by Jenny McKane
Everard bowed mockingly. “The very same.”
Audun looked confused. “I don’t understand,” he said, scratching his head. “We are all here to rescue the same person?”
Skyresh’s eyes didn’t leave Everard. “It would seem so, my friend.”
Ored chuckled. “I see the hand of the Goddess here,” he said. “It is all happening as she has intended. It seems that she does indeed want this young lady to be saved.”
Skyresh and Everard kept glaring at each other.
“But this is good!” said Audun. “No one has intended it, but we can all work together. The chances of our success have just increased.” He looked at them both. “Don’t you agree?”
Skyresh nodded slowly. “Maybe. If it is true, what he is saying.” He paused. “You have sacrificed much, guardian. How do we know that you have really switched sides?”
“You don’t,” said Everard shortly. “But I fail to see why I would lie about it.” He glared at Skyresh again. “I am only doing it for her. I don’t want her to die.”
Skyresh stared at him, thinking.
Audun sighed. “People,” he said. “Time is ticking. Every moment that we sit here, we could be discovered. Shall we do what we have all come here for?”
Skyresh nodded. “We will,” he said. “But I want to keep my eye on him.” He turned to them all. “Here is the plan.”
Chapter Nineteen
Avalon could see shadows lengthening across the square as she was led down yet another narrow corridor. This place was larger than she thought. She pressed on the knife, hidden within the sleeve of her grey robe.
She had seen the knife when they had sat her down for lunch. It had been sitting on a bench. For one split second, the guard had turned to write in a log book. There had been no one in the dining hall. For a minute, she had thought that perhaps it was a trap, but she had moved like quicksilver and had it hidden in her sleeve by the time the guard looked up again.
She would have to choose her moment well. She had only one small weapon in a camp filled with them. The chances that she would make it out were slim, but it seemed that it was the only chance that she had.
The guard pushed her through a door. Teacher Gaia was sitting there, smiling. Avalon just stopped herself from rolling her eyes in frustration. Usually, these sessions happened in the morning; she could steel herself to endure them. Now, it seemed that she had an impromptu session.
“Avalon.” The woman’s smile widened. “Please, sit.”
Avalon did as she was told. She stared at the woman expectantly.
“We have had unusual correspondence.” The woman stared at her. “I have been instructed to question you about it.”
“Yes?” Avalon kept staring at her.
“There has been a major incident.” Teacher Gaia’s voice lowered. “The rebel leader that you led into capture and his people have escaped execution. They killed all the guardians and Jarle who were in attendance.”
Avalon’s eyes widened, but she did not react.
The woman looked distressed. “It is a catastrophe for our realm,” she continued. “So many of our people slaughtered…and, of course, now these troublemakers are on the loose again. We need you to tell us everything to re-capture them.” She stared down at a piece of paper in front of her. “In your initial report, you stated that you weren’t led to their main base. Is that true?”
Avalon nodded, trying to hide her elation. Skyresh was free!
The woman sat back, sighing. “You see, I do not believe you, Avalon. I think that you are protecting them.” She stared hard at her. “I will use other methods if you do not answer freely.”
“I wasn’t taken to their base,” Avalon said, shrugging. “What do you want me to say?”
The woman sighed again. She turned to the door. “Guard, bring in Lindar, please.”
Avalon turned, as a large man walked through the door. He had scars running down the length of his face, and his eyes were small and cold. Avalon stared at his hands – they were the largest she had ever seen. He stood there silently.
“Avalon, this is Lindar,” said the woman, smiling. “Lindar has ways to…persuade people to talk. Some of them are not pleasant, so I will ask you a final time before I put you into this man’s hands. Where is the rebel’s base in the Far North?”
Avalon started to tremble, but she raised her head defiantly. She was silent.
“As you wish.” Teacher Gaia beckoned to the man. He nodded, advancing toward her.
Suddenly, a bell started tolling over and over. Teacher Gaia froze, as did the man. A guardian came in. He looked harried.
“We are in lockdown,” he breathed. “I have to get this prisoner secured.”
Teacher Gaia had paled. “What is happening?”
The guardian shook his head. “No one knows,” he said. “I have heard there has been a breach on the south wall, but nothing else. You all know procedure, and I know mine. I need to get this prisoner to her cell—now.”
He grabbed Avalon, hauling her to her feet. Teacher Gaia and the man called Lindar rushed out the door.
Avalon was pushed down the corridor. People were running everywhere. The bell kept ringing. What was going on?
The guard seemed distracted, continually glancing around as he pushed her down corridors. They were almost to her cell. She knew that this was her chance. They were all focused on whatever was happening, and if they believed that she was safely in her cell, no would notice. Not for a while anyway.
He took out the key, hurriedly turning it in the lock. She withdrew the knife she had hidden, quickly pressing it into his throat.
“Get in,” she whispered, as she grabbed the key.
She pushed him, hard, so that he fell onto the floor. She slammed the door closed, turning the key. The door was iron, with only a small aperture to see inside. He could scream and shout all he liked – no one would hear him. These cells were designed to be soundproof.
She turned, fleeing back down the corridor, her heart thumping wildly. Everyone seemed to have left.
And that was when she smelt it. The acrid scent of smoke, curling in the breeze.
The camp was on fire.
She had to get out of here quickly. As soon as it was detected, the procedure would change from lockdown to evacuation. The place would be teeming with people again, trying to escape. At the moment, they were all bunkered down, so she had to use this time wisely.
Which way?
She thought quickly. She knew that the huge kitchen led to the outdoors to what seemed to be the back of the camp. It was probably the safest way to exit, without the threat of being seen.
She turned and ran down a corridor toward it, flying like the wind.
***
Skyresh and Everard ran down the corridor, glancing quickly into rooms as they went.
“Are we close to the cells?” Everard whispered.
Skyresh nodded. “Ored said that they are down these stairs, towards the bottom,” he whispered back.
“Lucky his wife works here.” Everard’s eyes darted around.
Skyresh didn’t answer. He took out a bunch of keys that he had taken from a guard. This should be where the cells were located. He gestured to Everard, then unlocked the door. He could see rows of small rooms on either side of a long corridor.
He had thought of bringing Ored with him. The man knew the layout of the place, and they would have moved quicker, but he wanted to keep his eye on Everard. He still didn’t quite believe that the guardian was trustworthy. Ored and Audun were securing the camp. Skyresh paused, smelling the air. Yes. They had just started the fire.
They ran down the corridor, considering every cell quickly. Most were empty. They got towards the end of the rows. Skyresh glanced into one, right at the very end. He drew back in surprise.
A Grey Guard was in there.
As soon as the man saw him, he ran to the door, yelling and pounding on it. Skyresh stared at him. What was going on?
Where was she?
He turned to Everard. “She’s gone,” he said quickly. “She locked her guard in her cell.”
Everard stared at him. “She’s gone? How are we going to find her?”
Skyresh started running back down the corridor, gesturing for Everard to follow.
Then he stopped, hesitating. There were prisoners here, and if the fire they had started wasn’t contained, they would all die.
He turned back, unlocking and flinging open doors. People came out slowly, staring at him in amazement.
“Run!” he yelled.
They didn’t need to be told twice, scurrying down the corridor.
Everard stared at Skyresh. “We are wasting time,” he said. “What are we going to do?”
Skyresh paused. “You were her partner,” he said. “You know how she would think in this situation.”
Everard frowned. What would Avalon do? She would try to find the quickest and least obvious way out of the camp, just like he had done when he had led her out of the palace.
He turned to Skyresh. “Did Ored tell you where the kitchens were located?”
Skyresh nodded. “Yes. I am following your line of thinking.” He swung the door to the cells closed. “Let’s go.”
They turned and ran back down the corridor, heading toward the kitchens.
***
Avalon ran down the corridors, her heart thumping.
The smell of smoke was getting stronger. Soon, this whole place would be ablaze. What had happened? It seemed deliberate, somehow. First, an unknown breach of the camp, causing confusion, and now a fire.
Skyresh filled her thoughts. She had barely had time to absorb it, that he had escaped. He was alive! He had been about to be executed, and he had still managed to outwit them. Where was he now? Her heart lurched, hoping desperately that he would not be re-captured.
She reached a kitchen. It was dark, and she could barely see as she hurried through it. But there was a glimmer of light toward the side. Yes. It was a side door, leading to the outside.
She ran to it, turning the knob. It was locked.
She took out the bunch of keys she had stolen from the guard. There were so many on it. She took a deep breath, trying to still the shaking of her hands. She took each key, turning it in the lock. None of them were working.
“What are you doing?”
She jumped, turning around so quickly the keys fell from her hand. A man stood there, but he wasn’t a guardian. A kitchen worker?
“I said, what are you doing?” the man advanced toward her. “You are a prisoner. You should be in your cell.”
Avalon tried to smile at him. “The place is on fire,” she said. “Everyone is trying to get out. You should, too.”
The man shook his head. “I haven’t had any orders,” he said. “You are trying to escape. You have to go back to your cell.”
Avalon stared at him. “Come now, friend. You are Stromel. Just go about your business, and I will go about mine. You do not have to say that you ever saw me.”
The man frowned. “No. They will find out, and I will get in trouble. They will take it out on my family. I have to bring you back to your cell.”
The man lunged at her, pinioning her arms to her side. He was large and strong. She struggled against him, trying to get to her knife. She didn’t want to kill him, but what choice was he giving her?
“Take your hands off her, friend.”
The man stilled, staring around in confusion. Avalon’s heart lurched. Who was it? She recognized that voice.
She could vaguely make out two figures, coming toward them, but it was so dark that she couldn’t see who they were.
The first man came into the light. Her heart somersaulted violently in her chest.
It was Skyresh.
He looked different, but it was him. They had shaved his head, and his face was covered with bruises, but she would recognize those eyes anywhere.
And then, the second man stepped forward. Avalon gasped, her head reeling in sudden confusion.
It was Everard.
What was going on? Why were they both here, and seemingly here together? Everard was wearing his Grey Guard uniform. His dark eyes gazed at her beseechingly.
“I said, let her go,” Skyresh said calmly.
The man shook his head. “She is escaping,” he said. “I will get into trouble if I let her escape. Who are you?”
Skyresh and Everard circled them. Suddenly, Everard lunged, grabbing the man and hurling him off Avalon. At the same time, Skyresh grabbed her, pulling her forward.
Everard held a knife to the man’s throat. Skyresh bent and picked up the keys. He held them out to the man. “Which one?”
The man sighed. “The large silver one,” he mumbled.
Skyresh took the key and turned it in the lock. The door opened.
“Now,” he said, turning to the man. “This can go one of two ways. Either you walk away and pretend that you never saw us, or we will kill you. What is it to be, friend?”
The man gasped. “I will walk away,” he said, his eyes glittering. “Please, do not kill me! I have a young family. I only work in the kitchens. I promise that I will never say that I saw any of you.”
Skyresh smiled. “A wise choice,” he said.
Everard lowered the knife, pushing the man forward. Then they all turned and ran through the door.
They sprinted toward the fence, scaling it quickly. Avalon could hear the bell still tolling. She glanced behind. Smoke filled the air, and she could see flames lurching towards the sky.
And then, they jumped down. Trees surrounded them. Avalon breathed deeply. They had made it. They were free. For now, at any rate.
***
Deep into the woods, they paused for breath.
“Which way?” Everard was panting. “The others should be here soon.”
Skyresh nodded. He collapsed against a tree. “Ored said that the cave was this way,” he said. “We have to keep going.”
Eventually, they got to the cave, crawling inside. They all collapsed onto the ground, trying to catch their breath.
Avalon stared at them both. “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “You worked together…to free me?”
Skyresh nodded. “It just happened that way,” he said, staring at Everard. “I came here to free you, and it seems that your former partner came here to do the same, so we worked together.”
Avalon stared at Everard. “You have deserted?”
Everard nodded slowly. “I couldn’t forgive myself,” he whispered, “for what I had done. I know that you hate me, Avalon. I am trying to redeem myself.”
Avalon shook her head in amazement. “You did this for me? Gave up your whole life, everything that mattered to you?” She shook her head again. “I don’t know what to say, Everard.”
Everard was silent. Skyresh sat up suddenly. “There is movement,” he whispered.
He crawled to the edge of the cave, getting out slowly. Avalon held her breath.
She could hear low voices. And then, Skyresh was back. He was smiling.
Two men came in after him. One was older with a badly scarred face. The other was a large man with wild ginger hair.
“So,” said the man with the scarred face. “You are the young lady, who we have gone to so much trouble for.” He smiled, extending his hand to her. “I am Ored.”
“Avalon,” she said, shaking his hand.
The other man stared at her. “I am Audun,” he said. “I am the executioner.”
Avalon stared at him, puzzled. Skyresh laughed.
“Audun played executioner,” he said, staring at her. “And he did it a bit too well. That noose that you put around my neck was tight, my frie
nd.” He rubbed his neck ruefully.
They all laughed.
“Now that the introductions are over,” said Ored, “we need to keep moving. You can all stay in my bunker, but it will be dangerous getting there. They will be alerted that you are missing by now, Avalon. These woods and the villages around will be crawling with guardians soon.”
Skyresh nodded. “You did well, my friends,” he said. “The diversion worked, although we almost didn’t find her.” He turned to Avalon, his eyes sparkling. “That was a good move, locking your guard in your cell.”
Avalon grinned at him. “I don’t want all of you to say that I didn’t contribute.” She paused. “I am not a damsel in distress after all.”
“That you are not,” said Skyresh slowly.
They had eyes only for each other. Everard stared at them, his heart sinking slightly in his chest.
As if sensing his change of mood, Skyresh turned to him. “You have done well, too, guardian,” he said. “I am almost about to trust you. You realize that there is no going back, of course.”
Everard nodded. “Of course, I do,” he said sharply.
Avalon reached out a hand, putting it on his arm. “Thank you, Everard. I know how much you have given up.”
Everard smiled wryly. He stared at her, his dark eyes shining.
Skyresh realized suddenly that this man was in love with Avalon. That was why he had deserted and came to save her. It was so obvious that it was blinding. He wasn’t a revolutionary; he would have stayed in his life of privilege quite comfortably if not for her. But how did she feel about him? Was she in love with him, too?
He didn’t know why that thought angered him quite so much. He didn’t have time to analyze it. What Ored had said was true. They needed to keep moving. And soon.
***
It was getting dark by the time they reached the top of the hill, gazing down at the village spread out below them.
It had been slow. Ored had been correct, of course. They could hear guardians in the distance, all around them. If it hadn’t been for the man’s knowledge of these woods, they would probably have been intercepted.
He looked back. He could see a plume of black smoke reaching high into the air, and flames still burning. They cast a strange orange glow into the darkening light.