“Permission to remove the Dreadknight’s remains before we join you at the castle?” Desmond asked.
“Granted,” the Rogue Knight replied. “But I need access to Blackmont.”
“Understood,” Desmond said. “I will send Oster with you to acquaint you with the accommodations and defenses. You fought well today, Rogue Knight. Your victory was duly earned.”
Scattered applause greeted the observation. Most people were now leaving. Cole wondered how much support the Rogue Knight would have against the soldiers who wanted to apprehend him.
The Rogue Knight strode over to his knights. He gestured toward Mira in the stands, and Cole saw her coming down a ladder to join them on the floor of the arena. Her obedience appeared voluntary.
“We have to get down there,” Cole said. “This could be our only chance to join up with them.”
“Right,” Jace agreed. “Come on.”
As a tide of bodies flowed toward the exits, Cole, Jace, Dalton, Skye, and Sultan worked their way toward the arena floor. Mira now stood near the Rogue Knight. Several guardsmen approached him, perhaps seeking orders. Working together, four knights carried the Dreadknight between them. A fifth reverently bore his broadsword.
“Let’s shed our seemings,” Skye announced. “Nobody is going to bother us now. If Mira sees us, she might help us get access.”
The others suddenly looked like themselves, so Cole assumed that he did too. The Rogue Knight and Mira moved toward a door on the arena floor that led under the grandstands. Cole tried to hurry, but the press of people in the overfilled arena made it difficult. He saw Mira scanning the crowd, but her eyes never settled in his direction. If she left with the Rogue Knight, it would be hard to catch up! The castle would be sealed against intruders.
A flicker of motion off to the side caught Cole’s eye. He turned to see a winged figure soaring over the crowd and down toward the arena floor. A couple of knights reached for weapons as the figure landed with a shimmer of insectile wings, but Mira ran to Twitch and waved the knights away.
Turning, Twitch pointed up to the stands. Following his finger, Cole saw Joe making his way down toward Mira. By the time Joe reached the base of the grandstands, Cole and his companions had as well. Mira finally looked Cole’s way. Her face lit up when she saw him, and she motioned for him to join her.
Cole found a ladder down to the arena floor. He, Dalton, Jace, Skye, and Sultan caught up to Mira at the same time as Joe. Mira was beaming. “I’m so happy you all found me!” she said. “I was watching for you!”
“Are you all right?” Cole asked, still unsure whether they needed to make a run for it while the crowd continued to pour out of the arena.
Mira glanced toward the Rogue Knight. “Pretty much. At least we have a way into Blackmont Castle.”
“You’re not a prisoner?” Cole checked.
“I am,” Mira said hesitantly. “But the Rogue Knight isn’t all bad. We’re kind of working together for now. Is that— Are you Dalton?” she asked Dalton.
He smiled back at her. “Yep.”
Cole beamed with excitement. “We found him at the confidence lounge, and he’s coming with us now, to help us find Honor.”
“We can explain everything later,” Jace cut in. “Where were you?” he asked Twitch.
“Joe and I couldn’t get in for the duel,” Twitch explained. “But after people started leaving, nobody checked who entered.”
The Rogue Knight approached them. “Mira, we have to go.”
“These are my friends,” Mira said.
“I remember all but these two,” the Rogue Knight said, indicating Sultan and Dalton.
“I’m here to help,” Sultan pledged.
“We could use help,” the Rogue Knight said. “I expect an attack within the hour.” He gestured at Cole. “Some among you have more to them than meets the eye. Mira, you want them with us?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Very well, join us in the castle. There is much to be done.”
Surrounded by knights, Cole exited the arena through a tunnel under the stands. He fell into step beside Mira. “You’re really okay?” he asked quietly.
“I’m better now,” she said. “I was worried I’d never find you guys.”
“Does he know who you are?” Cole whispered, glancing ahead at the Rogue Knight.
“Yeah,” Mira said. “He knew when he took me. I didn’t deny it.”
“What’s he like?” Cole asked.
“Except for kidnapping me, he’s been great. He’s considerate and protective. He’s reasonable and fair. It was my idea to come here.”
“He knows about your sister?” Cole asked.
Mira nodded. “That’s how I convinced him. It’s the main reason we came. He wants to find her too.”
“What if he takes you both captive?”
“It’s a possibility,” Mira said. “Better him than Blackmont Castle. He’s against the High King. We’ll have to play it by ear. I’m so glad you tracked down Dalton!”
Cole turned and motioned Dalton forward. Dalton trotted closer and gave a little wave. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Same,” Mira said. “I’m glad Cole found you. It’s been his top priority.”
Dalton grinned. “Things have gotten more exciting since he showed up.”
“Hold on tight,” Mira replied. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
Cole couldn’t resist smiling. It was weird to see worlds colliding—his best friend in Elloweer talking to his best friend from back home.
They exited the arena and moved up a wide, paved road toward Blackmont Castle. Cole noticed Jace hanging back. He tried to get his attention, but Jace deliberately avoided eye contact.
The Rogue Knight was speaking to the knight Desmond had sent with him. Cole edged forward to hear better.
“. . . most of them don’t want anything to do with you,” Oster was saying. “We were approached last night by men speaking for Rustin Sage. In the event of the Dreadknight losing, they promised we would all be reinstated as knights under a new champion if we helped defeat you. The Dreadknight threw them out. He told us that if he fell, we needed to serve the new champion. But most of the knights met with those emissaries privately. You won’t see most of them again unless they attack you. I expect similar loyalty from the guardsmen. Desmond will hold true, as will I, which is why he sent me with you. Raul will hold true as well. Probably no others.”