Free Web NovelChapter 42: Chapter 42
Selene breathed heavily against the large crates in the hold. She and the girls had been in there for weeks on end, only coming out when the soldiers had left the ship to raid a few towns or capture the kingdoms on their list.
Unfortunately, Theia and Clair had been discovered and were stuck in a prison cell in Borigard. She was sick with worry for them.
"This is absolute hell," Larissa whispered. "I can hardly breathe from how stale and putrid it smells. How do they live?"
Selene brought a hand to her lips and pointed upward. Ever since their sisters had been found, the soldiers had been conducting searches on every ship to see if there were any other trespassers.
"How do you think they’re holding up?" Calista asked in a whisper.
"As best as they can," Selene replied in a hushed tone.
Selene shifted uncomfortably behind the crate, where she currently hid. Her hands fell tiredly by her sides, while her legs had gone numb beneath her. Her mind went to Theia and Clair again.
What if they’d been killed? Or flogged? Or starved to death? It had been days since their capture, and she knew the ships would leave Borigard any day now.
"I would like to go save them," Selene said abruptly. "I can’t bear to leave them to rot in there any longer."
"You understand what you’re saying?" Larissa asked. "If we get caught, this whole mission is over."
"Do you suggest we leave them there?
"You know I don’t mean that."
"What do you mean then?"
"What happens when you get caught? When we get caught?"
"I don’t know," Selene said disconsolately, "But the thought that so many awful things might be happening to them in there already kills me." freewёbnoνel.com
"Might I suggest something?" Calista chimed. They both turned to look at her. "We already have an idea of what these degenerates do when they try to conquer a kingdom. We don’t need to stay cramped up in this rat hole."
"So, what exactly do you propose we do?"
"We could rescue them and take a boat or a ship, anything back to Epirus. Isn’t that where we want to protect? We’re not even sure she’s the one going; it could be her brother.
The most important thing for us now is that we inform them of the conquest, evacuate as many people as they can or stand, and fight. But they should be ready."
Selene went quiet. It was a good plan, she thought. A better plan than she would have thought up right now under these circumstances, but it would be a hard feat to accomplish. Octavia’s guards were a bunch of savages. They would be brutalized in the most vicious way possible if they got caught.
"We would need a lot of gold," Selene said.
"That’s not much of a bother," Larissa replied. "I’m sure there’s plenty of gold on these ships; we just have to look properly."
"Alright then, we leave tonight."
"Really? Are you sure?" Calista sounded a bit sceptical. "Don’t we need some time to plan? Going in there blind is a death wish."
"We’ll get the same results even if we go in a week. The only difference is that our sisters will be long dead."
Nightfall came slowly. Their anticipation grew so large that the girls thought they would suffocate from it.
Selene was the first to climb out of the hold. She peeked out of the hatch and scanned the area.
When it was clear that there was no one on the floor, she slowly climbed out and peered deeply into the darkness.
"You can come out," she hissed, and the other girls climbed out to meet her. "Larissa, the gold."
Larissa nodded calmly and walked towards the other ships.
"Wait," Selene called. "Please be careful. "
"I will."
Selene and Calista descended the ships and waited till Larissa found as much gold as they would need. A few soldiers were coming back from the town, drunk and singing.
The girls hid in the darkness, pressing themselves against the ships, but a few coins fell from the pouch Larissa held and splashed into the water.
"Who’s there?" one of the soldiers slurred. "You’d better come out."
The girls held their breath and shut their eyes tightly as the soldiers drew close. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Paul," another soldier called, and slapped him over the head. "Let’s go."
"But there’s something there."
"What could possibly be over there?"
He groaned but let himself get dragged away.
The girls heaved a sigh of relief and waited till the soldiers went farther before they came out from their hiding spot and ran.
"That was close," Calista heaved deeply.
"Tell me about it," Larissa replied.
"We need to move quickly, girls." Selene’s eyes were plastered on the road, surveying their surroundings for any sign of the incoming soldiers.
They passed through the town, their head covered in thick shawls. Bodies lay on the floor recklessly. They could hear women scream for help as they were held down and raped by the soldiers.
Selene’s face twisted in hatred at the sight. Theia and Clair flashed through her mind again. She could only hope for their safety with this much brutality she had witnessed.
They were guards stationed everywhere along the palace walls.
"How do we get into that castle?" Lasrissa asked.
"I have no idea, but it’s going to be a very difficult task," Selene replied.
"Why don’t we fight our way through?" Calista suggested.
Selene kissed her teeth. "To think I had thought you were actually smart."
"Why don’t we access the area first, check for blind spots?" Larissa ignored the bickering.
"That’s a PROPER idea," Selene said, and Calista rolled her eyes.
They found a gully all the way at the back, and murky water surged down the channels.
"I can see the looks on your faces, and my answer is no," Calista stated. "I am not going down there."
"Then you can stay here and get caught," Selene retorted.
"Look at the pressure of that water, Selene. It doesn’t look safe in the slightest."
"We’ve done worse, Cal, so please stop arguing and let’s go."
Calista sighed. "They’d better thank their stars that we love them too much to rot in there," she mused.
