“We need to get out of here before the Midnight Guard organizes enough to get the crowd under control,” Ludwig said.
Erich grabbed hold of Liane’s right hand, and in her other hand, she held onto the sword. They ran down the balcony stairs and through the temple halls. All the while, her heart was in her throat. She grasped her Golden Blade tighter in her hand as they turned a corner, and a couple of Midnight Guards blocked their path.
Before she could react, Ludwig stepped in front of them and cut the guards down with a speed that seemed impossible for a human.
Liane stared at him wide-eyed. “Since when could you do that?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later,” he said.
They headed for the temple entrance. But the doors were locked, and people were banging on the other side. The crowd she’d incited was trying to knock down the temple doors.
“We’ll go out through the service exit,” Ludwig said.
They ran in the other direction, and passed through the chaos of the inner rings of the palace and into the kitchen, where acolytes had abandoned their work because of the commotion upstairs. They didn’t try to stop them but merely cowered as they rushed past. From there, they passed through a tunnel, into a storage area, and out onto the empty city street.
Liane followed Erich’s lead as he navigated them through the rioting city. Citizens and anarchists were throwing barrels, lighting torches, and causing chaos in the streets. Because it was so crowded, they took alleyways, climbing fences, and, at times, walking along low rooftops to avoid the worst of the mayhem.
Slowly, they made their way toward the docks. They were on another rooftop when Erich pointed to the harbor.
“That’s our ship,” Erich said, pointing to a small vessel a few yards away.
“Where did you get a ship?” Liane asked.
“My uncle. Long story.”
“There seems to be a lot of those.” She laughed in spite of the insanity of the situation.
She looked at the ship and then back at the city. Basilia was already further away than she’d ever traveled. And the oracle had told her to travel north. The prophecy that the Avatheos and the raven had spoken to her was still throbbing in her skull. She had to get to Aristea and warn her against the magic Liane had unleashed. But if the prophecy were true, it might already be too late.
Erich slid down from the rooftop and held out his arms to catch Liane. She jumped down into his arms. Their bodies pressed together as their gazes met. She wasn’t sure where he intended to take her, but she knew she’d go anywhere with him.
A few yards remained between them and the ship, and they raced across the distance, past disgruntled yardmen carrying boxes and sailors playing cards across crates. The sailors on it were preparing to depart, rushing across the deck, tugging on ropes, and unfurling sails. As soon as they crossed the gangplank, they pulled it up and cast it off from the dock.
It was a small vessel and moved quickly through the bay. They were lucky to have gotten this far without pursuit, but their luck was running out. A ship flying the church’s flag was bobbing in the harbor, near the twin oracle statues, and they were turning toward the signal tower to raise the chains and prevent them from escaping.
“Hold on, everyone. We’re going to be making some quick maneuvers,” the captain announced.
He shouted orders, and the sailors leapt to follow them, while Liane and the others did their best to stay out from underfoot. They found a place along the railing that was out of the way, where they could see the church’s ship plowing toward them on a collision course.
The gap between the ships was shrinking, and the chain was slowly being raised from the water, thick strings of seaweed dangling from it. She held her breath as they squeezed past the church’s ship and didn’t let the breath go until they were zipping out between the statues, moments before the chain pulled taut.
Once they were past it and out on the open water, they unfurled the sails fully and zoomed across the water. In what felt like mere moments later, they watched as Basilia shrank on the horizon.
“On the open sea, their ships will be too slow to catch us,” the captain said, leaning on the ship’s wheel.
“That was certainly a close one,” said the man with silver hair and a fair resemblance to Erich, coming up from the cabins.
“Liane, this is my uncle Lord Endland. He agreed to let us use his ship as our escape vessel.”
“’Tis my ship,” the man behind the helm said.
“That it is, but it’s my geld that keeps it sailing,” Lord Endland replied.
“You’re welcome. Captain Endre Marcussen, at your service,” he said with a flourish and a bow toward Liane.
“Thank you, Lord Endland. And you, too, Captain,” Liane replied.
“Don’t mention it. Anything for someone who can tame my nephew.” Lord Endland tousled Erich’s hair with obvious affection.
