The Jaguar Knight by Ann Aguirre

Author:Ann Aguirre [Aguirre, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, paranormal
Publisher: Ann Aguirre
Published: 2021-02-15T22:00:00+00:00

15.

The dying started halfway through their shift.

Rowena had instructions to pretend things were normal until the last second, but when their supervisor keeled over and frothed from the mouth, it must mean ‘operation poison’ had succeeded. Some prisoners panicked; a few tried to help. Kani slipped from her stool and hurried out in the confusion. After a short delay, Rowena did the same and Slay followed.

The three of them cut through the chaos and the crowd, making for the rally point. Soon, the bells that once ruled their lives would be used for another purpose, signaling the attack on the remaining guards, those who had missed breakfast for some reason.

On the way, they armed up, snatching weapons from guards who were twitching in public areas. Maybe their bodies would go into the furnace and feed the mushrooms, justice for all the prisoners who unjustly suffered that same fate.

Straight away, she spotted Hettie and most of the comfort workers. Many already had weapons, likely taken from the guards. Nearly everyone could shift, but on Chantisse’s orders they were saving their strength. Most were weak and malnourished; they would need that extra power when they took the upper tiers.

“How are things?” Rowena asked Hettie, avoiding the hug.

“Here or above?” the other woman asked.

Ro gave her a measured look. “Both.”

“Last I heard from our spies in the guard ranks, there was a pitched battle outside. Prince Alastor liberated the penal farms and the freemen joined him in the march on Golgerra.”

“No news since?” she guessed.

Hettie shook her head. “Here, everything seems to be going according to plan so far.”

Unease crawled down Ro’s spine as she remembered the look in the tyrant’s eyes. “Don’t celebrate too soon. That’s the recipe for everything to go wrong.”

Kani edged closer to Slay, drawing an amused smile from Rowena. Ever since he’d startled Kani by trying to save her, she’d shown signs of developing a serious case of hero worship, a phenomenon Rowena understood intimately. She had no idea what she’d say when she saw Prince Alastor again.

Will he expect me to return to his service as if nothing has changed?

Probably not, as he’d promised the freedom to choose to anyone who followed him. That must include the Exiles. Still, she wondered, for sometimes in the back of her mind, she envisioned a future with Slay. That might be assuming entirely too much.

But there were more important matters to resolve first.

As word spread among the prisoners, a few volunteers showed up, eager for payback. Hopefully, those who didn’t want to fight would find a secure place to hide, though soon, safety would be relative.

Just then, Chantisse tolled the bell in sequence, signaling the start of the attack. The beginning of the end? One way or another.

And Slay snarled, “Fucking yes. Finally.”

The larger force moved out in groups with Kani and Nolen sticking with Rowena and Slay. She felt a little better about that, as the two were truly too young to be mixed up in this. Their ages

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.