“Florian!” Knox’s growl carried through the cavern.
He turned, sweat covering his brow from exertion. Knox was with the others on the ship and pushing off. The gate was nearly high enough for the dinghy to pass. But, Florian followed Knox’s gaze to where a stream of guards was pouring from the stairs, a dozen at least.
Time was up.
“I’m letting go,” Florian warned. The edge to his voice was foreign even to himself.
Yvette nodded just before he released his pressure.
His body was already quivering with weakness. His shoulder screamed. Florian drew his sword anyhow and faced down the charge. Behind him, Yvette was continuing their effort, her breathing heavy and strained. Knox’s bow was taking out target after target, but it wasn’t enough, not by half.
“Faster!” Rhea called.
Florian readied himself as the guards came upon them. He only had to buy them time. The strip of rock was narrow here, which Florian used to his advantage. He positioned himself so they were forced to come at him two at a time. He cut and slashed, parried and thrusted. Some he sent into the water with an inelegant shove. But fatigue was settling in, his movements slowing.
A familiar call above them drew Florian’s attention. It took only a flash of black feathers for Florian to understand what he was seeing. Thaddeus was swooping down on the guards attempting to fire on the boat. It seemed he’d found his mistress after all.
An unseen hand grabbed him by the base of his hair, setting off his balance. His mind spun between blocking the oncoming blow to his chest or the unseen person holding him from behind. He did not have time to act before a shrill cry of anger and desperation filled the cavern. The grip on his hair went lax, and Florian quickly ran through the unchivalrous bastard who’d tried to take advantage of his compromised position.
Behind him, Yvette was holding her dagger, which was still embedded in the man’s neck. Her eyes were wide, and her freckled cheeks were splattered with blood.
She’d already set the wedge into the mechanism.
Florian reeled. She’d done it; the gate was lifted.
It was time to go.
Yvette struggled to pull the dagger free, but it seemed reluctant to budge.
“Leave it,” Florian said, sheathing his blade and putting his arm around he as he dashed for the water.
“Wait-” Her scream of protest died as they plunged beneath the surface together.
He took to the water naturally. Even with only one arm, Florian found the surface almost at once. Yvette, however, struggled, limbs lashing out furiously for purchase. He waded to her, treading furiously with his legs. As soon as she found him, her hands clung to him desperately.
“Around my neck, love,” Florian said, sputtering out water.
She obeyed him immediately.
“Good girl,” he whispered in relief. His legs were exhausted, his left arm unusable, and Yvette’s weight seemed as if it was willfully trying to sink him, yet Florian swam.
His entire focus set on willing every bit of strength from his tired body. He only had to reach the ship. It wasn’t too far. They’d make it. They had to.
He heard Rhea’s voice call once, twice, before he paid it any mind.
Then he caught the word that likely saved both of their lives.
“Rope!”
Florian stopped at once, feeling himself sinking, the depths claiming him as they had tried all those years ago. The memory of seawater flooding his lungs gripped him even as he reached out and closed his hand around the lifeline.
It was almost like a dream as Florian felt the currents moving around him until the ship appeared just above them.
He saw Rhea reaching down for them.
“Yvette, go,” he said.
Through the exhaustion and the waves, he didn’t know if he’d even been heard until he saw her hand meet Rhea’s grip.
