave our lives to His Grace long ago... all of this... it was ours to do...”

I crouched in the weeds at the roadside, looking at Sixth Blade's eyes that would not close in death, and finally the sobs broke out of me.

First Blade leaned against a tree trunk, his face white as paper, yet still forcing himself to hold out the waterskin to me. “My lady, don't cry... haven't we made it safely to the southern lands after all... the brothers died where they should have... that's a good thing...”

I took the waterskin and wiped my tears.

We had worn through three pairs of shoes on that road.

One by one, the people at my side were gone.

Only then did I understand what Cyril had meant when he said, “I will surely keep you safe all the way to the southern lands.”

It was to be built out of six lives.