A wave of nausea rose up in his throat, but he swallowed it back down. Nora would not have hesitated to take anyone’s life who stood in the way of her country, queen, or goddess.
The adrenaline from the kills burned through his veins as he ran back into the woods, where the two companies of cavalry stood waiting.
“Our way is clear,” Matteo said, breathing heavily.
Xavier pulled him into a tight embrace. “Thank the ancestors you’re okay.”
Matteo returned the hug and turned to General de Flores. “The bridge is clear, and the river is not more than four feet deep in the middle. Please have the Thirteenth Cavalry go over the bridge and the Thirty-Second go through the river. Xavier and I will open the gates. Once open, both companies need to charge the courtyard and kill anyone who resists.”
General de Flores saluted him. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He watched her relay the information on to the first grouping of soldiers. They had all gotten off their horses and allowed both the beasts and their bodies a bit of respite.
“Saddle up,” Matteo said to Xavier. “We need to get them a way in.”
His friend was on his horse before Matteo had untied the reins of his stallion. Matteo petted his stallion’s mane and whispered endearments. “I know you’re tired. We’re almost done, and you can have a nice rest in a real stable and lots and lots of fresh hay.”
Swinging up, Matteo felt his muscles strain. His mind and body were exhausted, but he couldn’t stop. If he did, he would never reach Nora in time. Clicking his heels against his stallion’s flank, he urged his horse into a gallop. Xavier matched his pace.
“What’s your plan to open the gates?”
Matteo took a deep breath. He hadn’t come up with one yet. “Still working on it.”
Xavier nodded and then pulled his horse to a stop before the bridge, near where the two dead guards’ bodies lie. “Your work?”
“Yes.”
His friend swung out of his saddle and turned over the first guard. “Did you have to make such a mess of them?” Xavier visibly shuddered before unbuttoning the man’s coat. He shrugged off his own uniform and put on the bloody one. “Come on, Matteo. I don’t want to wear this dirty thing all night.”
“Brilliant,” Matteo breathed as he dismounted. He stripped the second guard of his coat and put it on. It was a bit snug across the shoulders, but it was dark enough that it didn’t matter. He felt around in the dirt until he located both hats. Giving one to Xavier, he put on the other. He was about to mount his horse when Xavier grabbed his arm.
“No. We go on foot, pretending to be the guards,” he said. “We’ll say we’ve been attacked and beg for them to open the doors.”
“It won’t work. My Kaulish is too formal. I sound like an aristocrat.”
Xavier tied his horse to the bridge. “Mine is not. Trust me.”
Matteo would trust his best friend with his life. He tied his horse up next to Xavier’s and patted it on the rump before leaving. They jogged across the bridge. They could already hear the sound of hoofbeats. Their companies were coming, and they were depending on them to open the gates of the fortress.
Panting, they reached the wooden gates. No guards stood outside the structure, but he saw at least six men on the battlements above the gates. Xavier stopped midstride and swung his elbow hard against Matteo’s middle. Surprised, he cried out in pain and bent over.
“Who’s out there?”
Xavier put his arm around Matteo’s waist. “Open the gates! My friend is wounded!”
The guard shined his torch down at them. “What happened?”
Xavier held his other hand up to the light—it was covered in blood. “Quickly! He will bleed to death if he isn’t seen by a doctor at once.”
Matteo fell to his knees, joining in the masquerade.
“Open the gates,” the guard called.
Still looking at the ground, Matteo heard the scraping of the heavy wooden gates against the stone floor. Xavier released his hold on him. They would need both hands in this fight. He heard the sound of footsteps coming toward them.
Xavier wheezed. “Please carry my friend, I am too tired to lift him another step.”
Matteo felt two strong hands grip his arms and helped him stumble into the courtyard. He waited until they had passed the gates to give a soft moan and fell limp. The added weight caused the guards to drop him. Matteo made a legitimate groan as his body hit the stone road. Turning onto his back, he pulled out his knives and stabbed the first man in the calf and the other in the gut. He got to his feet and sliced the first man’s throat.