Lyndal peeled her eyes open and blinked away the fog of wine. Someone or something was shaking her.
‘Lyndal,’ Astin whispered.
She lifted her pounding head off the pillow and found him crouched next to the bed. ‘Is the room on fire?’ She looked around the still dark bedchamber as she asked the question.
‘No.’ He rose and grabbed the cloak off the nearby chair, dropping it onto the bed. ‘Put this on and come with me.’
‘Come where?’
He was fetching her boots. ‘I want to show you something.’
She rose, pins and needles prickling one arm after sleeping in the same position for too long.
‘How do you feel?’ Astin asked as he swung the cloak around her.
‘Fine,’ she lied, looking up at him. ‘Where’s Thornton?’
‘Probably back at the barracks by now.’
He gestured to the boots. She stepped into them and bent to tie the laces. ‘Am I in danger?’
‘Never when I’m with you.’
She followed him out into the empty corridor, where grey light was now filtering in. It was a little before sunrise. ‘What are you doing up so early?’
‘I’ve been training.’
She looked up at him. ‘When do you sleep?’
‘Before training. Unless the castle’s on fire.’ One corner of his mouth lifted.
He led her down an uneven stone path towards the gate, and she was grateful that it was not raining. A rare treat.
Looking up at the sky, Lyndal stopped.
‘What’s the matter?’ Astin asked, looking back.
She exhaled and smiled as she gazed up at the clear sky. ‘I see actual sky.’
He walked back and took her hand, pulling her along. ‘We have to keep moving or we’ll miss it.’
‘Miss what?’
‘You’ll see when we get there.’
She hurried to keep up, enjoying the sensation of her hand wrapped by his. When she realised they were heading for the outer-wall of the borough, she slowed. ‘Astin?’
He kept a hold of her hand. ‘Almost there.’
They walked along the edge of the path, trying to avoid the worst of the mud. The curtain wall loomed ahead. At its base, Lyndal spotted a defender standing in front of a small door. The defender nodded to Astin, then turned to remove the drawbar, pulling open the heavy door.
‘Watch your head,’ Astin told Lyndal, ducking and following the defender into the dark hole.
Lyndal hesitated.
Astin looked back. ‘Always safe with me, remember?’
Drawing a breath, she followed him. Ahead, she heard multiple drawbars being removed. She held tightly to Astin’s hand as they waited to be let through. Finally, light split the door, and the defender moved aside so they could exit.
