So far, the guards hadn’t seen them yet. Unfortunately, the grate they’d used before wasn’t an option anymore. She spotted at least two guards patrolling near the culvert.
Side by side, Kreya and Zera dropped into the grasses and surveyed the wall. Built at least fifteen feet high, it would be tricky to climb without being noticed, especially with the guards on alert. She didn’t have access to any constructs that could blast through it or dig under it.
“I have an idea, but you’re not going to like it,” Zera said.
“I like any idea better than staying here.” She couldn’t guarantee that Eklor wouldn’t risk the guards’ seeing his soldiers.In fact, several constructs could already be creeping up behind them, using the tall grasses for cover, the same way they were.
“I let myself get caught—”
“You’re right. I hate this idea.”
Zera held up her hand. “I can talk my way out of this. Bribe as many of them as I have to. You’d be surprised how much gold I’ve amassed over the years. Those poor guards should be better paid anyway.”
“You’re assuming they’ll let you talk. And that they have no moral fiber.”
“We’re running low on talismans, and we still have to get through the valley. Let me sweet-talk the children on the wall.”
Kreya studied the guards. Even from this distance, she could tell they were clutching their bows. “They shot Jentt. I don’t think they’re in a talking mood.”
“Hard to be persuasive if you’re riddled with arrows,” Zera agreed. “Even if you’re as charming as I am. Fine. How about a disguise? Knock out a guard and dress in his or her armor. The confusion might buy us a few precious seconds.”
It wasn’t a terrible idea. Well, yes, itwasa terrible idea, but she didn’t have a better one. And Jentt, Stran, and Marso needed them.Or they could be beyond need.She immediately shut that line of thought down.Don’t even think it. They’re not dead. Theycan’tbe dead.“Do it. Two guards at the grate. You get the one on the left; I’ll get the one on the right.”
“I want the one on the right.”
“Why?”
“Absolutely no reason,” Zera said. “You were just looking stressed so I thought I’d be arbitrarily ornery.” Her voice waslight and breezy. Wasn’t she worried about the others at all? Or themselves?
Of course she is,Kreya thought. This was how Zera coped.
It was damn annoying.
Together, they crept through the grasses.
Kreya glanced behind them as they went, alert to danger both in front of and behind them. Using stealth, as minimal an amount as possible to preserve the talismans, they darted behind their targets, thumped them hard with rocks to their heads, and then pulled their unconscious bodies under the arched culvert, out of sight.
Quickly, they stripped off the most visible armor: chest plate and helmet. Zera swam under the grate first, and Kreya passed her the armor through the bars. Then she swam through.
“This won’t fool them long,” Kreya warned.
“Follow my lead,” Zera said. She put on the chest plate and crammed the helmet on her head. Rushing out into the open, she shouted, “They went under the gate! They’re on the plains! Shoot them!”
The archers on the wall pivoted to aim at the plains, and Zera, with Kreya close behind her, ran for the forest. They had only seconds before the archers realized they’d been tricked. Kreya and Zera plunged in between the trees as arrows thunked into the earth behind them.
The greenery and the mist closed around them.
They kept going. Kreya felt her arm throb. One of the soldiers’ blades must have nicked her. She also felt a cramp in her side, but she couldn’t let that slow her. “We need to find the others.”
Zera produced a talisman from her pocket. “Bloodhoundbone. Not popular with buyers. Only have the one. Should be enough.” She activated it and pointed. “This way.”
In minutes, they found them—the boys hadn’t made it deep into the valley before collapsing. Jentt was slumped against a tree, and his face looked ashen. Kreya dropped to his side. “My Jentt—”
“Tend to Stran,” he told her.
She wanted to protest: He was hurt! Badly. But Stran was worse.
Marso was beside Stran, holding him up to elevate the wound. Kreya noticed a talisman was clutched in Stran’s hand—stamina, she guessed, keeping him alive. But for how long?
