Betrayal & Banditry (Sunset at Dawn Book 1) by Jes Drew

Author:Jes Drew [Drew, Jes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boo's Books Publishing
Published: 2023-04-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter XIV

Prince Otello

By the time I reach the rope outside of my tower, my limbs feel as wobbly as they do after with training the broadsword.

Sighing, I wrap the rope around my waist and tie it securely. Then I tug it twice, hoping Heinrich is still awake and able to help me up.

Then, because this has not been my night between fighting in a crypt and then quarreling with my temporary ally, I place my legs on the stones, pulling taught against the rope. Pure determination has me moving my legs like I am walking on a horizontal surface rather than vertical, my wobbling arms reaching up the rope to help pull me upward.

Several yards above the ground, I hear a great turmoil come from the crypt, and see torches start to light up. They are going to be looking for whoever sealed the crypt.

I climb faster. Or at least as fast as I can bear to.

Lights start coming closer, and I wonder if it would be better if I just go still and hope they don’t look up.

But no sooner than the thought goes through my mind, the rope starts to move upward itself.

I find new hope and continue my ascent, moving twice as fast as before with the extra help.

Finally, I reach the windowsill and grasp it. Then hands grasp mine and pull me through. Before I collapse on the ground, that was lower than I expected.

“Ow,” I groan.

Heinrich stands over me next to a makeshift pulley system he must have put together in my absence. “What happened? What did you learn?”

“VonTrapp is no friend to the family who once owned this castle.” Groaning, I sit up and undo my rope.

He helps me pull it free and then stands back. “What are you going to do, my prince?”

“First of all, you are not to call me ‘my prince’ until we are safe in Sitzvononne.”

Heinrich frowns. “But I do not believe Bard Callistus will be following us back.”

“There’s another issue that has come up. It’s probably stupid, but I would feel better to remain in disguise as long as possible.”

“What happened?”

I drop onto my mattress and kick off my boots before laying back and throwing my arm over my face. “I think someone saw me use my Heritage.”

Heinrich works at undoing his pulley system. “What? I haven’t even seen you use your Heritage Magic!”

“Yeah, that’s just it. Even the secondary heir is kept in the dark of his powers until the time comes that he needs to know how to use it, if it ever does.”

“To be fair, your cousin is in the dark about a lot of things besides matters of national security.”

“Stop it,” I mutter. “He’s just a boy.”

“A boy without a care in the world, which certainly was never your case.”

“Well, let’s hope that he never has to have a care in the world.”

Heinrich nods. “Indeed. May your father have a long rule followed by you and your longer reign.”

I close my eyes, wondering if I should tell Heinrich about the rest of my encounter with the Lady Meredith.

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