The next morning, all of the guards were already up and ready by the time Doris had crawled out of the small cave. At some point in the morning, William must have left to join them without waking her. She woke up freezing in his coat and wishing he hadn't left her at all. Doris quickly squashed those feelings into a million pieces as she wandered out into the daylight.
Enzo looked fresh as day when she saw him. Someone must have had spare clothes for him because he looked as if nothing had happened to him. When he saw her, a grin broke out across his face.
"There she is. I almost had to send your grumpy prince in there to drag you out." He said.
Doris snorted and crossed her arms. She searched through the small crowd and saw William with his head bent in conversation with Patrick.
"How are you feeling, Enzo?" Doris asked when she snapped her attention back to him. He looked at her with a small smirk that danced across his lips. Hard to believe she thought he was near death the night before.
"Better than ever. We're about to leave back to my camp and hopefully this mess will be over soon so I never have to be associated with him again."
"Did you two have a fight or something?" Doris asked and pulled William's coat tighter around her. It smelled just like him, she stopped herself from inhaling the scent.
"No, he's just being his usual charming self. I don't know how you stand his mood swings, but I would recommend running for the hills the second you get the chance." Enzo winked and poked her nose. Doris rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Seriously, how are you fine? I don't see any trace of a wound on you and I swore you looked haggard yesterday." Doris said with raised brows.
"It's not very kind to point out your friends looks, Doris. Hasn't anyone ever told you that?" Enzo tilted his head.
"That's not what I asked, Enzo."
"Ah, but a true leader never gives away his secrets." Enzo winked and Doris rolled her eyes. Of course he took this opportunity to be annoying and mysterious.
Approaching footsteps crunched in the snow behind her. Doris turned to see William head straight for her as if she was the only one in his sight. He stopped just inches from her and flicked his eyes between her and Enzo, who stood with a wide smile.
"We're ready to go. Your camp is only a few miles down the mountain, it shouldn't take long." William said.
"Wonderful, let's hope they're already there so we don't have to wait for this ambush." Enzo clapped his hands and headed straight for one of the horses. William put his hand on her lower back and guided Doris towards their own. She hadn't noticed it before, but there weren't enough horses to go around. Several guards had to ride behind their friends. She was only glad she didn't have to worry about steering her own tonight.
William gripped her hips and lifted her up onto their horse effortlessly. She didn't want to admit how something so simple made her feel breathless. It only showed how strong he really was and it could have made her melt in his hands like butter.
Once William pulled himself up and she gripped onto him, they were off. Enzo took the lead and led them all back to his camp where their fate awaited. Part of her hoped that no one would be waiting for them so they could just go home.
But it was unrealistic to think that way. Enzo needed them here to help him get his people back on his side. If they just left-that might never happen. Enzo might never get the trust back and then what? Where would he go-what would he do with himself?
The ride stretched on as they slowly made their way down the steep hill. Doris forced herself to close her eyes so she didn't have to see them almost fall to their deaths several times before they got to the safe ground.
The area started to become more familiar the more they went on. Enzo didn't want anyone going ahead to see if the rogues were already there. He wanted to face them head on and deal with whatever they needed to in the moment. It wasn't the best strategy, but it was all they had at the moment.
Enzo took them around the side and had them enter through the main road so it didn't appear as if they were trying to hide.. Doris tightened her grip on William when she noticed the group of horses up ahead. They weren't there when William and her had left the camp to rescue Enzo.
As they slowed their steps, their horses entered right into the center of chaos waiting to happen. There were rogues everywhere she looked, an ungodly amount. She didn't have to count them to know that they would overwhelm them in seconds.
Mr. Hugh stood on the small platform Enzo used as his own stage. He lifted his chin a little when he saw Enzo stroll through town with their enemies behind him. It wasn't a good look, even Doris had to admit that it would be a hard hole to dig themselves out of.
William tensed under her hold, she wondered if he was thinking the same thing she was. He had to know that their options were limited. Perhaps they should have just picked up and left when they had the chance. She wasn't sure they would make it out of this one.
Especially when she saw several of them raise their weapons a little at the sight of them.
"Enzo, it's nice of you to finally join us." Mr. Hugh's said over the crowd. Enzo pulled his horse to a halt at a respectable distance away.
"I hope you all didn't freeze out here all night waiting for me." Enzo said as if he was trying to charm them. Doris felt her teeth start to chatter from her nerves rather than the cold.
"I had a feeling you wouldn't come straight here. You're predicable, Enzo. It's not a good look."
Doris scanned the crowd for Sir Antony and prayed he was nearby. He was the only one that gave her hope that they might make it out of here alive.
Up the road, she saw the old man seated on a bench alone. She couldn't see his expression from where she was, but she hoped he was concerned for what was about to happen.
"Well, I pride myself in this village. Of course I was always going to return to it." Enzo said, she could hear the false smile in his voice. "We can stop the games anytime you wish."
"Games? I'm not the one that escaped from a cell and fled with the enemy in the middle of the night. How were you expecting this to go?" Mr. Hugh asked.
"Ah, well. You are the one that put their own leader in a dark cell rather than listen to what I had to say. The rogues never turn their back on their own-"
"No? I suppose that rule doesn't apply to you, then?"
Enzo laughed lightly. Doris saw Sir Antony stand and her heart raced with anticipation.
"If you think anything could make me turn my back on my people, you're horribly blind. Being kind to outsiders is what we stand for. It's why we were brought here." Enzo said.
"There's a fine line between being kind to outsiders and working with the enemy! The royals are also the reason we are here. They never once cared about us-whether we lived or died. They're the reason we had to escape our lives and run here for freedom-"
"If I may." An old, wise voice said from behind Mr. Hugh. Doris straightened a little to get a better look. She felt William's hand rest on top of her own but she couldn't think about that right now.
"Sir Antony." Mr. Hugh said with a bow and moved over a little to allow him room. Enzo also bowed his head in respect.
"I believe this has gone on too long. I don't think I've ever seen rogues turn their backs on each other this much-not since I started this." Sir Antony stepped up beside Mr. Hugh and gave him a disappointed look. Doris would hate to be on the receiving end of that.
"My lord, I don't think you realize what Enzo has done to his people. He has no sense of loyalty to us anymore, and he hasn't for a long while."
"You claim that Enzo is the wrong one, but you have made a deal with a royal too, Mr. Hugh." William said, loud enough to silence everyone around them.