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“Gweneth,” she says with an imploring tone. “Can you take me to your leader?”
“What?” I exclaim.
I can’t, Dilacs is in trouble.
“She is worried for her dragoste,” Rani says, looking over to the General. “Can we do anything to help?”
The General barks orders and several people run out of the hovel.
“I, uhm, thank you,” I say, trembling.
“Of course,” she says. “Now back to my question. Can you take me to your leader?”
“I am sure that Rosalind would want to meet you,” I say. “I’m not so sure about the Zmaj Al’fa though.”
“It will have to be enough,” Rani says. “I cannot take my throne back without allies.”
Allies? That’s what Rosalind really wanted, wasn’t it. Is this the end of my mission? What does that mean for Dilacs and I?
Oh Dilacs, why aren’t you here with me? Why did you stay behind?
36
DILACS
Every muscle hurts. I have already fought a dozen guards. They came in sets of twos and threes until at last there were none left standing. I’m covered in bruises and fatigue has set in so deeply I can barely move, but I have to make good on my escape while also leading the pursuit away from the way we came in. I must buy as much time as I possibly can.
I bind the guards using their own clothing because I have nothing else to do it with. Then I inspect the hallway and find it empty. One at a time, I carry them to the cells and lock them each in one. Let them experience what they have done to others.
When that is finished, I reenter the original room. I stare at the barrels resting on their racks. I know how heavy they are, and I do not know if I have the strength left to move one. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
Gwen. For Gwen.
I find some reserve of strength I didn’t know I had, digging in as deep as I possibly can then move behind one of the racks that wasn’t knocked over already. I set my shoulder to it, bend my knees, and heave forward. It moves a fingers width emitting a loud screech as it does.
Disappointment rises but I cannot let that stop me. I need to slow down any and all pursuit as much as I possibly can. It’s the only way I can protect Gwen. I catch my breath, set my shoulder and heave again. This time I don’t stop. I strain, grunting, and pushing, feet scrambling for traction then as if by some magic it moves, sliding right across the room and banging against the door.
I can’t stop moving. If I do, I’m afraid I won’t be able to continue, and this is far from over. Then the alarm stops. The silence in its wake is so sudden and so complete it’s deafening. I take the moment to rest and debate my next move.
There aren’t a lot of options. I can’t stay here. Sooner or later, they’ll overwhelm me. That they haven’t already is a miracle and I can only attribute it to a gift from Tajss. I roll my neck and shoulders, shake my arms to get the blood flowing, then I go to the grate.
I look at the door, watching it with the expectation that at any moment someone will begin banging on it for entrance. Nothing happens. I grip the grate and lift. The strain is almost too much. Right as I’m about to give up, it squeals and pops free.
I fall with it and smash my foot. I grunt in pain and leap up jerking my foot free. I wiggle the toes, and nothing seems to be broken, but it hurts badly. There is nothing I can do about that. I stare down into the sewer. There is no way I can put the grate back in so they will know I left this way, sooner or later. That’s a problem.
I have the glimmer of an idea. I hope it will work. I walk over to one of the racks then get a grip on one of the large barrels. I slide it onto the floor then scoot it over to the hole in the floor, letting it drop through. I repeat this with four more barrels then lower myself down and drop into the sewer.
The smelly water splashes as I land in it and I crinkle my nose in disgust. Gross. The barrels lay haphazardly around the tunnel. I roll one of them down the way that we came in then get it up onto its end. Climbing onto it I get close to the ceiling, studying it carefully. I’m looking for faults. The quake, I’m hoping, did some damage to the tunnel. All I need to do is find it, then exploit it.
I have to move my barrel four times before I find a fault. Once I do, I then set about rolling the other barrels into position. I rip off my shirt and tuck it into the opening of one of the barrels, making sure it soaks up the alcohol inside.
Once it’s all set, I pull out a flint that I strike with my dagger. It takes me three tries to get the rag to light. Once it’s done, I turn and run in the opposite direction.
37
GWENETH
There is nothing I can contribute to their preparations. I’ve watched them come and go while Khiara and I wait, mostly silent. We exchange gloomy glances and all I can think, with each passing moment, is that it’s over. What purpose to saving the Queen, to winning a war, if the world I am saving is one without Dilacs?
