Page 101 of Sword & Sacrifice

A bemused smile softened Adelaide’s expression. “The general is more perceptive than she lets on sometimes. Yes, I perfected my barriers as a way to keep myself safe. And … as a way to keep Everett away from Emmaline.”

There were dozens of questions Archer could ask. Why did you never tell us? Why didn’t you ask anyone for help? Or warn us he might be a problem. Finally, he settled on, “Why did you let Emmaline visit Bellacosta with me? I wouldn’t have willingly put her in danger.”

“Oh Archer,” Adelaide sighed. “Neither would I, but Emmaline is an adult. Just because I’ve decided to live my life in a bubble doesn’t mean I can force the same on her. Did she arrive in Litus safely?”

Archer shook his head. “I don’t know. Your letter arrived before she did.”

Worry creased Adelaide’s brow as she glanced back at the traitor. “If they’re looking for her, that means they haven’t caught her. But if they attack Litus …”

“She and Silas are both in danger,” Archer confirmed. They both stood, Adelaide bringing the tray with her. “I have to go back. Warn him that pirates may be coming to his shores—”

“Your Majesty,” Norwin called, running from the stables.

“What did you learn?” Archer asked, hoping for more information about the pending attack on Litus. The more he knew, the better they could defend against the pirates.

“They’re planning to attack the capital,” Norwin explained.

Archer nodded. “Pirates.”

Norwin’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Pirates? What do pirates have to do with it?”

Archer gestured to the unconscious soldier. “He told us that Varro made a deal with … someone.” Adelaide had kept her secret for twenty years, he wouldn’t reveal it now. “The captain’s ships and crew in exchange for the Witch.”

The creases in Norwin’s brow only deepened as he looked between Archer and Adelaide. “Why would they hire pirates to attack a mountain?”

Archer tensed. “What?”

“Which capital did you mean?” Adelaide asked in the same calm voice she used with her patients.

“The Bellacostan traitors are headed to Casselarn.”

The pit dropped out of Archer’s stomach. Both Casselarn and Litus were being threatened at the same time. The majority of the Arnsveldian army had marched with Archer to Litus. Even though he’d sent a third of them home, a large army marched slowly. A small group of traitors may not normally prove a threat, but if they arrived in Casselarn first—if they met up with Alistair, wearing Valerian’s face—how much damage could they do before reinforcements arrived?

But the thought of leaving Silas to face the pirates alone, with soldiers who were as likely to betray him as defend him …

Once he’s dead, the traitor had said in his ramblings.

Varro only wanted the puppet version of Silas, someone whose strings he could easily pull. With the strings cut and the puppet standing on his own two feet, Varro had no reason to keep Silas alive.

Archer strode toward the stable, ready to saddle Scout and head straight back to Litus.

“You won’t make it in time.”

He halted, muscles tensing until they ached.

Adelaide’s voice trembled as she continued, “Litus is a ten-day journey away. Everett won’t politely wait for you to arrive to defend its shores. The moment his crews are ready, he’ll attack. Even if you leave now, you can’t protect Silas.”

Archer’s hands clenched at his side. He barely contained his rage behind his teeth as he bit out, “What do you expect me to do? Let him die?”

“He’ll die or survive without you. Your presence won’t make a difference. But Archer.” She laid a delicate hand on his sword arm. “You could save Casselarn. We know these mountains better than the traitors. If we’re fast, we can arrive before them, evacuate civilians behind the castle walls. Meet them fully prepared on the battlefield rather than struggling against an ambush.”

“They’re trained soldiers,” he growled. “They should always be prepared for an ambush.”

“Trained, yes, but not battle-tested.”

A muscle ticked in Archer’s jaw. He’d left some experienced soldiers behind to guard Arnsveld, but most of them had joined him for the short war in Bellacosta. Until those soldiers returned home, Casselarn’s defenses were barebones.

Although Bellacosta’s own soldiers had questionable loyalties, the Arnsveldians who stayed behind offered some additional protection. That was the whole reason they stayed. No matter how strong Archer was, he could not turn the tides of battle on his own.