Ahead, just before the harbor, a large bridge stretched across the wide river. It was built of thick stone with endless adornments, two large piers supporting it in the middle, between which dangled chains half submerged in the water. Winches were rattling as men struggled to lift the heavy links high enough that they wouldn’t catch the masts, shouts of “They’re coming! They’re coming!” flying above the noise.
Relief filled Ahnna’s veins, only to drain away in a heartbeat as she caught sight of heavy ropes being dragged across the water. Men worked in teams to lift them parallel to the river to catch the masts as they passed, detonating the explosives where they could do no damage.
“Goddamn it!” Everyone floating beneath the surface would be forced to let go and drift down to the sea, and unless they could swiftly steal a ship, they would have no escape. Ahnna had no doubt the Harendellians were swarming the ship docks, waiting for any such attempt.
She had to cut those ropes.
In her periphery, the ships drifted closer, but Ahnna focused on the group of men holding the rope on this side. They were tying it off to an oak tree on the riverbank, those on the far side doing the same to a mooring pillar.
“Get back!” the captain in command shouted. “Get out of range of the explosion!”
The men rushed back between the building lining the boulevard, their eyes on the mast drifting around a bend, the second vessel not far behind. Half a minute, no more.
Drawing her sword, Ahnna sprinted toward the oak tree. The soldiers shouted, and she dodged a swift one who got into her path, but she’d always been quick on her feet.
Lifting her blade, Ahnna put all her strength into chopping down on the taut rope, only for it to fall limp at her feet before her blade could strike.
What?
Her gaze snapped across the water to find a dripping wet James standing on the opposite bank, a sword in hand. “Run!” he roared.
Ahnna didn’t hesitate. Parrying a sword from a howling soldier, she dodged an arrow shot and broke into a run. Not toward the water, but away. Drawing the attention of the soldiers away from her people hidden beneath the surface of the river.
She flung herself into an alley, leaping over broken crates and debris, her bare feet slipping in refuse. The rush of fear in her veins gave her wings, but exhaustion was rising, her sides aching.
Faster.
She leapt onto a barrel and jumped, catching hold of a balcony railing and climbing atop it. Balancing on the narrow beam, she reached for the roof and hauled herself up, immediately on her feet and running. Most of the buildings were row houses, and once she leapt onto the top of one, it was a long stretch of open roof.
Slickopen roof, with mold and moss from the humidity turning it treacherous. Her feet slipped, then one went through a weak spot and she sprawled, losing her weapon.
Cursing, she got upright and kept running, the sound of pursuit loud from below.
Arrows flew past her, catching at her clothing, but there was nothing to do but run on. She leapt to the next row house, stumbling as the roof sagged beneath her weight. Ahnna threw herself into a roll, nearly sliding down the steep pitch, but her nails caught on the wooden shingles.
But it was the sight of chaos on the far side of the river that stalled her progress. Soldiers were running, torches bright in a long line as they chased a shadowed figure through the alleys.
James.
Ahnna risked a glance at the ships. They had only the last bridge to pass through, but it was the one with the chains. As she watched, the soldiers began lowering them, willing to destroy the bridge in an explosion rather than allow her and James to escape.
“I don’t think so!” she snarled, leaping into a tree and letting it slow her fall, heedless of the branches scratching deep into her skin. Her feet hit the cobbles, and she ran straight toward the winch station.
Soldiers turned to meet her. Ahnna ducked beneath a swinging blade and came up with her fist balled. It took the man in the face, andhe stumbled, allowing her to rip his sword from his grip. She dueled with another soldier, sending him sprawling, and then lunged, her sword sliding between the links. The mechanism kept going and then caught with a groan, the force bending the sword into a sharpV.
But it held.
“Ahnna!”
She ran toward James’s voice, breath coming in ragged gasps as she hurled up the slope of the bridge. They half collided in the middle, the ships passing beneath them, the tide causing them to pick up speed as they were sucked into the harbor. Arrows flew, clattering against the stone of the bridge, and armed soldiers ran toward them.
“Jump!”
He lifted her onto the railing and leapt up next to her, and then hand in hand they jumped.
An arrow scraped across her leg as they fell, then filthy water closed over her head. It wouldn’t stop an arrow from hitting them, but it would ruin their aim, so Ahnna dragged James deeper. She kicked hard, following the current toward the salvation of the sea.
When her head broke the surface, Ahnna sucked in a breath and searched the waves. “There!”
