Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
“T his way, into the chute.” I helped Billy up first, and then she reached back for me.
Fetch flew in and landed lightly on my shoulder.
“We keep quiet, light feet, no talking unless absolutely necessary. Got it?” I looked at Billy and she grinned, giving me two thumbs up.
I took the lead, holding the map and using it and…whatever was going on inside my head to get us out of here.
If I’d thought I was sweating before, it was nothing to the liquid pouring off me now.
Almost. We were almost there. Another glance at the map, tracing the lines with one finger. I motioned for Billy and gave her a nod.
I broke into a jog as we rounded the final bend. One more quick scuttle through the last falcon shaft and we’d end up in the outside world, assuming no more dead-end situations arose.
We were going to make it. I still couldn’t believe it, but we were actually going to make it…
I peered down at the ground below, beckoning Billy to step up beside me. Our trip through the chutes had been a smooth one, and I prayed our good fortune would continue. The exit chute I’d chosen was a dozen or so feet above the ground, and my knees smarted as I stuck the landing. Still it was a hell of a lot better than the hour-long rooftop stealth mission I’d gone through to get in.
Billy grunted as she hit the grass behind me, glancing around expectantly. “Where are the boys?”
“They're waiting for us in The Smudge.”
She let out a sharp tsk . “Leaving a lady to do all their dirty work. Sounds about right, lazy chumps.”
I allowed myself a chuckle as I turned toward the large flag hanging from the inside of the walls that surrounded the palace. I’d scoped the place out as a good escape route earlier. A cluster of well-manicured trees provided some cover, and the guard patrols were usually focused on the front and back of the palace grounds.
“We're gonna have to go over,” I said, glancing at the smaller woman.
She gawked. “You expect me to climb that?”
“Of course not. I have a way up if we can just get to the base of it.” I fished the grappling hook from my pouch, briefly noting that I’d come full circle. In by grappling hook what felt a lifetime ago, and out the same way.
I gestured for Billy to stay low as I took my first step into the courtyard. Guards patrolled the grounds by torchlight, but, as expected, there were far fewer than usual, and I could see their fires flickering in the distance.
I let out a breath as my thoughts shifted to Duncan. Surely, if something had happened to him, the palace would be in a state of pandemonium? Unless Relyk had done it in secret and no one knew about it yet…
What if we left and I never knew what happened to him? How would I sleep at night, wondering if he was convicted of treason and sentenced to the dungeon I’d just left?
…Or worse?
In that moment, I made a decision—a crazy, stupid decision. I would get Billy to her brothers to ensure Molly’s safety and see my friend one last time. Then, I would double back to join Duncan and offer my help. If there was a revolution afoot, I would be a part of it, whatever the risk.
We scurried across the palace grounds, and I took careful aim as we got to the base of the wall. The grappling hook flew upward as I pulled the trigger, and I winced as it clinked against the hard white stone of the wall.
I held my breath, scanning for threats on either side, but saw nothing. After a few hard tugs on the rope, I beckoned Billy closer, grabbing her around the waist.
Her blue eyes sparkled as she leaned back, grinning up at me. “You could at least take me for dinner first, you cheeky slut.”
That got a ghost of a smile out of me, and I tightened my grip. “Hold on.”
She did, and, after a final pull on the line, I flipped the switch that would send us skyward. We ate through the distance in seconds, grabbing hold of the spiked barrier that marked the top of the wall and scrambled over the top.
The patrols seemed more numerous from this height, tiny red-orange blots inching along in the otherwise inky dark, and I whistled softly, sending Fetch into the air. “Keep watch and make sure we're not walking into any of those guard patrols.”
“How am I supposed to do th—” Billy broke off and gaped at me. “Wait, are you talking to the damn falcon?”
“Yep. He’s… different than other birds. We have an understanding.”
She narrowed her eyes and nodded. “What’s your name, anyway?”
“Harmony,” I said, seeing no point in lying now. “Harmony Fallowell.”
She studied me and let out a sniff. “Well, something tells me you’re different than other birds yourself, Harmony Fallowell. You should consider getting into smuggling. I could line up work for you like you wouldn’t believe.”
“You can consider this my first and last foray.”
We maneuvered over the wall, then using the hook again, rappelled down to the cobblestone street. Noble’s homes glowed softly with light, but there was more than enough cover to avoid the patrols and see their bright torches coming as we continued on.
“How'd those lunks get you involved in this?” Billy asked as the illusory wall of the Smudge came into view.
“It's a long story, but I need to get out of Little Alabaster and back into The Hollow. At first, I was just going to build that easy lockpick for them, but they had me in a tight spot.”
Her hand went to my shoulder, and I turned, surprised to see the somber expression on her face. “They really are decent lads at heart. I'm sure they've been running around like chickens with their heads cut off since I've been gone, and they're jumping on the first opportunity they saw to get me out.”
“Chickens with their heads cut off sounds about right,” I said, putting my finger to my lips as another guard's torch came into view.
We scurried by when they turned the corner, jogging the final length to the Smudge's wall.
Another patrol rounded the corner just before we got there, and my heart pounded as we dashed past, Fetch flying beside my head, ignoring their frenzied shouts. Billy sprinted ahead of me, the false wall shimmering with magic as she ran right through it.
“Up this way,” she hissed, halting in front of a small cluster of crates. She climbed to the highest one like they were stairs, then leapt to the roof top a few feet away.
She held out a hand as I did the same, hefting me the last few inches until I was there, too. I turned back to see the guards just making their way through the wall.
“Don’t worry, they don’t know The Smudge like I do.”
And, just like that, we gave them the slip, but we took a circuitous route to get to The Hoof and Saddle just to be sure.
I was first to leap to the ground below, and my heart skipped a beat as a large, shadowed figure stepped out to greet me. Scotty stared down at me, expression shifting from surprised to angry in a heartbeat.
“Where is she?”
The door creaked open behind him, and Paddy stepped out, his other two brothers in tow, at exactly the same moment that Billy smacked down onto the street behind me.
“I heard you were giving this lovely lady a hard time.” Her hands went to her hips, and she narrowed her eyes at them, but the facade broke within seconds as the brothers swarmed her.
Even the normally difficult Scotty had tears in his eyes, and Billy had to bodily shove them off of her, one by one. “We still have a job to do, and we owe this girl a swift resolution after what she just put herself through to get me out, with no backup from you lugs!”
Paddy clapped me on the shoulder, nodding to his sister. “Agreed. We should get her to the tunnel straightaway and sort this all out.”
“Where is it? I have this grappling hook we can use if—” I stumbled back as Billy reached out, flicking me on the forehead, hard.
“You done good. Now, leave the rest to the professionals, lass.” Her face hardened, and her voice took on a deep, commanding tone as she began barking orders.
She jabbed her finger at the roof of a nearby house. “Jacob, Andrew, you two take the high route. Use the usual signal if you see anything we should be worried about. Scotty, you’re our point man. Make sure you don’t walk us right into a damn patrol like you did last time.”
“That was—” The oaf of a man cut off as she shushed him, settling for a discouraged nod of his head.
“Paddy, you watch the rear.” She strode over, clapping me on the back. “And you're with me. We'll have you back in The Hollow before you can say O'Donnellys.”
Resisting the urge to parrot the name back to her, I jumped into action with the rest of them. And, despite the impression I'd had of them before this, I couldn't help but soften toward them some. They clearly loved each other very much.
We scurried through The Smudge quickly and quietly. Jacob and Andrew hooted from above in an imitation of owls so perfect that even Fetch seemed to buy it, stirring anxiously on my shoulder. With them giving us warnings, we managed to skirt around each and every patrol even though the place was swarming with them. I had yet to see a single guard by the time we were halfway to The Smudge’s edge, which only made it more surprising when a hunched figure emerged from the nearest hut.
Paddy's steadying hand fell to my shoulder as I staggered back in surprise.
“Don't worry, lass, it's just?—”
“Gayelette,” I chimed in, a chill rolling through me.
As the flower cart pulled to a stop, I was surprised to see the sign on the outside had new hours posted.
OPEN Friday 9-MIDNIGHT . I blinked and then turned to the older woman, who looked me up and down. “You’re finally starting to see.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but she silenced me with a hand.
“Don’t waste time now that you’re on the right path, child. You must go now; the next chapter awaits! But beware of the holes in the pages. Darkness that way lies.”
I stared at her long and hard, remembering how her words had come to my aid in the chutes, nearly too late. “Can you tell me why the pictures from my book keep showing up? What does it mean?”
She pursed her lips and shook her head slowly.
“Please! If you really want to help me, stop being so mysterious. Just tell me what to do next and I’ll do it.”
Her smile was gentle. “The answers to our questions don’t matter half as much as the journey we take to find them. That is where we grow, child. Now hurry! Before it’s too late.”
I nodded silently, still reeling with confusion at her words as we rushed off.
“Shite on a shingle…that was creepy. Have you spoken with her before?” Paddy whispered, sidling up beside me.
“I have.”
Billy slowed her pace to let me catch up. “We see her once in a while, and then not for years before she comes ‘round again like she never left. No idea where she goes in between. I wouldn’t pay her too much mind, though, she’s a bit touched in the head.”
I didn’t argue, but I knew she was wrong. Gayelette’s cryptic advice the first time we met had been key to the success of my mission saving Billy. Knowing she felt like I was on the right path when everything was so fucked up right now gave me some small amount of comfort.
Billy let out a hiss as she looked over her shoulder. “Oy, Paddy, that isn’t quite what I had in mind when I told you to ‘watch the rear’. Keep your eyes on the road and off of our client’s backside, if you please.”
I shot him a look and he threw up his hands as if he was shocked at the accusation.
“I’m sure I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, sister,” he said, his tone far from convincing.
A pair of loud hoots sounded from overhead, and the teasing ceased instantly.
“Patrol behind us,” Billy muttered.
Scotty broke into a full-on run as he led us down the nearest side road. My knees ached as we ran, still sore from the steep drop off the palace wall, but I wasn’t about to be the caboose of this train.
“Not far now,” Billy said as the dense city gave way to an open field.
The Cradle that separated The Hollow from Little Alabaster loomed. Soon, I’d be back with Molly. At least for a little while.
If only you could’ve taken Duncan with you.
But his destiny was bigger than mine, and, if the stars aligned, I’d see him again once I’d gotten Moll sorted and on the road to safety.
I scanned the moonlit field, looking past the rows of crops and trees and wondering where the hell a tunnel could possibly be hidden that would lead all the way back to The Hollow. The O'Donnellys hadn’t led me astray yet, so I put my trust in them now.
Our feet sunk into muddy ground as we dashed through a field dotted with evergreens. We wove our way to the right of the field, emerging next to a grassy hill, and Scotty slowed to a stop.
He was panting heavily as he looked up. “Should we wait for the others? I’m sure we gave the guards the slip by now.”
“Jacob and Andrew are quick. We’ll keep moving for now, they’ll catch up.”
A dilapidated wooden house came into view, and we approached via the eastern side of the hill. By the time we reached the metal doors to the cellar, pounding footsteps sounded behind us. We all waited; breath suspended as Paddy disappeared for a moment.
“Nothing to worry about. It’s just the lads,” he called softly, stepping back into view
Billy nodded. “Keep watch for now, I’ll call you when we’re about to get into the tunnel.”
Andrew let out a low laugh as he and his bespectacled older brother approached. “Holy shit that was close. Did you guys really not see that pack of guards? They were on your tails almost until you got up to the farm.”
“I’ve never seen this many out at once,” Jacob added.
Billy nodded. “The palace was left largely unguarded, so there’s definitely something going on that has nothing to do with us.”
Scotty eyed me, still panting from our run through The Smudge. “You know anything about that?”
I shrugged. “Hard to say exactly, but things have been tense for days now.” I was skirting the question, but any information about Duncan’s coup wasn’t mine to share.
Billy made her way to Andrew, slapping him on the back with one hand and gesturing toward the cellar doors with the other. “Get ‘er open.”
I moved to offer my lockpick, but it clicked open before I could. He turned, shooting me a triumphant smile as Scotty hefted open the double doors.
Billy leaned in, yanking the torch from the wall, then lit a match. “The tunnel is a mile or so long. We’ll see you through to the other side.”
A musty smell wafted upward as Scotty took a creaking step onto the wooden staircase leading into it. The rest of us moved to follow, but Paddy sprinted up behind us before we could enter.
“What’s the matter?” Billy demanded.
“Jackals on their way!” Paddy glanced over his shoulder, and my ears rang as Duncan and Crispin came sprinting up behind him. His gaze collided with mine, but where I’d expected to find anger and accusations, all I saw was relief.
He’d come.
For me.
I blinked hard, blowing out a breath that had been trapped in my chest since I’d last seen him.
No time for that nonsense, birdbrain. Focus!
“Are you sure it’s Jackals?” I managed, the memory of Duncan’s brutal fight with one still fresh in my mind.
“Positive!” He gestured wildly for us to continue moving. “Three of the fuckers. We need to go, right now!”