Chapter 132:
Nearing Rescue
In Camille's mansion, the hidden wing was buzzing with mixed feelings. Meredith had finally woken up, but the news he had brought with him was far from joyous. Eva and Maeir quickly returned to the room and listened carefully as Meredith spoke, detailing as much as he could before he fell weak with exhaustion and fell asleep peacefully, having now been administered painkillers to aid his sleep. With Yulia monitoring his condition, the group had begun to shift their focus on the rescue mission, and how they would save Holland.
No time was wasted. Within a few hours, the different groups left the grounds, with Kivah and his fellow scouts going first. The others soon followed, including the team assembled to save Holland, which included Jasmine, Neema, Saoirse, and Vaan.
Days had passed before the two groups neared meeting, and the tension in the air brought a wave of fatigue that made even Jasmine lose some spirit as they continued to travel on the road, their worries of Holland's safety weighing on their minds.
"It feels like we've been on the road forever." Jasmine mused as she rode her horse, the horse keeping a trotting pace as Neema and Saoirse rode next to her, sharing a horse. Vaan was only a short distance behind them, riding the largest horse of the three, carrying part of the supplies they needed during their journey. The group members wore humble cloaks and disguises, dressed as poor Yursinean travelers. Their traveling items were basic, nearly bare, but they had all they needed to meet with Kivah's group and rescue Holland.
Continuing forward at a steady pace, Neema held the map in her hands as Saoirse led the horse by the reins. "Kivah's group is not far from here. We should run into their camp at any minute." While their arrangements had been made before their departure, there were some small setbacks that interrupted their journey, causing them a short delay, and endless frustration.
"At least they're aware we're coming." Saoirse said to herself, her voice low, letting out a sigh. "It should be just around this clearing." Fortunately, there were no worries of a knife at their throat.
"You just reminded me." Neema patted her horse's neck as a sudden thought came to her mind. She asked the group with a thoughtful hum, "When we rescue Holland, whose horse will he be riding on? Keeva's group won't be coming with us past this point."
She and Saoirse were already sharing a horse. Only Jasmine and Vaan had their own horse, and Holland was not light, but he would most likely be too injured to ride on his own. Jasmine, thinking of this sudden problem, laughed. "It shouldn't be a problem if he rides with Vaan, right?" Jasmine's eyes sparkled, her gaze turning over to Vaan with a hint of humor. "It'd be much more comfortable for him to rest in your big arms. I'm too weak to carry him."
"He'll ride on your horse, or we drag him." Vaan did not speak another word, but his expression was flat, full of rejection as he urged his horse forward, effectively cutting the conversation short before Jasmine could continue her annoying antics.
Jasmine's horse wined in protest, but it was ignored by the group, attempting to find humor in the tense atmosphere.
As the group hastened forward into a narrower path within the rampant bush, the nearby brush in front of the group shook, stopping them in their tracks in the middle of the narrow path, unable to move until the threat was confronted.
Everyone fell still and lifted their weapons, prepared for anything, before a familiar face poked their head out of the bushes, smiling as they swiftly put away their sword back into the scabbard on their hip.
"Looks like you all made it here safely." Kivah said, stepping out of the thicket. The forest around him was nearly unwalkable, but there was a small, narrow path large enough for one person about the width of a horse, allowing him a narrow space to avoid the tall grass around him. "Come on over. We were just discussing the scouting mission."
Leading their horse first, Neema and Saoirse entered the thicket behind Kivah, followed by Jasmine and Vaan, who surveyed the area one more time before they followed closely behind them, entering the small clearing where Kivah's group had set up camp.
A small group of lightly-armored men and women were gathered, nearly twenty people sitting, standing, and discussing in low voices as they adjusted their supplies, some gathered around a dying fire as one rested a map on their knee, pointing to it in a low, unhappy voice. As Kivah approached with the other group, everyone fell quiet, staring at them with heavy gazes, knowing a more important mission would commence soon.
"I need you all for a moment. These four are in a hurry and need the information." Kivah spoke to the group around the fire, motioning for Jasmine, Vaan, Neema, and Saoirse to join him around the dim fire, the light of the day barely having been extinguished as it reached sundown. The group members around the fire remained sitting on their logs, quietly waiting for the discussion to start as the four new members disembarked from their horses and huddled around the fire.
Though the sky was darkening the map was still fully visible, and the two groups gathered around it, drawing it away from the fire as they carefully explained their findings.
A woman with a high tied ponytail spoke first, her sharp eyes falling on the map as she explained, "Since the kingdom's takeover, there have been increased patrols coming from the southern and eastern palace gates, most likely in preparation for attacks. They have four rounds starting at daybreak and change directly at noon, sundown, and midnight. The pattern follows the past royal family's structure, but at least three guards rotate at each station over the course of their duties, making it difficult to monitor their movements."
"We've also noticed that there has also increased the interior palace defenses, particularly the living quarters on the third floor, the royal family residences." Kivah added. "Fortunately your goal is the dungeon. It seems the guards in the dungeon are placed in set posts and only move during shift changes."
Jasmine sat forward, asking aloud, "What about Holland? Were you able to find his cell?"
Kivah nodded, "Fortunately, he was not placed in the elven cell block. That means they are most likely still attempting to interrogate him rather than kill him." Neema leaned to the side as Saoirse looked at the map over her shoulder. "That means there's only one place he could be. You'll find him here, in the confinement cell." Kivah pointed, his finger pressing into the map. "Captain Laurent has been keeping a careful eye on him. You'll need to watch him."
Vaan stood up, reinforcing their plans once more as he said, "Jasmine and I will be entering the dungeon to break Holland out. Neema and Saoirse will be keeping watch until we can get Holland out of the palace."
"No doubt he'll need medical attention." Neema shook her head with a frown. "We'll treat his injuries as soon as we're out of Captain Laurent's tracking range."
A rustling nearby made the group alert. Kivah's shoulders drooped in relief when one of his fellow scouts popped out. However, his relief did not last long when the panicked scout's face came into the view of the fire, their face full of tension.
"Kivah, we've run into a problem." He called out, his face grim as he approached the gathered group. "A military squad was just sent out to scout the area. They must know we're here. If we stay here any longer, they'll find us."
The air grew tense as Kivah quickly closed the map, passing it to Jasmine with a heavy frown. "We'll have to separate from here." Kivah nodded to his fellow scouts, who nodded in return, quickly packing their meager belongings with practiced speed, "Here's the map. When you're done, meet us at the windmill west of the palace. We're leaving at dawn, with or without everyone, so make sure you all make it."
Jasmine nodded, gripping the map tightly in her hand as the group of scouts vanished around her, as if they had never been there in the first place. One of the scouts had already kicked away the burning logs, throwing a large bucket of sand over it, quickly extinguishing the burning light, making the area fall into quiet, no longer as lively as it had been.
"Let's go." Neema said, pulling her hood up. Jasmine nodded, following Neema's lead as they remounted their horses. All four disappeared quickly into the woods in the opposite direction of the oncoming squad, moving as quietly as they could, urging their horses forward and deeper into the thick foliage, hurrying closer and closer to the Yursinean palace.
The air was quiet, thick with tension as the two groups neared clashing, ensuring a nearing battle.
…
The pair that had been tactfully banned from the palace mission spent the next passing days with Adora, formulating the next steps after Holland's retrieval. While Clarence was still not to be fully trusted, he was more willing to share information with Silas at his side, knowing the other man would not try to force his hand. Adora watched as Clarence happily shared the palace details, even using a pen to mark certain locations on the map with his careful penmanship.
The more time the three spent together, the more Adora noticed Clarence's faithful attitude towards Silas. Like a lost puppy, the prince would follow Silas mindlessly, often sitting beside him as if nothing was wrong, appearing sweet as an angel as he carefully contributed to the palace raid plans, even providing suggestions of his own.
What a sticky little thing. He's nearly attached to Silas at the hip! Adora thought bitterly, watching as Clarence kept a close distance to Silas. Silas, on the other hand, seemed annoyed but ignored the close distance as they spoke more about the palace mission.
Watching the familiar display, Adora finally asked in a calm voice, "Are you really willing to work with us rebels?" It had been more than a week since Clarence had arrived at the countess's mansion, but he had no intention of leaving. Instead, he behaved properly, providing everything that was needed of him without a single argument.
"I would not betray him." Clarence said, his blue eyes gleaming with a burning light, his words vague. "As promised, I will provide the information you need, in exchange, you will not harm me or my family."
Listening to the prince, Adora tapped her finger against the map. "Your siblings and your mother?" She raised a brow. "We would need more information before we can make any promises."
"I can provide it." Clarence said firmly. "As long as you don't harm my family."
After pausing for a moment, Silas finally said, "If you agree to continue to cooperate with us fully, then I will personally guarantee your family's safety." He added, staring towards the prince, "Provided that you disclose their living quarters. If we attack at night as planned, they should be in their rooms."
Adora's thoughts were put on hold as she finally added, shaking her head lightly, "If Silas agrees to trust you, then I do too."
If it means getting more information on the palace, I'll agree to it for now. Adora thought, watching as Silas spoke to Clarence, staring over the countless marks made on the worn map.
As more information was shared, the three of them were able to come to an agreement regarding the palace internal operations. While Clarence's family's safety still hung in a delicate balance, he provided the information such as their rooms, the escape paths connected to those areas of the palace, and how he could send his family out as the operation continued.
"If you allow me to go during the rebellion, I can help you infiltrate the palace. After that-" Clarence paused, biting his lip, "Once my family is safe, I will assist your group and help take care of my cousin, that traitor." His expression fell at the mention of Malcolm, the hatred between the two almost palpable. "Malcolm may be difficult to track during the rebellion." Clarence added, passing over the past topic as he said, "I have a feeling he'll scuttle out of the palace before the rebels can get to him. He's a coward after all."
Silas stared towards Clarence, listening to the newfound bitterness in the other man's voice with some interest. That's the first time he's spoken so bitterly, and not about me. Funny. Stifling a laugh at his own thoughts, he covered his smile with his hand before he quickly straightened his expression.
"Let's start by tracking his next possible movements, then." Adora responded, leading the group's discussion as they worked through the information Clarence shared.
As night approached, Silas and Clarence quickly ate their meals in the dining hall with Adora before she separated from the two as they hurried back to the war room, discussing the palace in more detail as the pair made notes, discussing the location of his family members within the palace and their hiding places during the invasion. Malcolm's escape plans were already thoroughly tracked, and due to the royal family's diligence and complexity of the hidden paths, there was a very low likelihood that he would be able to find any of the well-hidden trails.
"Where are the escape tunnels in their rooms?" Silas asked, marking the trail he and Clarence had shared previously as they escaped the palace together. "If you're helping us, the best you can do is send them to hide as the palace is cleared."
"It's right here." Clarence leaned closer to Silas, their arms brushing as Clarence used the pen in his right hand to mark the places in detail on the map. His scribbled lines were neat and precise, strokes made by a seasoned artist. "After the initial palace ambush, more trails were added, even some fake trails. Let me draw them."
Watching him draw the swift, changing lines, Silas could not help but say, "Your writing is very neat." Neither warm nor cool, his tone was placid, but it was a compliment nonetheless, and Clarence's cheeks grew a silly red tinge as he stuttered out a short thank you in response, keeping his arm close to Silas's.
If we could just stay like this a little longer. Clarence thought with a soundless sigh, his gaze falling on Silas's steadfast expression as he continued to note down items on the map. Under the candlelight, his face appeared warm and steady, causing the prince's heart to beat a little faster. "Thank you." He finally uttered, his cheeks flushed. He grabbed the cup of water in front of him and clasped it in his hands, staring down into it, as if he were thinking of taking a sip.
Once they fell silent again, Clarence asked another question, attempting to maintain the weak conversation between them, enjoying the discourse, no matter how forced it was. "When will we be infiltrating the palace?" Clarence finally asked, turning towards Silas as he held the cup in his hand, swirling the contents back and forth with a heavy expression on his face, his words full of thought.
"It should be soon, maybe a month from now." Silas sipped at his glass, feeling at a loss. He wanted to ask him if he really wanted to return to that hellscape of a palace, but he understood that Clarence had seen that palace as his home for nearly twenty years, and just like his village, there were still lingering feelings of nostalgia there. Even if the place they called home was no longer suitable for life, only a decrepit shell of its former glory.
Even his family had begun to rot away in that festering cesspool they had created, slowly rotting their own country from the inside.
"Are you ready to do this?" Silas thought, asking Clarence in a low voice as the room fell quiet, only the sound of the burning wick of the nearby candles echoing in the large room.
As if he did not hear Silas's words, Clarence paused, his expression falling still for a moment before it shifted to a frown. There was no fear, no hesitation in his words as he finally said with a sigh. "If I want to make up for my past mistakes, I have to do something." He rubbed his eyes, his dark circles appearing more prominent than before. "The more time I spend here, the more I realize I was willfully ignorant about a lot of things. I-I don't want to be ignorant anymore."
"We all are ignorant, Clarence. It's our willingness to learn that's important." Silas's palm rested against the table, grabbing the ink pen the prince had previously used as he put it to the side, away from the map. "Maybe the Yursear Kingdom will change too? Hopefully for the better." At the thought of the kingdom in his youth, he could not help but smile, imagining the peace and tranquility before the war was reignited.
He desired that peace, that safety, just as Clarence had begun to crave it.
Clarence opened his mouth and then swiftly shut it, feeling the tips of his ears warm as he stared at Silas's determined face and the shallow smile resting on his lips. The dimples on either side of his cheeks were adorable, so much so Clarence wanted to cradle his face with his hands, but he could only hold back his hands with an air of restraint, his embarrassment apparent on his face.
I'm such a fool. If he could, the prince wished to capture that smile, even if for only a moment. He felt foolish in love.
Watching Clarence's expressions change, Silas patted the table with his hand to bring back the prince's deviating attention. "I think we've done enough for today." Silas rubbed the corner of his eyes, standing up from the table with a sigh. "Let's go to bed." His stress levels had already risen higher than he would have liked. Seeing Clarence's hands trembling like this, it was obvious the two of them had long since overdone it. It was time to rest.
Hearing those four words strung together, leaving Silas's lips so naturally, nearly made the prince's heart leave his chest. His face flushed an ardent red, nearly blazing in the dim room. Silas appeared not to notice and instead lifted his hand and gently patted Clarence on the shoulder, as if to urge him forward.
"Are you going to sit there all night like that?" Silas sighed, retracting his hand. "Come on." He waved his hand, nearly ready to drag the other man behind him away from the messy table.
Clarence stood up, forgetting to push in his chair as he followed behind Silas, a smile brightening his tired face as the two walked back to their room, fatigue and warmth filling their hearts.
There were only a few days of joy left before the final battle began.
…
お久しぶり( ﾉД`) Hello, all.... I'm so sorry for last week's sudden disappearance! My day job (JUST LOVE IT /s), was a hellscape the past two weeks and I ended up scrapping this whole chapter last week. My health tanked, so I just took it easy. Sorry, all ( ╥ω╥ )
Just a thought, I recently was talking to a few of my friends, and many of them are unhappy in their jobs and are struggling to find new ones, even with bachelor's degrees. It's so disheartening. All of my friends say they don't even feel depressed, just hopeless at this moment, and I honestly feel the same. I feel like those feelings for us leaked a little into this chapter, so I wanted some sweetness to end a bitter note ;u; Looking forward to more Clare physical affection myself (*ﾉωﾉ)
Hopefully reading YMtK sparks a little joy for you all, as it does for us writing it >y< Please take care of yourselves. Rest well, all, and we should be back as normal next week~ Much love, Cat and Hunny (´꒳`)♡