Aisha didn’t reply. She was afraid if she did the lie might come undone.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs below.
‘Thank the gods,’ Kaidon said, getting to his feet. ‘I’m starving.’
Aisha rose also, backing up when she heard the door at the end of the corridor open. Tariq stepped into view, wearing the soot-covered clothes from earlier. He didn’t look at her until he reached the door.
‘No food, then?’ Kaidon asked.
Tariq’s gaze remained on Aisha. ‘You’re leaving. Pack your things.’ His voice was low and measured.
Aisha looked around. ‘I don’t have any things.’
‘Even better.’
‘Are you going to let me, your bodyguard, in on the plan here?’ Kaidon asked.
Tariq’s gaze shifted to him. ‘There’ll be a gap in the outer patrol shortly. We’re going to use it.’ He pulled a plain black scarf out of an internal pocket and pushed it through the bars. ‘Put this on. Cover your face.’
Aisha stepped forwards and took it. The wool was much softer than the cell blanket. ‘Where are you taking me?’
‘Far away from here.’
Kaidon’s eyebrows rose. ‘A smuggling mission?’
‘Yes.’
‘What happens if you’re caught?’ Aisha asked.
He ignored the question. ‘Open the door.’
Kaidon hesitated. ‘You sure about this?’
Tariq levelled him with a stare. ‘Open the door.’
Exhaling, Kaidon fished the key from his pocket and unlocked the cell door.
‘Let’s go,’ Tariq said to Aisha. ‘We don’t have much time.’
She threw the blanket onto the cot, then exited the cell, following Tariq.
The torchlight in the corridor flickered as they moved, creating shadows that made Aisha feel as if they were being chased. She kept close to Tariq, the scarf covering most of her face, with Kaidon trailing a few paces behind.
They didn’t take the main stairs but veered left at the first landing, ducking into a narrow side corridor she hadn’t noticed before. He led her down a tight spiral staircase that smelled of damp stone. At the bottom, they exited through a crooked doorway into a part of the keep where cobwebs danced above them. Tariq slowed when they reached an iron gate that sat ajar, then pushed through it, glancing back to ensure she was still behind him.
‘Where does this lead?’ Aisha whispered.
He kept his eyes forwards. ‘There’s a passage that cuts behind the granary and opens near the southern watch gate. From there, we’ll take the cliff path down to the harbour.’
Hope sprouted inside Aisha. ‘The harbour?’ We’re leaving Gruisea.
‘The watch gate will be guarded,’ Kaidon pointed out.
‘Yes, but the sentries are always distracted during the changeover,’ Tariq replied.
‘Then they need a good talking-to.’ Kaidon checked over his shoulder as they pressed on. ‘Tomorrow—after we’ve snuck by them.’
The passage narrowed, and Tariq ducked his head beneath the low beams. His shoulders occasionally brushed the stone on either side. Aisha concentrated on not tripping on the uneven ground.
