servant's passage she'd learned of when she was stealing fresh
applecakes from the kitchens. Memories made the shadows seem like old
friends from better times, when her mischief had been innocent.
They made their way from tunnel to tunnel, passing through wide chambers
unnoticed and passages so narrow they had to stoop and go singly. The
weight of stone above them made the journey seem like traveling through
a mine.
They knew they were nearing the occupied parts of the tunnels as much by
the smell of shit from the cages and acrid smoke as by the torchlight
that danced at the corridor's mouth. Thick timber beams framed the hall.
Idaan paused. This was only a side gallery-little used, rarely
trafficked. But it would do, she thought.
"What now?" Adrah asked. "We light the pitch? Simulate a fire?"
Idaan took the pot from its hag and weighed it in her hands.
"We simulate nothing, Adrah-kya," she said. She tossed the pot at the
base of a thick timber support and tossed her lit torch onto the
blackness. It sputtered for a moment, then caught. Idaan unslung the bow
from her shoulder and draped a fold of the cloak over it. "Be ready."
She waited as the flames caught. If she waited too long, they might not
be able to pass the fire. If she was too quick, the armsmen might be
able to put out the blaze. A deep calm seemed to descend upon her, and
she felt herself smile. Now would be a fine moment, she thought, and
screamed, raising the alarm. Adrah and Daaya followed her as she
stumbled through the darkness and into the cages. In the time it took
for her to take two breaths of the thickening air, they found themselves
in the place she'd hoped: a wide gallery in torchlight, the air already
becoming dense with smoke, and iron cages set into the stone where
prisoners waited on the justice of the Khai. Two armsmen in leather and
bronze armor scuttled to the three of them, their eyes round with fear.
"There's a fire in the gallery!" Daaya shrilled. "Get water! Get the watch!"
The prisoners were coming to the front of the cages now. Their cries of
fear added to the confusion. Idaan pretended to cough as she considered
the problem. There were two more armsmen at the far end of the cages,
but they were coming closer. Of the first two who had approached, one
had raced off toward the fire, the other down a well-lit tunnel, she
presumed towards aid. And then midway down the row of cages on the left,
she caught a glimpse of the Galts' creature. There was real fear in his
eyes.
Adrah panicked as the second pair came close. With a shriek, he drew his
blade, hewing at the armsmen like a child playing at war. Idaan cursed,
but Daaya was moving faster, drawing his bow and sinking a dark shaft
into the man's belly as Idaan shot at his chest and missed. But Adrah
was lucky-a wild stroke caught the armsman's chin and seemed to cleave
his jaw apart. Idaan raced to the cages, to Oshai. The moon-faced
assassin registered a moment's surprise when he saw her face within the
hood, and then Oshai closed his eyes and spat.
Adrah and Daaya rushed to her side.
"Do not speak," Oshai said. "Nothing. Every man here would sell you for
his freedom, and there are people who would buy. Do you understand?"