by Imogen Elvis
Briar locked the door to the stairs. They’d made it out of the cells, which was more than she’d honestly expected them to achieve, knowing their luck. Now they just needed to find a way out of the building and over the wall, and pray no one caught them in the process. Briar pressed a hand to her aching head. Hopefully, that was the last magic she had to use tonight. She wasn’t sure she could manage it a third time.
“We need our packs before we leave,” Kade said.
Briar bit her lip. “Can’t we do without them?” The longer they stayed here, the more chance there was that someone would notice they’d got out.
“We need weapons and supplies. We won’t get far without those. There should be a guard room around here somewhere. If we’re lucky, that’s where our packs will be.”
Also where more guards would be most likely. But Kade was already moving, and Briar had no choice but to follow. They should escape now, while they had the chance. But Kade trusted her to get them out of the cells. She had to trust that he knew what he was doing now.
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Instead of heading down the corridor that would take them to the rear door, Briar and Kade took a side passage, deeper into the building. Kade stopped at the first door on the right, not far from the prison stairs, and turned to Briar, a finger pressed to his lips. She hung back as he eased the door open a crack. No light gleamed from inside. Kade peeped through the gap, then turned back, shaking his head. Not the guard room. He crossed to the door on the left and again, eased it open, just a crack. A thin shaft of light brightened the dark hallway.
Inside the room, someone coughed and a mug thumped on a table. Briar’s heart sank. Just their luck. Kade looked her way, a question in his eyes, but she shook her head. There was no way she could perform any more magic tonight. Even that simple motion sent pain flaring through her head. Kade nodded and peeped through the door again. Then he held up three fingers, counting down silently.
Three
Two
One.
Kade threw open the door and charged into the room. Inside, a single guard sat at a wooden table. He sprang up as Kade burst in, grabbing a cudgel that leaned next to him.
“Stop right there.”
But Kade kept coming. The guard swung the cudgel, and Kade jumped back at the last moment. The weapon whistled past his face. Kade grabbed the guard’s arm, forcing it down and away. They struggled for control over the club, their faces twisting from the strain. Kade was determined, but the guard was strong, forcing him step by step, back out into the hall.
Briar ducked out of the way, glancing around. Any moment now, someone would hear the fight and come running. Kade had a chance of beating this one man, but he’d never win against a whole squadron. Kade struggled to hold back the guard, his back against the opposite wall. Briar squared her shoulders. She wasn’t going back to those cells. Without giving herself a chance for second thoughts, Briar hurled herself at the guard, ramming him in the stomach with her shoulder. He staggered back a pace, wheezing. His grip on the club loosened and Kade ripped it from his grasp. Still winded, the man grabbed at Briar, but she darted out of reach.
Kade hefted the cudgel. Now it was the guard’s turn to stumble back, arms raised to protect his face. Kade swung, and the club smashed into the man’s leg. It buckled underneath him and the guard cried out in pain. Another swing and he fell, clutching his twisted left knee. Kade lowered the weapon and stood over the man, his chest heaving with the effort.
“Find something to tie him up with.”
A length of rope hung on the wall inside the guard room. Briar grabbed it and passed it to Kade, who bound the man’s arms behind his back and his feet together. He wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. While Kade secured the guard and dragged him back into the room, Briar searched for their packs. There, in the corner, stacked carelessly against the wall. Even Kade’s sword was there, still strapped to his bag. Thank goodness. They could leave now. Briar dragged them out and tossed Kade’s pack to him, grimacing at the lightness. They wouldn’t be getting far with this little food.
“Good work.” Kade slung his pack over his shoulder. “Come on. Someone’s bound to check in here eventually, and I want to be gone when they do.”
Briar settled her own bag, and together they crept out of the guard room, closing the door as they went. It wouldn’t be long, she was sure, before someone found the three guards they’d disabled. She tried to quieten her steps as she and Kade made their way back to the main corridor, by the entrance to the cells. The slitted windows in the long passageway showed only darkness and a few stars, and the hall was thankfully empty. Three men were probably more than enough to guard the cells usually. They would have been, if it wasn’t for her. Though Briar felt more anxious than proud right now.
At the rear door, which led out into the courtyard by the stables, Kade stopped. “Is anyone out there?” he asked.
Briar stepped closer to the door and closed her eyes, pushing back the wave of exhaustion that hit her as she struggled to listen again. At first, there was only empty silence, but then she caught the faintest whisper of a song. No, two songs. She focused harder. Wait, maybe three? The melodies wove together, so soft she couldn’t quite be sure. It didn’t matter though. Whether there were two or three, they couldn’t risk it.
“Two guards. Maybe more.”
Kade raked his fingers through his hair. “We’ll just have to find another way out.”
Briar wiped her sweaty palms on her habit as they headed down the hall on the other side of the door. It was an almost identical match to the one leading to the cells, except that here there was no way of knowing where to go next, or where more guards might be stationed.
Down the hall, a door swung open. Kade backed up, gesturing at Briar to stay behind him. In a corridor as straight and empty as this, there was nowhere to hide. They crouched in the shadows, watching as two men stepped out into the passageway.
“Thank goodness they’re leaving tomorrow. Can’t stand them.”
“They’re just children.”
“So? They’re creepy.”
“Not as bad as the Nameless Ones.” The second man shuddered. “With those masks… Well, it’s not natural.”
“True. Still. Children are pretty bad too.” The first guard shrugged. “Ah well. They’re not our problem after tomorrow. They can join the other lot until the master needs them. And good riddance. Who thought an army of magic wielding children would be a good idea anyway?”
“If the master wants them, then he has a plan. After all, he created the Nameless Ones, and look at what they achieved.”
“Well, if he means to use them for intimidation, then he’s going the right way about it. Those children are downright uncanny.”
“Plus, who’s going to attack a group of children? There is some sense to this.”
“I suppose so. Still. I’m glad this last bunch are leaving tomorrow. Can’t stand watching them much longer.” The first guard glanced down the corridor, straight at Briar and Kade, crouching in the shadows. Briar held her breath. Could his eyes pierce the darkness?
The second man nudged his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get out of here. I could do with some food.”
The pair left in the opposite direction, their footsteps slowly fading away. Briar brushed a strand of hair off her face with trembling fingers. Too close. If they’d opened that door a moment later, that might have been the end of this escape attempt. But that man talked about children being in that room.
“Ava might be in there,” Briar said softly.
“We can’t risk rescuing her. There will be more guards.”
“I know.” A wave of sadness hit Briar. It wasn’t safe. And even if it was, there was no guarantee that Ava would agree to go with them. Not now she’d willingly joined Master Sachio’s army.
“I’m sorry, Briar.” Warm sympathy filled Kade’s voice. “If there was a way…”
“It’s alright.” If they wanted to g
et out of here, it had to be without Ava. But Briar’s heart cried out as she walked away from her sister. The fact that Ava didn’t need to be rescued anymore did nothing to soften the pain that left Briar breathless. Something inside her broke as they slipped past the door, so close to Ava, and yet chasms away.
Kade laid a hand on Briar’s arm. “She’ll be alright,” he said softly. “I’m sure of it.”
“I know.” And that was maybe the greatest tragedy of them all.
Briar half expected the corridor to end in another cell block, or maybe stairs leading down into a cellar, but instead it ended in a room that appeared to be a small library. A large rug covered the stone floor, and bookshelves lined the walls. If nothing else, they’d have plenty to throw at the guards if they were discovered here. On one side of the room, a large glass window looked out into the night, letting in faint glimmers of moonlight.
Kade closed the door behind them. “We should be safe in here for the moment.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “The front door’s going to be just as heavily guarded. Though there may be one in the servant’s quarters. But we risk running into the servants then.”
A tight knot twisted in Briar’s stomach. They couldn’t afford to wander the halls searching for another way out. The close encounter with those two guards was enough of a warning to leave as quickly as possible.
“Could we get out the window, do you think?” Briar asked, hesitantly.
Kade paused. “Maybe.” He peered through the glass. “I can’t see anyone out there.” Kade slipped the catch and eased the window open. At once, a gust of cold air slipped inside, making Briar shiver. Kade leaned out cautiously, checking left and right, looked down, then turned to Briar with a slight grin. “You’re right. This is our way out.”
Everything was dark and still in the courtyard. Far to the left, Briar caught the glimmer of light from a lantern, but here there was no sign of anyone too close. She took a deep breath. Whatever happened, they had to get out. That was all that mattered now. The window was their best option at this point.
“We’ll have to move quickly,” Kade said. “There are sure to be guards patrolling the courtyard. You were awake when we arrived. What was it like outside?”
“I only saw the one gate,” Briar said. “It was at the front. It’s small, and there were at least two guards by the front door, plus one on the wall top. Maybe more now we’re here?”
“What about here, around the back?”
Briar closed her eyes, trying to visualise their trip earlier in the day. “There were a few soldiers around the stables, but they weren’t on guard. And there were the two by the door.”
“And on the wall?”
“I… don’t think so?”
Kade cocked his head in thought. “We’ll just have to risk it,” he said at last. Shedding his pack, he swung himself up onto the windowsill.
“Be careful.” Briar gripped her medallion.
“Always.” Kade dropped down outside, landing with barely a sound. It was a longer drop than Briar expected. His head barely reached above the level of the windowsill. “Pass the packs out to me.”
Briar hefted the packs out of the window. Kade caught them, one by one, and stacked them against the wall of the house. Then he looked up at Briar expectantly. She bit her lip. Her turn. She climbed slowly onto the ledge. The dark hid the ground beneath the window. Briar pressed her lips together. It wasn’t far. And they were so close to being free. She eased herself forward, poised to jump.
“Wait.” Kade looked to the right.
Briar froze. Voices. She scrambled back inside and ducked below the windowsill. Hopefully, Kade found somewhere to hide too. Not that she’d seen anything to shelter behind out there. Oh, goodness. Briar held her breath and peeped over the edge of the window. Where was Kade? She couldn’t see him anywhere.
What she could see though, was a pair of guards marching by, a little way from the building. The low buzz of their voices carried through the window, though not quite loud enough for Briar to hear what they said. One held a lantern, which cast a circle of hazy yellow light around them. She gripped the edge of the windowsill. Just keep walking. As long as they kept walking, she and Kade would be fine.
One of the soldiers turned his head in her direction, and his step slowed. The low hum of voices died. Briar ducked below the window again, her heart hammering in her chest. Had they seen her? Or maybe it was Kade they’d spotted, crouching in the shadows. Briar squeezed her eyes shut. Any moment now they’d sound the alarm.
Nearby, a fox barked. A voice murmured. Then the footsteps moved on. No yells. No alarm. Briar let out her breath very slowly. It didn’t seem possible. She peeked above the ledge again. The guards carried on with their patrol without so much as a backwards glance. A few steps nearer and that would have been the end of this escape before she even left the building.
“Quick, before they come back.” Kade’s whisper was hushed but urgent.
Briar clambered back onto the windowsill, every nerve tingling. Almost there. She bit her lip, and jumped, bracing for the loud thud of her landing. But her boots never hit the ground. Kade caught her in mid-air and set her down gently without a sound.
“Did you like my fox impression?” Kade handed Briar, her pack.
“That was you?”
“It’s pretty much the only thing I can impersonate. Rowen taught me. It was the only thing I could think of that might distract them. I don’t think they were that smart though. I mean, a fox in a closed courtyard like this?” Kade took Briar’s hand, wrapping his warm fingers around her cold ones. “Stay close.” He darted across the open courtyard, pulling Briar along after him. The moon was weak, but there was still enough light for someone to see their fleeing shapes if they looked in the right direction. Briar’s heart was pounding by the time they pulled up in the shadow of the outer wall.
One step closer. Briar wiped away a bead of sweat and followed Kade along the line of the wall towards the stables. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the guards lounging by the rear door. They leaned casually against the building, doing more talking than looking out for trouble. One of the guards laughed at something, and the sound made Briar’s skin crawl.
But there were the stairs, set into the wall, right by the stables. Not far now. Briar and Kade rounded the edge of the stable on tiptoe, pressing so close to the little building that she could hear the muffled sound of a horse moving inside. Briar hesitated at the foot of the steps. From here, there was no cover until they reached the top, and the moonlight lit their path too brightly. If the guards should look around…
Kade squeezed her hand. “Ready?”
“Ready.” Briar gathered her skirt and climbed quickly every muscle tense. There, that was the top. A low wall surrounded the walkway, just high enough to shelter them if they crouched. She leapt up the last couple of steps and ducked into cover. Safe. And there was no sign of any guards up here either. She had remembered right.
“Keep an eye out. I’ll secure the rope. Then I’ll lower you down first.” Kade opened his pack. The outer edge of the wall had small, regular protrusions on top, presumably for soldiers to shelter behind should the fort be attacked. Right now, they were perfect for securing a rope to so that they could climb down the other side of the wall.
While Kade tied the rope, Briar watched the courtyard. The door guards stood in their little puddle of light, lazy and contented. Crouched against the wall, even Kade wasn’t particularly visible from up here. He worked quickly, checking his knots with a sharp tug.
Briar peeped over the edge of the wall. The murky darkness below was so thick she couldn’t see the ground. Her stomach did a flip. He was going to dangle her off the edge of that abyss tied to the end of a rope? Briar swallowed hard. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Trust me.” Kade met her eyes. “You’ll be absolutely safe.”
Briar bit her lip and held still as Kade fashioned the rope into a harness. She trusted him
. It was the rope she had little faith in. But if the alternative was returning to the cells and waiting to be taken to Mizra for execution, then she had to take this leap of faith.
Movement caught Briar’s eye. The patrolling soldiers were back, strolling around the side of the building. Briar froze. “Kade. Guards.”
They ducked below the wall. Briar closed her eyes. She could hear faint voices, calling across the courtyard. They were too far away for her to make out what wasj being said, but it seemed like the patrollers were talking to the door guards. She pressed her hands against the stone beneath her. They were safe up here. If no one saw them before, then they should be alright. But her heart still beat fast, and her mouth was dry with fear.
The two groups of guards stood and talked for what felt like a lifetime. Briar’s legs cramped, sending shooting pains through her shins, but she didn’t dare move or make a sound. At last, the voices died away. Briar peeped down into the courtyard. The patrollers moved on, their circle of light continuing around the corner of the building, and the door guards settled down again. Briar ran a hand over her face. If she hadn’t been watching, well, the sooner they got out of here, the better.
Kade gave the knots on Briar’s rope harness one final tug, then boosted her onto the wall. “I’ll lower you down nice and steady. When you reach the ground, untie yourself, then tug on the rope twice. Ready?”
She was never going to be ready to throw herself from the top of a perfectly good wall. Briar’s feet dangled out into open space, and she clutched the edge of the rough, gritty stone with both her hands until her knuckles shone white in the pale moonlight. But she set her jaw and said, “I’m ready.”
Don’t look down. Don’t look down. But her eyes sought out the drop anyway. Briar swallowed hard. She could do this. Right? She eased herself off the wall top. For one terrifying moment she freefell before the rope snapped taut. Briar grabbed it with both hands, biting her tongue until she tasted blood to stifle her cry of fear.