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Shit.Lara waited until the others had followed before creeping up to the pier to retrieve her boots from their hiding place. It was going to be a mad dash to get back to Nana’s ahead of them undetected, but she couldn’t leave without having a look inside. Pressing her hands twice in the same spot Aren had, Lara grinned as the door swung open.
She’d expected it to be entirely dark inside, but the curved stairs leading upward were illuminated by more glowing jars. Taking the steps three at a time, she reached a smooth stone wall. Knowing there was a risk of being caught, but judging it worth the reward, she pressed her hands against it twice.
Click.
She winced at the sound, then eased the door open a crack, the heavy block moving on silent hinges. There was indeed a man sleeping in front of it, his snores likely all that had kept the masked Ithicanian soldiers sitting guard inside from hearing the noise.
The doorway needed to be marked so her father’s soldiers could find it from the inside. Yet she knew the Ithicanians swept the bridge for any signs of tampering, so it had to be something they wouldn’t notice.
Her mind raced through the years of Serin’s lessons, knowing she needed a solution and that it needed to present itself immediately or Aren was going to reach Nana’s before her and find her missing.
An idea sprung into her thoughts. Pulling out her knife, Lara sliced open a shallow wound on her forearm then tucked away the blade. Covering her fingers in blood, she carefully traced the outer rim of the door. Once dry, it wouldn’t be noticeable against the stone. But if sprayed with the right compound, it would react.
There was no time to do anything else.
Carefully closing the door, Lara flew down the stairs and pushed the door in the base shut. Then she was running as fast as she dared, her bare feet scraping against roots and rocks. But she couldn’t move this swiftly in her heavy Ithicanian boots while maintaining any level of silence.
Ahead, she picked out the faint glow of the jar Aren carried, and she slowed her speed, moving up as close behind them as she dared. She considered trying to pass them in the trees, but there was no chance of them not hearing her. Not in the dark, at this pace.
Nana’s house appeared ahead.
Think of a plan,she silently screamed at herself even as she watched Aren round the house. Open the door. He was back out in a flash shouting, “Where is she?”
Tugging on her boots, Lara cut into the trees, then stepped out into the clearing, walking through it toward Aren. “I’m right here, so quit yelling.”
He stared at her, as did his bodyguard and the guard tasked with watching the house. Nana chose that moment to fling open the door to the outhouse clad only in a nightdress and boots.
“What,” Aren demanded, “are you doing wandering the woods in the middle of the night?”
Serin’s voice echoed through her head:Most people lie to avoid embarrassment. Very few people lie to embarrass themselves, which inclines others to believe them.
Lara looked at the ground, knowing that the sweat running down her face and her ruddy complexion would only add truth to the lie. “I wasn’t feeling well, and the facilities were”—she gestured at Nana—“occupied.”
Aren turned to his grandmother. “Are you ill?”
“The shits. I’ll live.”
“It must’ve been something we ate.” Lara pressed a hand to her stomach as though it pained her. “Or perhaps some filth on those mice you made me touch.”
“Mice? You made her feed your snakes?” Shaking his head, Aren rounded on the guard. “Where the hell were you?”
“Here. I didn’t see her leave. I was watching.”
“Not very well.”
“I was trying to be discreet,” Lara snapped, kicking the toe of her boot into the dirt. “Now if you’re all finished gaping at me, I’d like to go back to sleep.”
Aren exhaled a long breath.
“What?” Lara folded her arms under her breasts and looked up at him.
“A fleet of thirty Amaridian ships is lurking off Ithicana’s coast. There’s a squall blowing in that might buy us some time, but Midwatch is under my command, and I need to get back to prepare our defenses.”
“They intend to raid?”
“Likely.” He exhaled. “You can come back with us or stay here with Nana for War Tides. Your choice.”
“I’ll go back to Midwatch.” There was no bloody way in hell she was spending another day with that awful woman. Never mind that judging from Nana’s narrow-eyed expression, the old woman wasn’t entirely fooled by her deception. No doubt she’d tie Lara to the bed every night and triple her guard. And because she needed to step forward with her plan to lure Aren in, Lara added, “I want to go with you.”
