“We have today and half of tomorrow, still. Take some time to think,” Jayce suggested, giving Ren's shoulder a squeeze. “I'll tell the men to give you peace, and whatever you suggest, I'll back it up.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

The room Ren had been given was cold despite the fire doing its best to push out the chill. This part of the fort was as run down and bare as the rest, a thin layer of dust covering everything except for the bed covers, which had been changed upon his arrival. There were no curtains and no rugs on the floor. Ren's bag was by the bed, along with Anik's. Anik's sword leaned against the wall.

With a heavy sigh, Ren let himself sink down onto the bed, the first time he had gotten off his feet since that morning. Fatigue rolled over him like a wave, his head throbbing.

Ren had known from the beginning that there would be obstacles, but he had never felt like success was out of reach. Until now. He had nothing left, no one to help him. Just a broken fort and a handful of men out of fighting form. He wasn't a leader like Callun or Hellic. Berin, the one man Ren knew he could trust, was in the one place he couldn't reach. Even if he could, it wouldn't be fair to ask Berin to risk the lives of his family, his wife and daughter.

Ren was a royal bastard, destined to a life on the sidelines, a life full of good food, sex, entertainment, and limited responsibilities. A few weeks ago, he had been convinced that his life of luxury would last forever. He had been happy.

Digging a hand into his pocket, he closed his fingers around the delicate silver key. He drew it out and turned it over, tracing the lines in the metal with the tips of his fingers. He knew every curve and crease of it by heart.

'For when you need to escape.'

No matter how long he stared at it, this little moulded piece of metal wasn't going to set him free.

With a heavy sigh, he leaned down and tugged off his boots, dropping them beside the bed. For just one night, he could sleep and pretend none of this was happening. Whatever came tomorrow, he would deal with it then.

* * *

The wind tugged at the grass and made the leaves on the massive tree rustle. Sunlight filtered through them, covering their bodies in specks of light. Hellic's smile was wide and bright, his body dwarfed by the longbow made for grown men twice his size.

Keelan batted his eyelashes, his silken hair falling over his wide hazel eyes as he followed Ren's every movement with adoration.