"From what we have learned, there are six entrances to the palace. Two guards stationed at each. If we plan to overthrow Warren, those will have to be taken first."
"Why?" Aria asked.
"So that my people can help us if they need to," Grace said, speaking up for the first time that night.
Hunt nodded. So, they've met Grace? And she and Hunt had already discussed ideas?
"We would take the entrances first. As quietly and as discreetly as possible. We'd let Grace and a few others go down to the village for help. By the time they come back up here to surround the palace, we need to disarm all the guards," Hunt said.
"And?" Aria asked.
"That's all I have so far," Hunt said, shrugging.
"It's not enough," Aria said, "If you think that Warren and his group will give up or...or surrender...they won't. He won't care if they surround the palace. As long as they have their guns, they won't give up."
"Which is why I said we need to disarm them," Hunt said.
"And how the hell are we going to disarm all of them in time? If just one of them has a weapon, they'll win," Martinez said.
"So we attack at night," Aria said.
"What?" Hunt asked.
"We wait until most of the people have gone to bed. Midnight should be a good time. First, we take the entrances. Disarm the guards and lock them away somewhere they can't get away—the dungeon. And then we go for Warren and his council," Aria said, the plan already forming in her mind.
"Before we can do any of that," Brent said, "We need access to guns of our own. We'll never take the entrances without them."
"But Adrian said there's no way he can sneak us guns," Mara said.
"So we take the training area first," Aria said, "Before we take the entrances. We take the training area so no one else can get to the weapons. Get those guards first. Arm ourselves and get the rest?"
They all looked around at one another.
"Aria's right. We should take the weapons room first. Arm ourselves, take the entrances, and then Warren," Hunt said.
"So how many people will it take? To secure the weaponry first?" Martinez asked.
"I'll do it," Grace said.
"What? No way. That's too dangerous, Grace," Mara said, shaking her head. "They'll kill you on the spot."
"I'm the best fighter here," Grace said, "How are you going to take the guards without me? It's not like a group of you can just storm into the place and fight them off. You said we need to be discreet. If a large group is headed there, we will get caught before anything even happens," she said.
"But-" Mara began.
"Grace is right," Brent said, "Besides, Adrian will be there. So she won't be by herself."
"That's too risky," Mara said, "I don't like it."
"I'll be fine. The second best fighter in the palace, remember?" Grace said, smiling.
"So when do we do this?" Martinez asked.
They all looked to Aria.
"Tomorrow night," she said. She wanted to do it as soon as possible. But tonight was not an option. They had just come up with the plan. Seeing it through tomorrow night would give them more time to prepare.
"Katy," Hunt said, "What do you think?"
Everyone looked at Katy.
"It's too soon," she said, "We barely have a plan. And the rest of our people don't know. It's too soon."
"No, it isn't," Aria said. "We have a plan. We just discussed it. And since it won't start until tomorrow night, you have all day tomorrow to let the others know."
"I said no," Katy said, finally looking at her daughter.
The air in the room filled with tension as Aria stood up and faced her mother.
"I'm in charge," she said, not caring that her voice had gone cold. "And I say it's happening tomorrow night."
"Aria-" Katy began.
Aria turned her back on her mother and faced the group.
"Leaders, let the members of your group know about the plan. As soon as Grace secures the weapons, I'll contact the team leaders through the radios. When you get my message, make your way to the weapons area in small groups. After we arm ourselves, half of the group will go to the entrances and take the guards out. The other half will go for Warren and those closest to him," she said, looking at every person in the room.
Grace gave her an approving smirk, nodding her head.
Aria looked at her mother again.
"We attack tomorrow at midnight."
Chapter 46
The next morning, she caught Jackson on his way to the dungeon. She handed him a piece of paper and told him to give it to Lex.
See you at midnight, she'd written.
When they went for the guards at the entrances, they'd get the one that was in the dungeon as well.
She wanted to be the one to free him; she wanted to be the first face he saw when he got out. But since her group was supposed to focus on Warren and his council, someone else would have to do it.
Anticipation was in the air; almost everyone she encountered seemed jittery. She only hoped that Warren and his people wouldn't notice.
She realized she couldn't say anything to the others; about being more careful, more discreet, because her own hands were shaking as she poured herself a glass of water.
She ate breakfast with the palace residents, not really feeling hungry but forcing herself to eat anyway. She'd need her strength today.
Going through her regular daily motions should have made the day pass slowly. But before she knew it, it was time for dinner.
Everyone had been briefed; all the people that were supposed to know about the plan knew about it.
Sitting down at one of the tables, Aria glanced around at the people she knew were on her side. A few looked scared, but her people just looked determined, ready to pounce at her command for the most part. It filled her with confidence. She realized that she wouldn't have been such a successful leader if her people
