“What does it say?”I asked with a hint of impatience.
“It often contains names of people on the Royal Guard’s target list, people they suspect are Emberborn.We look them up in our ledgers, then find them and warn them, potentially helping them escape the city.Today’s note contains your name and your sister’s.”
“What?!”I choked out.“Is my sister in immediate danger?”
“Possibly.The note was vague.It mentioned only your given names.”
“Can I see it?”I asked, holding out my hand.
Adela paused for a moment, looking uncertain, but then she nodded and handed the note over.
I scanned her translation and locked it in my memory.Since I had the glyphs in the original note memorized as well, I thought I might be able to find the pattern.That would be an exercise for another time.
The note contained the following passage:
Detain subjects for questioning.Given names: Cassian and Elena.Short dark hair, long red hair.Often seen selling in the Citadel Market.Possibly dangerous.
My blood turned to ice.“I have to get to my sister!”I was glad I’d told Elena to stay away from the market.If only I could shake the nagging feeling that she hadn’t heeded my advice, which was often the case.
Adela sighed.“I’m afraid the earliest you can leave safely is tomorrow morning.We sneak people out at the change of shift for the kitchen staff.”
“Tomorrow’s not soon enough.I need to leave now.”
Edric cut in.“I’m afraid that’s not possible.It’s too risky.And the risk is not just to you.”
“If I have to, I’ll scale the wall right now.”
Edric scowled.“The archers will shoot you down before you make it halfway.And you’ll bring Tarnasau’s wrath down on us.”
My stomach churned.I didn’t want to put the clock tenders in peril, but sitting here when Elena might be in danger was simply impossible.I was at a loss for words, so I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to hold back the anger and sadness spilling out of me.
Adela gently placed a hand on her father’s shoulder.“There is another way.”
“Bah!”Edric spat.“It’s too dangerous.”
I snapped my eyes open.“But if the danger is only to me, I’ll do it.”
Adela looked grave.“This path is treacherous.It’s through the clockworks.There’s a decent chance you’ll slip and fall to your death.”
“I choose that path,” I said without a hint of uncertainty.
“Very well,” Adela said.“I need to write a note back to the council, and then we can leave right away.”
Adela left to write her note.It was all I could do not to jump out of my skin.Edric remained silent with a frown on his face.I knew I was harming his impression of me, but my need to get to Elena was simply too great.
Soon Adela returned, and we left right away, heading down a long corridor.We reached a stone staircase that rose in a tight spiral.It twisted up for several stories with only the occasional arrow slit providing a thin sliver of light.By the time we reached the top, we were both breathing heavily.
We came to an imposing iron door adorned with metal rivets.Adela knocked on the door, which boomed with each strike.A small slit opened near the top, and a pair of eyes peered out.
“The willow weed is bountiful this year,” a gruff male voice called out.
“But not as bountiful as the dew lilies,” Adela replied.
The man nodded with a grunt, eyes focused on me.“Who is he?”
“A recruit.He needs a quick exit using the emergency protocol.”
The slit closed, and moments later, a loud scrape of metal on stone echoed throughout the hallway.The door creaked open, the metal hinges protesting with a high-pitched squeal.An imposing man stood behind the door.He had a beard that extended halfway down his chest and muscles that bulged beneath the same craftsperson’s leather outfit that seemed to be common among the clock tenders.He stood back and gestured us in, his eyes narrowed and never straying far from me.
