The closer I got to our barn, the more my worry grew.Wisps of smoke curled above the buildings near our home, and a murmur of deep voices carried up from the streets below.Using every ounce of self-control, I paused on a rooftop across from our home and peeked over the edge.My stomach dropped at the sight before me.
The barn we called home was charred and smoking.The chicken coop was open and empty, the crops in our side yard trampled.The remains of our herb cart were strewn about the street, now just a pile of wood, broken vials, and spilled reagents.
Royal Guards stationed outside the barn door stood with their swords drawn while other guards walked about, conversing with passersby, exuding an air of toughness and superiority.
Elena was nowhere to be seen.
Images of our burning farm and my parents’ slashed throats flashed before my eyes, and my chest ached like my heart had been ripped out.I squeezed my locket so tight it cut into my palm.
And then I saw a face that made my heart drop.Barking orders at the guards was Syra, Orlik’s bodyguard, the very same woman who’d run into us in the market and pursued Darion.I shuddered, remembering her ghastly transformation into a beast.
She had seen Elena in the market that day, and now she knew where we lived.
Fueled by rage and despair, I pulled out two daggers, ready to slash her throat and the throat of every other guard.I moved to stand, but Zephyra’s thoughts burst into my mind as she circled in the sky above me.Stop, little Cas!Sentinels!
I paused and scanned the surrounding area.Sure enough, Sentinels perched on the rooftops surrounded our home, standing next to archers armed with crossbows.It was a minor miracle that no one had spotted me already.It still took all the willpower I had not to race down there and take out everyone before their bolts cut me down.
Girl with fire hair nearby, running with a man.
Fire hair!Thatmustbe Elena.She was alive!There was still a chance to rescue her.
“Can you take me to her?”I asked.
Yes, Zephyra will fly to them.
I slunk away from the roof’s edge and headed in the direction Zephyra was flying.Once out of sight of the Sentinels, I broke into a sprint, heart pounding.
Zephyra guided me away from our smoldering home.Soon she soared upward and then dove into an alley.Looking down, I saw two people racing along the cobbled path below, both in dark cloaks, one with unmistakable red hair flowing out.The other was a man of large stature.
They were running so close together that I couldn’t tell if the man was holding Elena against her will.He could easily have been pressing a knife against her side.They turned right at the next road, so I cut across the roof to make up for lost ground.I bounded down from my perch, jumping off balconies and awnings and dropping to the street right in front of them.
I pulled out my dagger and aimed it directly at the large robed figure.“Release her now!”
Zephyra landed on the balcony behind me.Should Zephyra pluck out their eyes?
“Cas, don’t!”Elena cried.
The person beside Elena drew back their hood, revealing a familiar handsome face and green eyes.Darion smiled.I ran up and wrapped them both in a big hug.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I said to Elena.“I was so worried when I saw our home.”
“It’s all thanks to Darion,” Elena said.“He got me out of the barn, although I’m still a little confused about how.”
Darion nodded and smiled, but I could see the fatigue in his face.He must have used his Ember to get them out.He looked drained.
There was so much more I wanted to know.How had the Royal Guard found our house?How had Darion known Elena was in trouble?I opened my mouth to speak, but Darion cut me off.
“We’ll have time for questions later,” he said.“We have to get you two underground.The upper city is no longer safe for either of you.”
The three of us raced along back alleys, ducking into the shadows several times to avoid passersby and once to avoid an entire group of Royal Guards who were moving along at a swift trot.
“We’re nearly there,” Darion said, ushering us along, his fatigue clearly evident.“Just a bit farther down this street.”
That was the moment we crossed an intersection and spotted an entire company of guards—twenty at least—just a stone’s throw away, marching in the other direction.We all froze.I held my breath, but my heart rate skyrocketed.
Darion gestured for us to move, and we all crept along, trying to get past the intersection without a sound.I could sense that Darion longed to use his Ember again but that he was too tired after rescuing Elena.
We were almost out of sight when one guard looked our way.His eyes went wide the moment he spotted us.“There they are!”he yelled.
