“Keep going,” I called softly. “There’s enough here to pay for the lamp plus a couple months in a new town.”
Bosh glanced over at me, pointing to a large gold statue with eyes of pure emerald and the belt covered in the same.
I shook my head. “Too noticeable.”
We continued to make our way through the room, searching for valuables that could be overlooked until we’d filled my bag and the other two we’d brought along to the point of bursting.
Just as I was about to call it quits, I opened a drawer and found a silver dagger with a wicked curve and a small jade jewel inlaid in the handle. It wouldn’t fetch a high price, but I took it on impulse. A little souvenir of our successful raid on yet another high and mighty king.
“That’s enough,” I said to the men as I placed the dagger in my boot. “Let’s go.”
Once everyone filed out, I held my candle up high, studying the room, making sure we’d left everything in sight the same as before we entered. With a nod, I closed the door, taking Bosh’s candle so he could lock it up again behind us.
“Illium, lead the way,” I said as I gave Bosh’s candle back.
We set off, circling the guard’s bodies and the strategically placed rubble.
Ryo dusted off his hands proudly and took up the rear.
So far, so good.
Back up the tower’s circular staircase, we left the Keep behind and passed the chapel without any problems, reaching the tower landing where we’d originally met.
“Alright,” I handed my bag full of treasure to Bosh. Naveed and Illium carried the other two. “This is where we split up. You three,” I nodded to my men with the treasure, “Leave the way you came.”
They obeyed, slipping out the door one by one at Naveed’s cue, unseen, just like we’d planned.
“Ryo, go find Daichi. He needs to help you bar the door behind them. If you haveanyproblems, come find me, understand?”
“You got it, boss.” Ryo slipped out of the room after the others, headed down a different hall back toward the kitchen where I sincerely hoped he would find Daichi lazily lounging with one of the women just like he suspected.
I wished Naveed were still here so I could have someone to complain to. Of course, Naveed would only shrug. Though the cousins had been with us for a few years now, this wasn’t the first time one of them had gone on their own path. I shouldn’t be surprised.
I sighed. It was just me and Arie now. “You ready to go back to the party?” I asked, putting on a smile. “We’ll ooh and ahh over those fireworks with the rest of them and then exit right out the front door.”
“But what about dinner? I’m starving,” she whispered as we stepped out into the hall. I tucked her hand in my elbow once more. “And what about a carriage? The Azadi family won’t be leaving for hours yet.”
“We’ll borrow one.” I winked, striding confidently back to the party.
We slipped through the great hall and each took a drink, clapping politely at the back of the audience just as the last few fireworks sounded. Another benefit of Arie’s presence: no one would suspect anything of a young man and woman slipping away to be alone together.
We cheered as loudly as anyone else, and began slowly making our way toward the exit as everyone found their seats for dinner.
“Halt,” King Gaspar shouted over the buzz of conversation. “No one leaves!”
One glance at his red face, turning shades of purple from fury, and my instincts kicked in.
Something had gone wrong.
“Hurry,” I whispered to Arie, ignoring the king’s command. I pushed through the crowd toward the door. “I think we’ve been made.”
