“Did he release Olivia?”
“No,” Em said. “We’re going in after her. Is there anyone set up at the back of the building who could blow a hole in it?”
“Sure, we have Weldon back there, and he can do it,” Mariana said.
Em turned to Aren. “Can you hang back with Weldon and take out any Lera soldiers in the immediate area? I’ll go in by myself.”
“I should go in with you,” Aren said.
“No, you’ll be more useful if you can get the soldiers off me so I can get in. And I know how much energy that will take. You should be in a safe place.”
He paused, then nodded. “All right.”
“You need to hurry,” Mariana said. “We’re attacking any minute. You’ll hear the wall come down soon.”
Em and Aren took off, whispers of “Good luck” following them. The sun had completely set, and it was dark and silent as they ran. Her feet ached and her stomach had given up on the hope of food and just twisted sadly, but she ignored the pain.
They found Weldon in a tree not far from the back of the fortress. His legs dangled on either side of a branch, and he listened carefully as Aren explained the plan.
“We need you to blow a hole in the wall first,” Aren said. He pointed. “Then take out that spot right there at the back of the building. And if you could make it big, we’d appreciate it. Take some people out with it.”
Weldon grinned. “Absolutely.”
A low whistle echoed through the quiet night, and Weldon twisted his face into a more serious expression. “The front wall’s about to come down. Go!”
Em drew her sword and ran. The area at the back of the fortress was nothing but grass, and anyone in the tower could have seen her coming.
A loud boom sounded from the front of the fortress. The ground beneath her shook, and she fell to her knees, watching as the stones of the rear wall of the fortress rumbled. A large section exploded, sending pieces of stone and wood shooting out in every direction. She ducked her head, covering it with her hands.
She jumped to her feet, squinting in the dust and darkness. Weldon had blown a huge hole in the wall and the building, and two men lay crumpled in the rubble. Another was stumbling around, blood pouring from his scalp.
There were more guards inside. She could see at least four running toward the wreckage, and she headed right for them. Aren could take out at least three; that left one for her and her sword.
She hopped over the stones, pointing her sword to her left. Aren took care of the guard rushing toward her immediately. His body made a crunching sound as it slammed into the ceiling and then to the ground.
The guard right in front of her also flew out of reach, and she raised her sword to the one rushing at her. She kept one eye on the scene around her, frantically searching for Cas. Where was he?
She ran her blade into the guard’s chest when he lost his balance, and quickly darted away from him. Footsteps pounded the floor somewhere nearby, and she ran in the opposite direction. She didn’t want Aren to use his magic anymore. He needed to conserve his energy.
She slipped around the corner. Where would they keep Olivia? Locked in a cell, for sure. All the cells in Lera had been underground, so it was best to assume it was the same here.
She found a kitchen and a small dining room first, but no doors leading downstairs. She waited for the sounds of footsteps to fade, then darted across the destroyed room to the other side of the fortress.
She opened a door to find a small parlor. There was a door at the back of the room, and she ran to it and threw it open.
Stairs leading to the basement stretched out in front of her. A guard stood at the bottom, protecting a closed door, and his head popped up. He drew his sword.
She flew down the steps and the guard charged at her with a yell. She blocked his sword, raising her boot and slamming it into his chest. He fell backward, crashing into the door.
She seized the handle, pushing it open. The guard fell backward and scrambled to find his footing. She drove her sword into his chest.
“Em.”
She pulled her blade out of the guard, looking up at the sound of the familiar voice. A hallway of cells stretched out in front of her, and she stepped forward, toward the sound of the voice. Cas stood in a cell, his fingers wrapped around the bars. Galo was behind him, an utterly baffled expression on his face.
“What are you doing in . . .” Her voice trailed off as she noticed the dark-haired girl in the cell across from them. Olivia.
“I’m sorry,” Cas said. “I tried to free her, and my mother and Jovita stuck me in here.”