I stopped to look at her. “Why?”
She only teared up again, then pulled me into a hug, wrapping one arm around my neck and keeping the other at my waist. Into my ear, she whispered, “You don’t deserve the fate of a white disk.”
I stepped back from her and wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “Don’t join me on the bridge. It’s too much of a risk.”
“You and Kestra are not the only ones willing to take risks,” Trina said. “I am going up there. I need a final assurance of his word to free the Coracks.”
As if Sir Henry’s word meant anything. “All right, but keep your head down and let me do the talking.”
Trina snorted, but I hoped she’d do as I asked. This was hardly the moment to be proud of taking risks.
With those thoughts, the remaining walk to the bridge seemed to last for hours, the worst of it being when the Reddengrad and Halderian fighters parted to allow Trina and me to pass through. They looked at me with respect, as if I were doing this for them, or for Antora. As if I’d thought of anyone but Kestra when I suggested this plan.
Sir Henry stood halfway across the bridge with what I guessed were most of his officers from the battle, along with an entire squad of men surrounding them, well-armed and with expressions of victory on their faces. Any one of them seemed capable of crushing me between his fists without breaking a sweat.
Meanwhile, I had Trina.
I faced Sir Henry, arms folded and as defiant as I could make myself appear. Inside, I felt made of pudding, as if I’d collapse at the slightest touch, but I’d faint in this position before letting him know it.
Sir Henry tsked. “I must admit, I didn’t think you would come. I had suspected you sent that pretty Halderian girl out as a distraction while you escaped with my daughter … again.”
“Kestra is not your daughter,” I countered.
He smiled, his only acknowledgment of my comment. “I almost wish you hadn’t come. It forces me to end a battle in which we were performing quite well. We would have won, although as soon as you fall, I’ll order my men to follow Kestra and return her to Lord Endrick’s control.”
“She’s probably already past the Mistriver by now.” Trina’s lie was surprisingly bold and hardly what I’d had in mind by suggesting she keep her head down. “But if Simon keeps his word, will you keep yours? Lord Endrick will release the Coracks on that hill?”
Sir Henry’s smile reeked of insincerity. “Of course.”
Trina nodded at him, then looked in my eyes to say a sorrowful, “Good-bye, Simon.”
My heart pounded, but I no longer trusted myself with words. I merely squeezed her hand and nodded back at her. Notably, she turned me to face Sir Henry before she released my hand. Whatever her purpose in doing so, that was obviously her real reason for coming onto the bridge.
Trina started to leave when Henry said, “Wait. Turn around, girl.”
Trina huffed, but obeyed, looking down as she turned to face him. Now her eyes were down.
“You were at Woodcourt too,” Henry said. “My daughter’s handmaiden. Correct?”
Before Trina could protest, he cocked his head and three of his thugs stepped forward, grabbing Trina by the hands and feet. She tried pulling away but failed and screamed as they lifted her into the air.
I touched Trina’s arm but was pushed back before I could help her. The terror in her expression turned to a calm realization that her fate was now as sealed as mine. She locked eyes with me and mouthed, “I’m sorry!”
“Let the Coracks die!” Henry screamed to our side of the lake. “With my authority as Lord Endrick’s representative, I order your hearts to be crushed!”
“No!” Trina cried. But even as she did, every single Corack that had been on the hillside instantly fell to the ground, unmoving. Dead. Including Tenger. There was nothing I could do for them, but I could still save Trina.
I tried again to reach her, but another of Henry’s men grabbed me from behind. “She was only following my orders!” I shouted, still struggling.
“Then she’ll receive your punishment.” With another nod, Trina was thrown backward off the bridge, screaming as she fell into the icy water, her voice immediately drowned out as she sank. Halderians watching us gave audible gasps, but I heard none of their shouts above the
man holding me, who said, “What is this?”
Henry’s face reddened as he reached into the left pocket of my longcoat and withdrew the Brillian fire pellet, about the size of my fist.
I cursed under my breath and looked down while I put everything together. This was why Trina had apologized. In our brief embrace back on land, she must have slipped this into my coat, telling me she would save me from the white disk. And she had wanted me to face Sir Henry so that when she left the bridge, the pocket with the fire pellet would be closest to her. It would explode when squeezed, but I suspected her alternate plan was to shoot me with something to ignite the pellet, killing me before I was hit with the white disk and bringing down everyone on this bridge.
Sir Henry must have realized this too. His eyes became thin slits as he said, “How dare you?” He speared a fist into my gut and I doubled over with pain. I hadn’t fully regained my breath when I straightened up, hoping to get a hand on the pellet, but Sir Henry lifted it out of my reach.