“He attacked you!”
“I can handle my—”
One Hour Earlier
A Random Office in the Lord of Grimnight’s Evil Lair
Wrestling Imps
A sharp ache burst through Maximus’ head, distracting him for a moment as two imps struggled in his arms. He reflexively loosened his grip and the pink one almost wriggled free. He tightened his hold again, waiting for Fitz to help him.
Maximus had a strange feeling he’d done this before.
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Trey
Some Time Earlier, Who Knows Anymore, Time is Confusing
The Lord of Grimnight’s Evil Lair
Skulking About
Someone had slipped that envelope into my pocket, but I didn’t know which minions were trustworthy. Maybe a few of them were on Wilde’s side, while the rest were on my father’s. If Wilde wanted me to allow myself to be captured, he would have said it in his note. Since he didn’t, I had to avoid the patrols.
I walked around the whole building, searching for the right opening. Most of the doors on the first floor were guarded, but eventually I found a neglected fire-escape climbing up the side of the building. I didn’t remember where the Lord of Grimnight’s study was—not even fuzzy recollections, which probably meant I’d never been there—but Wilde’s rooms had been on the third floor. I’d start there and work my way down.
The fire escape’s ladder had long rusted away, but someone had recognized the safety issue and replaced it with a simple rope ladder. I grabbed the end and tested it, making sure it would hold my weight. Then I slowly started to climb.
This would be a really shitty time for someone to find me.
“What the—stop!” someone shouted from a distance.
Dammit, I know better than to think that shit!
I scrambled up the rest of the rope before whichever minion had spotted me could catch up, then dragged the ladder up behind me.
The lacertian peered up at me through the hole in the balcony, hands on their hips. “Champion, I demand you come down here and surrender yourself.”
I flipped them off and started toward the door.
The balcony groaned under me, then slowly started to tilt.
“Champion!” A hissing note of panic entered their voice. “I mean it! It’s not safe up there!”
I jumped across the remaining distance and grabbed the handle of the door, my feet balanced half on the edge of the balcony, half on the lip of the doorframe.
Crash!
Half of the balcony collapsed behind me.
I flinched and peered over my shoulder at the twisted metal mess below, searching for the minion who’d tried to capture—help?—me.
They’d dove out of the way in time, sprawling face first into the dirt. After a few seconds, they pushed to their feet and dusted themself off, then looked up to where I still hung. They sighed in relief when they confirmed I wasn’t crushed beneath the wreckage.
I jiggled the doorknob, glad to find it unlocked. Opening it proved a little tricky, since it opened out, but there was enough of the balcony remaining for me to step back. It creaked another warning. I rushed inside and closed the door before it finished protesting.
The hall was empty of any guards. Did they think the royal champions wouldn’t make it this far up? Then I heard shouting in the distance—one of the distraction plans was already under way.
There was a small staircase to my right, covered in ivy with little stumps growing out of the stairs. Someone had stopped halfway through clearing it, probably to defend the lair against royal champions.
