Helene staggered to her feet, hope and caution mingling in her desperate eyes. “How do I know if we can trust you? I don’t even know who you are!”
I hesitated.
But Melaena spoke for me. “Her name is Kiera, and you can trust her. Go!”
That was enough to spur Helene into dragging her daughter toward me. As they climbed into the tunnel, I looked past them to Melaena.
“Don’t get in his way,” I told her. I could only protect her so much, and that killed me.
She nodded, her chin lifted and her spine straight.
I hurried into the tunnel and latched the door behind me.
“I don’t like the dark!” Isabel’s voice sounded so young and thin. “And neither does Captain!”
I pushed past them to lead the way. “Captain? Is that the name of your pet?”
“Yes, he’s a lizard and loves the sun. He’s scared.”
Helene tried to hush and comfort her daughter. Gods, we didn’t have time for this.
“Is he a pirate?” I asked, feeling my way through the tunnel. “Is that why you named him Captain?”
“Yes.” Isabel sniffled. “I made him a little hat too, but—but I left it behind. With Father.”
Pain clawed at my heart. I knew what she was feeling. What she’d be feeling for the rest of her life.
“You can make him a new one,” I said firmly. “But he doesn’t need one. It’s not the hat that makes him a captain, it’s how brave he is when he’s scared. You’ll have to show him how.”
“I—I want Father,” she whispered.
My throat thickened. But thankfully, Helene answered her. “I want him too, Izzy. But he wants you and me to be safe right now. We should do that for Father, yes?”
“Yes.”
Gods damn it, how many mothers and fathers had been lost over a crown? Brothers, sisters, friends... It had to stop.
I sent up another silent prayer for Melaena just as we reached the hatch. I shoved it open with my shoulder.
We tumbled out into the warehouse, panting in the gloomy light. I closed the tunnel and laid a tarp over the top.
“Where do we go now?” Helene asked.
Could I simply take them to the city gate? Would they let us out?
Do not leave the city.
My fingers curled into fists. The sun was probably behind the wall by now. The Wolves would be out any moment. Renwell would be coming from behind us with more Wolves.
We had to keep going, and fast.
Gregor. Ruru had told me that was the guard who would let us out if we needed to escape after we blew up the Old Quarter.
Would he let us out now?
I mapped our route in my head. I could take the most direct one—the main city road. But what if Renwell had set guards to watch it? That meant slinking through the labyrinth of the Old Quarter, which would take us right by?—
“Walk fast and keep quiet,” I said. “Cover your faces if you can.”
