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Graham got up and ran in the direction where the torches had vanished. I followed quietly behind, keeping to the shadows. I trusted him to do this. But my fear kept one thought active in my mind: they had pistols and we had nothing.
ChapterThirty-Six
The glowof torches came into view again. I slowed down and stayed to the side of the Enforcers, trying not to rustle the bushes.
Graham walked straight up behind the men. “Evenin’.”
They spun toward him, their backs now to me. One pointed his pistol at Graham’s chest. I gripped the bark of the tree I hid behind. I wasn’t sure I had the self-control to stay out of it, not with Graham’s life at risk.
“Stay back, criminal,” the man with the pistol growled.
Graham raised his hands and gave them a polite smile. Almost too polite. “No need for weapons, wallers. I ain’t armed.”
They stepped closer, inspecting him in the torchlight. Fortunately, they didn’t see past his accent or the dirt streaked across his face and chest.
The man with the pistol lowered it but didn’t put it away. “You haven’t seen any visitors here lately, have you?” he asked.
“Visitors?” said Graham. “Someone you’re lookin’ for in particular?”
The men looked at each other. One shrugged and the other continued.
“A couple of nobles have gone missing from Cambria. In all likelihood, they’ve been assassinated, but the Academy sent us to search on the slim chance they defected.”
“It’s a fool’s errand if you ask me,” said the other man.
“Oh?” Graham sounded genuinely surprised. “I’d be more willin’ to tell you what I know if you tell me what you know. Who are they?”
The man with the pistol narrowed his eyes. “We’re searching for Sir Graham Brennin and Lady Mara Stroud.”
I gasped, then clapped my hands over my mouth.
Graham’s face clouded into a distant unreadable expression. He looked past the men and straight toward my hiding place. I didn’t know if he could even see me in the dark, but I felt entirely exposed.
But then his gaze returned to the Enforcers and he smiled, nearly extinguishing my fears. “Haven’t seen ’em.”
“Then why did you say you would tell us what you know?” The man aimed his pistol at Graham again. “Is there something you’re hiding?”
“Well,” he said, “I could be wrong, but it looked like someone’s stealin’ your boat.”
The men swore and took off at a run, pushing past Graham.
This was the chance we’d been waiting for, but I couldn’t seem to move.
Graham followed at their heels, staying near the two bouncing flames in the dark. I pulled myself together and chased after them.
* * *
We ranuntil the faint glow of impending day lit up the eastern horizon. The Enforcers didn’t stop until they left behind the trees and black rocks for the coarse, dark sand at the shore. They crouched to the ground, gasping for breath.
I hid in the thin trees.
Graham ran past them, splashing through the water. He dove in when it was deep enough. A boat much larger than mine was anchored a good distance from the shore.
Relief flowed through me until it crashed into the dam of my fears. We didn’t know who was in control of the boat. Graham had most likely gone ahead to find out if it was safe. I should’ve been the one to take the risk.
The Enforcers waded into the ocean and pulled out their pistols.
Graham still swam toward the boat. He knew what to do, but struggling past crashing waves wasn’t like gliding through the still glass of the mountain lake. I stood up, hardly caring if I was seen. I had to make sure Graham was safe. Several figures moved about on the deck of the boat. I couldn’t tell if they were Cambrians or islanders.
