35. Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

D roplets hanging in front of her eyes, Izzie tugged the hood of the black cloak Callum had brought for her farther down her forehead.

Rain swept down on them in sheets through the dark. Which was good for breaking into a prison—the less people they encountered along the way, the better. But the rain was bad for how they were about to do it—the explosives, both iron bombs and grenades that they had lifted from the stash of the men planning a coup, could very well be compromised by the wet weather.

The downpour conspired with the darkness to keep people off the streets of Domenberge. She and Callum only encountered a few drunks on the streets of the town, more along the street corners as they neared the docks.

She kept her head down, sitting next to Callum along the front bench of the wagon he’d borrowed from his new fishmonger friend.

The stench of raw fish encircled her, but it was welcomed, for anyone that saw them would instantly dismiss them for some lowly scrubs the fishmonger hired.

Past the docks, they moved down the peninsula toward the ancient fort that now served as a prison. Still a distance away, Callum peeled off the main road and into an alleyway.

Five people emerged out of the shadows of the alley.

Pushing her hood back, Izzie blinked through the rain on her lashes. “You brought friends.”

Callum set the brake on the wagon and propped his foot up on the front board. “I found a few.”

Her eyes glossed over, and it wasn’t the rain. As much as she didn’t think she was worth it, she saw faces she knew in the dim shadows—other guardians that had come with Callum.

For her.

She crawled down from the wagon and went to them, grabbing hands and squeezing them. Ned and George and Paul and Francis and Simon.

Callum stepped to her side. “And we have one surprise for you.”

Dressed all in black, Sylvie stepped out from behind Ned. Izzie rushed her, throwing her arms around her. Not even able to whisper a thank you for the lump in her throat.

Sylvie laughed as she hugged her in return. “If that’s the hug I get for showing up, I think you’re about to pop me for what I have for you.”

Izzie pulled back. “What?"

Reaching under her cloak, Sylvie pulled free a ring of keys. “I charmed themain turnkey at the prison earlier this eve.”

Izzie’s eyes went wide. “And he just handed these over to you?”

Sylvie laughed. “Well, no. I charmed him, and then Callum stepped in behind him and knocked him out.”

“We don’t do things alone, Izzie,” Callum said from behind her. “We are always stronger together.”

She was starting to understand that.

“And I have a couple other items for you.” The glee on Sylvie’s face was contagious.She took a step back and lifted her cloak, her hands rummaging about under the dark cloth, and she pulled free both a dagger and short sword.

“You didn’t?”

“I did.” She handed the blades in their scabbards attached to a belt to Izzie, then started rummaging under her cloak again. She held up pistol. “Gunfire?”

Izzie shook her head. She always fumbled with pistols. She much preferred to use a sword to deflect hands that were holding a barrel aimed at her, rather than attempt to outmatch an assailant’s aim.

That, and she wasn’t the best shot under pressure. Twitchy trigger finger.

Sylvie nodded and tucked the gun into the wide leather belt she had looped over her dress.

Izzie looked back to Callum. “Ready?”

He nodded. “We’ll figure out assignments on the way.”