Shatter Like Glass-Cinderella Retold

Part Forty-Three

Peder managed a full patrol around the grounds before the Weaver came to fetch him. His pace quickened when he saw the white-haired man approaching.

"Commander Valin Russo awaits you at the gates," the Weaver told him once Peder was in earshot. "He and several dozen men arrived minutes ago."

"Excellent," Peder replied. Just as Peder had anticipated, they had taken a little under an hour to make the journey. Hopefully they would still be in fighting shape, despite the length of their travel.

He set off towards the main gates at once. The Weaver followed at his heels. Glancing behind him, Peder noticed how close the man was to him. He placed his hand on his sword. The Weaver had given little reason for Peder to mistrust him, but still he felt a sense of unease wash over him. Several dozen men? That only represented a single regiment. Surely Valin would not have left any men remaining. Peder was certain they had brought at least three regiments along from Viridian, and Nevae had agreed to allow half of them to accompany Peder and Valin to Calarian. Something was wrong about the situation. Had the Weaver merely miscounted?

Nearing the gates, Peder's good eye scanned the crowd. All the men wore cloaks. Through the rapidly falling snow, he could not make out what color the cloaks were. Even if he could, that detail alone would not indicate whether they were truly Viridian. His men might have borrowed cloaks from the locals. Valin may have even ordered them to do so in order to blend in.

Peder tightened his grip on his sword. His unease was growing with every second. Again, he looked back at the Weaver. The man's face was expressionless. Then again, all of the other Weavers Peder had seen wore very similar looks.

"Commander Russo?" Peder called as he reached the gates. Someone in a dark cloak stepped forward at once. Peder squinted at the figure. He recognized immediately that this man—if they were, in fact, a man—was at least an inch too short to be Valin. The figure was too lean as well. Peder whirled around to confront the Weaver about the deception. A blast of ice hit his chest. Peder stumbled backwards, the cold startling him. He fell against the gate, gasping. Someone pressed a sword blade against his neck. Peder's good eye darted downward.

"Is this the Viridian captain?" a young male voice asked.

"As promised," the Weaver stated.

"Then you will get what was agreed upon," the young man replied. He increased the pressure on his sword, driving its edge into Peder's neck. Peder felt it slice into his skin. He tried not to move. What had the Kingslayers done to his men? Why would one of the Weavers betray their council to the revolutionaries?

"You should know," the Weaver said to the Kingslayer, "three of the council members left the palace not long ago. I believe the younger two are still inside."

Yinala and Kali, Peder realized. He thinks they are still inside. The plan might work yet.

Peder struggled briefly. The Weaver thought the plan was falling apart. He had to let the revolutionaries believe the betrayal was crippling.

"You turned on your own people!" exclaimed Peder.

"No, I turned on my council," the man replied. "My council concealed the truth about the Scourge, the return of the Flame Weavers, and the extent to Sapphyre's threat. Their arrogance has put us in danger."

"Do not bother explaining your reasoning to him," the Kingslayer stated. "It is a waste of your time, and mine. Now, quickly, freeze the captain so we may open the gates."

The Weaver nodded, then extended his hands toward Peder. Peder's muscles tensed. When he felt cold air encircling his legs, he jerked. The blade sliced into his neck, but in his dismay his captor lessened the pressure on the sword. A small nick was nothing to him. His powers would heal most any injury.