Chapter 38

Maulavi push their way through the streets in force. The City Guard are also everywhere. They're stopping anyone with their heads covered, making them pull back their hoods, and inspecting faces. I press deeper into the shadows of the alley, waiting for an opportunity to move unseen.

When they've moved out of sight, I slip down the alley. Soon they'll be here too. There isn't much time to get away. They must know who they're looking for now, which means they'll also be looking for Khiara. Which means…

No. I growl without letting the thought fully form. He will protect her.

Deeper into the alleys I break into a run. I need to get to the outer edges. Khiara is smart. He'll take the Queen to the Resistance, find Janara, and then what? The only option is to get out of the city. None of us are safe here, not now. We know too much.

The Queen is alive. She was imprisoned. If the people find out what is happening, they will revolt. The Shaman will lose control.

It never seemed possible, but now, with the Queen, it is. And we'd never have found her if not for Gweneth being captured. What a twist of fate.

I'm coming close to the end of this alley. The street ahead is mostly empty. I slow my pace and move in closer to the shadows. A refuse cart is backed up to a hovel off to one side. Strange timing for it.

I creep up to the mouth of the alley and watch until I recognize one of the drivers who I know is with resistance. These are the people I need to find. I don't run out to greet them, not yet. The Maulavi are looking for me and giving away my position would be folly. I watch as the drivers snap the cart into motion. The beasts mewl, resisting the whip, then slowly move until the harnesses pull tight and the cart creaks into motion.

I watch it pull away. Four males fall in behind it. They're acting casual, as if they only happen to be traveling in the same direction, but it's clear that they are alert and guarding. They expect trouble.

It makes me look closer at the cart then I see it. The cracks along the side, the height of the refuse, the cart has a false bottom. And I know who it hides. I have no legitimate way of knowing it, but I am certain of the truth of it. Gweneth is in there.

My heart sings and a smile spreads over my face. I climb the wall next to me and take the roofs, following the cart to the edge of the city.

I leap across the alley from one rooftop to the next and land hard. My ankle twists as my weight comes down on it. I grab my leg, pulling it tight and suppress the howl that tries to escape. I have entirely too many hurts to be doing this, but I can't follow them on the street. I've seen eight Maulavi, four of them in disguise and unrecognizable if they hadn't been questioning people.

The cart is heading to the refuse dump and almost to the outer edge. The pain in my ankle eases. I roll and twist my foot and it hurts, but nothing is broken. I climb back to my feet but putting my full weight on it hurts even worse. I grit my teeth and push through.

I creep my way to the edge of the building to get my bearings. The cart is almost a block ahead now. One more block and they'll be past the outer edge but when I look there my stomach tightens.

A mix of Maulavi and guards block the tunnel, inspecting every cart coming through. The cart, my cart, slows. They see the problem too but they're too late to turn away. If they do it will raise even more suspicion.

Even from here I watch the drivers debate how to handle it, then come to the same conclusion I have. Two of the guards are walking down the line of waiting carts, talking to the drivers. The front guards and Maulavi are inspecting every cart carefully.

I need to be in a better position to help if they need it. I make my way to the edge of this building. There are two more buildings between me and the tunnel. Two alleys, two jumps. One badly sprained ankle, innumerable bruises, and who knows how much other damage, but none of those matters. I cannot let anything stop me from being in a position to be able to save her.

Eyeing the distance to the edge of the roof I give myself a little extra room to run, allowing for my injured ankle.

Every step hurts worse, but I keep going. I leap and fly for the next building. I land better this time, though it was close. I let myself collapse and lie on the roof waiting for the pain recede while also listening to see if I was spotted.

No alarms are raised so I climb to my feet and move forward in a crouch. I reach the edge of this building and check on the cart. They're three carts back now. The guards and Maulavi are focused on the task in front of them and no one is looking up.

I move back to get a running start and then go. Right as I jump my ankle gives out. My jump is going to come up short. I know it the moment I take air. The next roof comes closer. Closer. Then the wall is looming. I reach, stretching, and my fingertips hook just on the top of it.

I drop, slamming against the wall with a whoof as the air is forced out of my lungs. As my full weight drops my shoulders and neck are painfully jarred, almost to the point of dislocating.

I scrabble my feet against the smooth stone of the wall, searching for purchase. I pull, weary muscles trembling with the effort, I slowly drag myself up. My chin crests the top of the wall.

Gweneth. I'm coming.

I find the strength as I think of her and manage to climb over the edge. I hook one arm then swing my leg up and then I'm able to roll the rest of the way over. I stare up at the blackness that hides the ceiling of the cavern panting. Heart hammering, muscles trembling, and every part of my body screaming with pain.

"Late to be dumping refuse," a voice says. "Where do you get so much?"

"It's our job," another voice answers.

That's her cart. They are suspicious. Gada.

No more time for pain or delay. I roll to my stomach and crawl across the roof on my belly. When I reach the edge of the roof I peer over and down on the cart. Four guards and two Maulavi surround the cart. One of them is questioning the driver, the others are going over the cart with careful eyes.

Gada.

I drop below the edge of the room. I only have a moment to act. I know, deep in my heart, she is hiding somewhere in that cart. Odds are great that the Queen is in there too and while the Queen is the main target of this search, there is one thing that will create enough of a stir to let them get away.

Me. I sigh. I'm sorry Gweneth. Perhaps it wasn't meant to be for us in this world, but I will find you in the next. I promise.