Evreux retreated a step, only to be grasped by what must have been the man’s lackeys. Vesper tried to pry Evreux from their hold. Desmond and Tyson’s chairs at the bar toppled over behind them as they dove into the fray, fists flying. Tyson tackled Evreux’s assailant to the ground, wrestling himselfbetween them so Evreux could get away. Blood sprayed as Tyson delivered a swift blow to the man’s nose.
The sound of wood splintering, bones cracking, and yelled curses filled the tavern. Evreux ran from the chaos, the others who’d come to defend him right behind him. The rest of the Andreilians, who had been seated at a large table quietly eating their meal, scrambled up from their chairs.
“Go, go, go!” Dominic ordered.
Adara made for the exit. The door burst open, slamming against the outer wall as they hastily left the tavern. “This way!” she yelled as they ran rampant down the street, angry drunkards from the tavern hot on their tail.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to get caught!” Dominic yelled breathlessly as they sprinted through the crowd.
People shrieked, leaping out of the way before they were trampled by the Andreilians. They shoved their way through the crowd, weaving between wooden carts, decorations toppling over in their wake.
A low chuckle sounded in response. “I can’t lie,” Tyson said. “Starting a brawl was fun.”
“Plus, now we can all pay for an inn to sleep in tonight instead of that cramped cabin onThe Lykren,” Evreux replied, grinning from ear to ear as he lifted a pouch, heavy with coins.
Desmond clasped Evreux on the back as they ran. The dark skin around his eyes crinkled with a smile. “I’m sorry for ever doubting you.” He laughed.
“Well, we won’t get to use that money if we get caught!” Ace barked as they all turned down a barren alleyway.
They met a dead end, but that didn’t stop them.
Tyson and Desmond ran to the front of the pack, stopping at the base of the wall and clasping their hands together. Tobias sprinted forward and leaped onto their palms to use as a makeshift step. Tyson and Desmond launched him upward, andTobias grasped onto the edge of the roof, hauling himself up. Vesper followed next.
“Come on!” Tobias called to the rest of them. Strands of his chin-length dark hair hung in his face as he glanced down at them. He tied his hair back, offering his hands down to the next person.
“They’re gaining on us!” Vesper warned, watching over the streets from the rooftop.
“Zephyr, you go first,” Asher said, ushering the young boy forward. He ran to Tyson and Desmond, who easily tossed him up.
Tobias and Vesper grasped onto his arms and pulled him to safety. Being the next youngest, Silas and Niran followed. Then they hoisted the others up one by one. Evreux, Caleb, then Sawyer. Next was Asher and Ace.
Shouts and footsteps drew closer. Adara and Dominic glanced back at the group of furious gamblers rounding the corner.
“You’re next, love,” he ordered.
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” she said and sprinted for Desmond and Tyson, planting her foot upon their hands and leaping up. Her fingers locked around Tobias’s and Vesper’s arms and they pulled her over the ledge. She peered down at the three remaining in the alley.
Dominic nodded to Tyson and Desmond. Tyson crouched, lacing his palms together for Desmond to step on. Then Dominic did the same to send Tyson up. They all watched over the edge of the roof as Dominic turned to face their assailants.
“Hand over our money!” one of them demanded.
“Cowards!” another shouted, his head angled up to the rest of them on the rooftop.
“Come and get it,” Dominic challenged, a wicked grin on his face.
A man charged at Dominic, and the next few seconds were a blur. There was a flash of silver, the stab of a knife aimed at Dominic, but he was already ducking behind the man.
The rest of the group lunged for Dominic, and he was nothing more than a blur of movement in the crowd. Some of the attackers went down, groaning in pain. Then Dominic was upon a man’s shoulders, hands wrapped around his neck. The man beat against the hands at his throat but it did nothing to loosen Dominic’s hold. He swayed and stumbled beneath Dominic, about to pass out. Dominic clambered to his feet on the man’s shoulders and jumped for the roof as the man fell unconscious. Dominic’s fingers scraped the edge, scrambling for purchase. Someone below reached for his ankles, but Ace and Adara already had him in their grasps, hauling him up.
“Come on,” Dominic breathed, pulling himself to his feet.
“Follow them!” an angry shout came from below.
The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon, the only remnant of it the soft golden hue setting the town aglow. A full moon was already bright overhead. The gentle light of dusk hadn’t yet given way to complete darkness, and the Andreilians were nothing but shadows running along rooftops through the city.
“Jump!” Sawyer called out as he followed Dominic, jumping over the space between buildings.
Adara expertly leaped to the next roof, landing with ease as she’d done this many times before.
