Terror threatened to take hold, because if her knots failed, it would be a long drop to the stone below, so Ahnna forced herself to look upward. To angle her crossbow just right to shoot the hook through the small square of glass, which was big enough for her to fit but not so large that the shattering of it would catch the attention of guards above and below.
Breathe,she whispered.Just breathe.
And then she released the trigger.
The bolt exploded upward at a slight angle, her aim as true as ever as it punched through the glass, the wind carrying away the sound. A few shards fell, and Ahnna winced as the sharp glass cut the side of her head. Birds hit the windows often, and with luck, that was what would be blamed come morning.
Pulling the hook tight and jerking the rope several times to ensure its hold was good, Ahnna began to climb.
Wind buffeted her from side to side as she rose up the thin rope, using the knots she’d tied in it to secure her grip as she pressed higher. Her arms shook with the strain, every muscle in her body agony, but Ahnna clenched her teeth and climbed. She reached the base of the palace itself. It was made of different stone than the spiral, but was every bit as slick.
She climbed carefully past a large glass window through which light faintly glowed, the occupants concealed by heavy curtains.
Higher and higher, eyes fixed on the dark opening above.
All she needed to do was get into that window, and then evade capture while finding a way to poison Alexandra. It had to be poison. Had to be something that could be pinned on Amarid avenging Katarina.
She kept between the large panes of glass that belonged to bedroom suites, almost all of them revealing nothing but thick curtains. Yet as she passed one, Ahnna noticed that the curtains had been pulled too far in one direction, leaving a gap next to the frame through which she could see. Motion caught her eye, and she leaned forward.
To see William speaking with Lestara.
They were arguing, the queen pressing one hand against her very pregnant belly as she pleaded with him about something Ahnna could not hear. Lestara abruptly tensed, and Ahnna frowned as she watched the other woman grip the foot of her bed, all while she continued to argue with William.
She’s in labor.
Ahnna had delivered enough babies to recognize the signs, but William seemed oblivious as he continued to berate the crying Lestara.
Climb, you idiot,she told herself.It’s not like you can hear them, anyway.
Yet she remained in place, her boots resting against the rock and her arms trembling from the strain of climbing. Lestara reached up one gloved hand to cup William’s cheek. Only for him to shove her away. She fell, weeping, and William stormed from the room.
Pity filled her, for Ahnna doubted that Lestara had found any more happiness in this life than she’d had in the harem in Vencia. Lestara peeled off her gloves and flung them aside, then set to work on unfastening her gown. The contractions were close together, but Lestara made no move to call for aid.
Climb.
If she delayed any longer, her strength would fail her, so Ahnna progressed higher. Up past the next level, the broken glass of the window that was her target beckoning her with salvation.
Then a tremendous gust of wind blew Ahnna flying sideways. Her body bounced against the palace, sending her twisting in circles. The ground far below spun around her, and Ahnna reached a foot out for the wall, trying to stop the spin—knowing that if she didn’t, the motion would rip the hook loose and she would fall. A fall so long and horrifying that she’d have more than enough time to think about how stupid this plan had been.
Her foot bumped the top of a window as she spun, around and around, only for the rope in her hand to go slack.
Ahnna dropped.
A scream tore from her lips, only for it to be cut short as hands closed around her wrists, arresting her fall.
The person who’d caught her dragged her through an open window and Ahnna landed on her back on thick carpets, breath coming in ragged gasps as she looked up into a Valcottan woman’s face. She was beautiful beyond measure with warm brown skin, large eyesframed with thick lashes, and loose dark curls that reached her shoulders.
“Fuck me,” a familiar voice growled. “It’s Ahnna Kertell.”
Keris stood beyond the woman, arms crossed but a knife gripped in one hand.
“It’s Ahnna Ashford now,” she managed to croak out.
“I’ll make sure they know that when they carve your name on the tombstone,” Keris replied.
“Is James here?” There had been little hope in her heart that James was in the Sky Palace, but she’d hoped all the same. Hoped for some clue as to what had gone wrong with Cardiff, but even more than that, for certainty that he was alive.
“He’s apparently near Verwyrd, but if he’s smart, he’ll stay hidden. He’s a wanted man.” Keris drew in a steadying breath, and Ahnna noted the signs of exhaustion that were written across his face, his expression as grim as it had been when Zarrah had been a prisoner on Devil’s Island. “We know about the poisoned grain. Is—” He broke off, pressing fingers to his temples as though asking the question brought him physical pain.
