“The guards change every four hours,” Shi’chen said. “If we catch them during a switch over, it will cause a disruption. I would recommend the later afternoon watch, before the evening meal. It will be hot; the guards will be distracted.” Another wave of chatter went through the crowd.
A’bbni stood up and crossed over to stand next to his twin. “I also think we should do it sooner rather than later,” he said, and Shi’chen was surprised by the confidence in his brother’s voice. “The Emperor very likely already knows that we are nearby.”
“Tomorrow?” Zea’dda asked.
Shi’chen nodded. “Yes, I think that makes sense.”
“Who will get into The Keep to find the Emperor?” Gii’han asked with a fragrant puff of smoke from his pipe.
“Me,” Shi’chen replied firmly. “I know the likely movement of the guards.”
Gii’han nodded in agreement, and the crowd began to mumble amongst itself. A’bbni gave Shi’chen’s hand a quick squeeze before raising his voice over the crowd again. “Tomorrow afternoon, we ask for your help in assembling as many of the citizens of Er’hadin as you can to rise up in protest of the Emperor. There must be a significant show of strength.”
“We are not seeking bloodshed,” Shi’chen added firmly. “Our desire is that no lives are lost. But we cannot deny that there is not risk involved. If you choose not to do this, we understand and accept your decision. But without your support, our ability to strike against the Emperor is limited and will likely result in failure, and the execution of my brother and myself.”
Another buzz ran through the crowd, and Shi’chen held his breath without realizing it. And then one of the merchant nobles was on her feet, her arm bent and hand fisted in promise. She was quickly joined by several others around her, and then the entire room was on its feet, arms held out to swear their intentions. Next to him, A’bbni let out a soft gasp of relief, and Shi’chen felt his heart race in his chest as he and A’bbni lifted their own arms. Fists opened and touched chests in allegiance, and Shi’chen did not know when he had ever felt prouder.
After the crowd had begun to dissipate, Shi’chen found himself growing more and more nervous. He kept his eye on Ba’shea and Mii’ra, who were talking to different people around the room. As long as they did not leave, Lai’s plan would hold. The half-elf had been hovering in the background for most of the meeting, keeping an eye on the assembly and not wanting to bring attention to himself at A’bbni’s side. But now, as the last of the goblins left Zea’dda’s house, Lai suddenly appeared by the twins with a bright smile. “I think it will work,” he said brightly, wrapping his arm around A’bbni, who nestled into his embrace.
Shi’chen gave him a grin in return. “I do, too.”
Lai held up a bottle of some sort of dark liquor he had had Kella get for him, giving Shi’chen a grin. “Join us for a drink, Captain?”
Shi’chen glanced over at Ba’shea and Mii’ra, who were standing near Gii’han and Kella, making idle conversation. “Sure,” he agreed, keeping his answer short, as A’bbni had suggested. Lai leaned down and caught A’bbni in his arms, giving him a soft, sweet kiss that Shi’chen tried very hard to ignore. “All right, enough,” he groaned, starting toward the guest rooms. A’bbni laughed and followed after him, pulling Lai by the hand until they reached the room he and the half-elf shared. All three of them slipped inside and closed the door tightly.
Lai moved over and grabbed Shi’chen’s cloak and the short sword Zea’dda had given him, holding them out to the older twin. Shi’chen slid the cloak on, checking that the dagger Lai had given him earlier was still safely tucked in his boot, then turned to A’bbni, a sudden lump forming in his throat. “I-sha…”
A’bbni wrapped his arms around him and squeezed him tightly. “We will see each other again soon, i-sha.” He pulled back to give Shi’chen a brave smile, though he could see the tears glittering in A’bbni’s eyes. “May the gods grant you wisdom and safety.”
Shi’chen pressed his forehead to A’bbni’s for a moment. “I love you.”
“I love you,” A’bbni replied, giving him another firm hug before pulling back. “Go.”
Shi’chen nodded, moving over to the room’s window. He pushed open the casement windows and hopped up onto the sill. He glanced over his shoulder, feeling a small spark of jealousy flare as A’bbni hugged Lai tightly and pressed their lips together, but he forced it down. Then Lai was by his side, and Shi’chen jumped down into the soft dirt under the window. Lai followed him down, holding his rapier silently in his hand as he landed. Shi’chen turned to see A’bbni standing at the window, watching them. He pressed his hand to his heart, and A’bbni did the same. And then Shi’chen turned, Lai on his heels, and raced into the darkness of the city.
“So, this is how you two got out before?” Lai asked, his voice echoing oddly against the stone around them.
“Yes,” Shi’chen said softly. The tunnel seemed much less foreboding now that he had some light to see, the flickering torch sending their shadows scattering over the uneven walls.
Lai let out a soft whistle. “Brave.”
Shi’chen snorted softly. “Desperate, is more like it,” he said. “It was this or death.”
“Both shitty choices,” Lai said.
“Yeah, well, shitty situation,” Shi’chen replied with a sigh.
“That seems to happen to you a lot,” Lai said with just the hint of a smile in his words.
“It does,” Shi’chen agreed. “I’d love for that to stop. But I am sure it won’t until we have taken care of En’shea.”
“I hope you’re right about this plan working,” Lai said.
“I hope I am, too,” Shi’chen said. “If it does, I have you to thank for it.”
Lai shrugged a little. “Just assisting my friends by helping overthrow an Emperor. All in a day’s work for me.”
Shi’chen laughed at that, then nodded as the light from the torch caught the stone stairs that had just become visible in the darkness. “And now we climb.”
