Leo’s longing to hold her and kiss his mate had him digging faster. He almost cheered as a broken corner rock came free. The hole grew sizeable enough to pass a chisel through. Unfortunately, it was also big enough to warn any guards of an escape attempt.
Jakab returned quicker than Leo had thought possible.
“Cook was waiting for us in the kitchen,” Jakab said. “She had tools ready since we hadn’t returned straightaway. Cook pushed the cupboard back after I left. She doubts whether anyone will suspect her, but she didn’t wish to risk questions.”
“I love Cook,” Leo said.
“Me too,”his dragon agreed.
With the extra tools and the help from Martinos and Gwenyth, the hole grew larger.
“I think someone is coming,” Gwenyth said.
“Keep digging,” Martinos said. “I’ll wait for whoever the visitor is and stop them if they try to alert the other soldiers.
Gwenyth gripped Martinos’s arm for an instant.“Be careful.”
A growl burst from Leo, but Jakab slapped Leo over the back, a silent reminder not to cause problems at this delicate stage of operations.
Leo showed his teeth at Jakab, but took heed and continued to chip at the stone. The added strength he applied to the chisel and hammer removed another largish piece.
The gap was now big enough for Leo to see Martinos at the dungeon door, his attention on whoever was coming.
“I heard things from Karlos about Martinos’s trial. Karlos thought there was something questionable. I’m surprised they didn’t execute Martinos.”
“I believe he has been in the dungeon for several years. If they set him up, you’re right. Why did they let him live?”
“Either he is useful to his sister or they have something on him that keeps him silent,” Jakab murmured.
“Stop work for a moment,” Gwenyth said.
Leo and Jakab stopped. The hole was sizeable enough now that any idiot would notice, and fine dust covered them all.
“It’s all right,” Martinos said. “It’s Karlos again.”
The door opened and closed, and Karlos stepped inside the cell. He closed the door behind him and pulled out more tools.
Jakab released a growl. “How are you going to explain this, Karlos? You’ll lose your job and your freedom.”
“My gut tells me of the rotten stench within the castle walls. I’ve sensed it for some time. I’ll be leaving and not returning once my shift ends,” Karlos replied. “Meanwhile, I might as well help.”
“Can you hear the noise we’re making on the level above?” Leo asked.
“It’s no worse than the normal racket the prisoners make if they’re riled up about something. Keep going,” Karlos said.
With Karlos, Gwenyth, and Martinos working from inside the dungeon, and he and Jakab working from the alley, the hole rapidly increased in size.
“I think it’s big enough now,” Leo said. “Gwenyth, try to squeeze through.”
“No, make it a little bigger, so Martinos and I can both get through,” she countered.
Leo wanted to argue, but he’d already learned of his mate’s stubbornness. And the truth, if she squeezed through the hole, the temptation to leave Martinos behind might get the better of him. The admission had him fighting shame. “We’ll make the hole bigger.”
It took another half an hour in which Leo stressed about the guard change and the rising of the sun. He still wasn’t sure where to take Gwenyth. By the time they fought through the outer wall, the local tradesmen and other castle residents would’ve started their day. It’d make more sense to go to ground until the night. Fewer dragons to see them take to the air or witness their direction.
His parents would comb the city for them—that much he understood.
Leo pulled away another chunk. “Martinos, can you fit through here?”
