There weren’t many corridors either. Rooms connected to other rooms, which meant they passed a lot of people. Every room had multiple people in, from nobles lounging to servants doing chores to warriors standing guard or searching. Even the “private” rooms tended to have two or three people in them and nothing but a curtain to separate each room from the next.


    The small number of doors made things easier, but the large number of people meant this was not turning out as easy as she had started to think it would. It was also cramped at times. Walking between two people talking—something they had to do several times—was something of an attention-drawing act, and not only did Felit?a have to convince the speakers’ minds that there was no one new in front of them, but also that they could still see the people they were speaking to. The number of adjustments she had to make to the spell rose quickly and after only a short time, she started to feel a hint of strain.


    The Palace’s small size, however, meant it didn’t take long to reach their destination. Nin-Akna pointed to a curtained archway. Four warriors stood on guard, two to either side of the archway and two more several feet in front of them.


    She moved the curtain back into place and returned to Rudiger and Nin-Akna. “Be ready. There’s a high chance we’ll need to fight our way out. But don’t do anything unless they see you.” Then she went back to the curtain and stepped through it.


    On the other side, they walked to where Rudiger and Nin-Akna were waiting. Fra-Atl gave Nin-Akna a vigorous hug, and Felit?a struggled to maintain the spell. “No. Too much strain.”


    Felit?a motioned to Nin-Akna. “Closest—”


    The four guards snapped to attention and raised their spears. Felit?a made a quick adjustment to the spell to account for the added scrutiny. She’d hoped it would take them a little longer to notice Fra-Atl’s absence. This was going to get difficult.


    The guards inside Fra-Atl’s room came running out. “The prisoner’s gone!”


    Felit?a motioned to Nin-Akna and whispered, “Closest exit.”


    From room to room, it was the same. Warriors running about. People huddling aside. Servants dropped trays they were carrying in their rush to move aside. People yelled. Emotions flared. So many emotions. Felit?a hadn’t expected this. It wasn’t like with the Volgs. Dealing with the emotions and the spell was... No, it didn’t matter. She had to do it.


    After a couple more rooms, they reached the next exit. Like before, it was a small entry room with some plants and statuary—and three guards positioned shoulder-to-shoulder against the door.


    She waved Nin-Akna over to her and leaned in beside her ear. “I’m going to try something I’ve never tried before. It probably won’t work. Be ready to fight our way out.”


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Felit?a dropped the spell. She grabbed hold of Fra-Atl and pulled her back against the wall. She placed herself in front of the old priest.


    Nin-Akna had spun around and was blocking attacks from the warriors coming in the other way.


    And why had the ones on the other side of the door not re-opened it yet?


    “Shit! They’ll have bows!” Nin-Akna cried. “The cliff! Run!”


    On each side, a volley of arrows flew over the heads of the warriors. Felit?a tried to keep beside Fra-Atl, tried to shield the priest’s body with her own. Arrows thudded all around them. One tore through Felit?a’s cloak. Another scraped against the armour on Rudiger’s back.


    “They’ll be expecting us to do this,” Nin-Akna said. “They probably even want us to do this. But there’s no other way. Unless you can provide another one.”


    “I’ll hide us again,” Felit?a said. She recast the spell just as two more volleys of arrows launched. Her right shoulder exploded in pain as an arrow tore through it. She cried out and lost the spell.


    Arrows thudded against the ground near her. Felit?a ran for the outcropping, slipping, sliding, but somehow staying on her feet. She dived under it, pushed herself against it. Her feet continued to slip as she sought for a handhold. At last, she found one, and held on for dear life.


    Nin-Akna and Fra-Atl were there with her. They looked in more stable positions, though they still grasped at small handholds in the rock. Nin-Akna no longer had her shield.


    Nin-Akna and Fra-Atl had already made it to their next stop, where Nin-Akna helped Fra-Atl over the rock. “Hurry!” she called to Felit?a.


    Fra-Atl gasped for breath. She was covered in dirt and grime, but otherwise looked uninjured.


    Felit?a spat out the rock. She had loved that cloak.


    There were arrows lying on the ground near them. Nin-Akna’s shoulder was bleeding.


    “Once we’re at the bottom, first thing we do is find Rudiger. Then we find a spot to rest.” Felit?a concentrated, then cast the spell. The pain threatened to wreck her concentration, but she adjusted her finger position a little to redirect the energy flow. That was a little better. “Let’s go.”


    There was a loud bang and crash from the east.


    “I don’t know, but it’s diverted their attention,” Nin-Akna said, pointing to the top. The warriors were gazing to the east as well. A moment later, they began rushing to the source of the sound. Their pursuers coming down the side after them had also paused and were calling back up to the top.