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He could not very well carry the woman from the cell, and leaving her behind was not a consideration. He’d given her his word and would not abandon her. There was also the matter of their actual escape plan, which he’d been prepared to ask her about when the guard startled her. Galien was sure the guard meant only to grab the ring of keys from her, but it seemed she knocked herself unconscious in the process.

Thankfully, Galien had taken the ring before the guard noticed. While the guard was busy inspecting her wound, though a bump on the head was the only one it appeared the fall had inflicted, Galien remained calm. Tried each one. Got it on the third try, and now the guard lay peacefully, once again asleep, beside them.

“Lady Reina,” he tried again, this time tapping her gently on the cheek. A lovely cheek, at that. “We must be gone.”

The lady’s eyes flickered open, her hand flying immediately to her head. “What—” She jolted awake. “You are out?”

“Indeed, I am. And we must go.”

She looked from him to the guard. “Is he. . .dead? How did you. . .”

Her words trailed off as she tried to stand, wobbling a bit. He caught her, liking too much the feel of the woman in his arms. Galien had for too long avoided this particular situation. Fighting for his country’s freedom meant nothing, including a woman such as Lady Reina, could distract him from his purpose.

When he was confident she could stand on her own, he moved away. “He’s not dead,” he reassured her. “But I will be soon if we stay here much longer.”

Rubbing her left temple, an angry bump already having formed, Lady Reina winced. “Why are you shouting?”

He would not apologize for attempting to keep them alive. “I was merely speaking forcefully. Let’s go.” Galien began to walk away from the cell when her hand on his arm stopped him.

“You should know, I do not care for being shouted at. And you should also know, I do not miss meals well, even if it ’tis something small. Oh, and my maid says I make the most unladylike noises when I sleep. Also, if you kill me, I will come back to haunt you.”

Galien was having trouble keeping up with her thoughts. “You tell me this because?”

“We will be traveling together, it seems.”

He stared at her, open mouthed. “Traveling? We are in the dungeons of a keep teeming with guards. I’ve seen them. If we manage to make it outside, there is a courtyard to cross, a gatehouse to pass through, and another of the same if we do reach the outer bailey. I think it prudent to remind you, my lady, we have not yet escaped.”

She made such a face at him that Galien might have laughed, if not for the imminent threat of recapture and death. “I’ve a plan.”

Finally, she began to follow him. But not before lowering herself down to the guard to check if he was breathing. Galien rolled his eyes as she moved past him. “Right, well then. My plan.”

Following Lady Reina to the top of the stairwell, he stopped behind her at the top of the stairs. Creaking the door open, she looked out.

“What precisely is your plan?” he dared to ask. “It doesn’t seem as if you had much time to form it.”

“Luckily for you,” she whispered back. “If I’d actually given it much thought, you would still be locked in the cell.” Lady Reina turned back toward him. “Though I do thank you for not abandoning me to explain my actions to the guard when he woke.”

“Hmm,” Galien said. “If he does wake.”

Her eyes became as wide as two round, wooden platters. “You said—”

“I’m jesting,” he replied. “Well? The plan?”

“Stay here.” With that, she strode from their spot out into the corridor, lantern once again firmly in hand. Returning just moments later, she indicated that he should follow. While there did not appear to be anyone about, as they climbed another set of stairs, voices could be heard above them. With her fingers to her lips, she stood so still Galien was sure she’d done this before. In fact, as they slipped through yet another corridor, and another, he was certain of it. Perhaps not so surprising at this time of night, but no one appeared to be about. Until they came to what appeared to be a little-used postern gate. Unfortunately, the sound it made when it creaked open would be sure to wake everyone in the castle who was presently slumbering.

“This way,” she said as they passed through. When he closed the door behind him, Galien was surprised at how heavy it was. He followed Lady Reina with a new appreciation. Waiting until the guard above them had moved on, they moved quickly and quietly toward what appeared to be a portion of the curtain wall that encircled the inner bailey. But as they approached, still having gone unseen by any of the guards, he began to suspect something more. Indeed, Lady Reina placed her hands on one of the stones in the wall, and pushed.

A secret door. Few castles had them, so he would not have expected it. But for the first time that night, as he and Reina made their way through the small opening, Galien began to actually believe this could work.

“Cleverly hidden,” he said, wondering how the door had been fashioned. It appeared as real rock on the outside, but could not have been, given the ease of its opening. “I am surprised you found it in the dark.”

Reina had ditched the lantern the moment they emerged from Anbarth’s dungeons. “My father bade my mother and I to practice doing so many times. If it were ever needed, he said, ’twas possible it would be under these very conditions.”

He could hear her, but Galien could not see her. He’d pulled the door shut behind them, and it was completely dark. It was only when he felt her hand on his foot that he realized she was looking for something.

“That is your foot?”

“Aye.”