and I know the way out! Come on-we must go now!”
The blond girl looked skeptically at a girl with dark hair. After several precious moments the two of them finally nodded. With the eight girls hot on her heels, Mary charged down the hallway leading toward the circular staircase.
The guards entered the intersection, then skidded to a stop. They looked in horror at Lothar’s body, then ran after Mary and the girls.
Mary knew that they didn’t have much of a lead, and that the girls would be weak from lack of food. With Lothar out of action, she tried not to think about what the guards would do to them if they were caught. Clutching the key like it was her very life, she ran as fast she could.
She reached the stairway, and charged up it. After conquering several steps, she finally dared to look back to check on the girls. The six younger ones soon reached the steps and started up. She was terrified to see the older blonde and brunette standing at the bottom.
“Hurry!” Mary screamed at them. The two girls looked up at her.
“Go on!” the blonde shouted. “We’ll be right there!”
Her mind a panicky jumble, Mary shoved the key into the door, then gave it a turn. Pushing for all she was worth, she swung it open. She ushered the six girls through like a distraught mother hen. Then she went back onto the landing and looked down again.
Mallory looked down the hall. Within seconds the guards would be upon them. She looked into Ariana’s eyes.
“Are you sure this is going to work?” she shouted.
Ariana shook her head. “No!” she answered. “But it’s the best idea I have! Are you ready?”
Mallory nodded. Each girl raised her arms.
“Remember, they must be close enough so that they can’t stop in time!” Ariana warned. “Wait…wait… now!”
The two determined girls summoned their remaining powers. At first nothing happened, nearly causing them to panic. Then the floor between them and the onrushing guards was bathed in an azure glaze. The guards saw it, but they couldn’t stop in time and went skidding right into it. They came to unexpected, abrupt halts, the glue-like substance holding them fast. Some stopped so quickly that they came out of their boots and flew through the air, only to have their bodies stick when they hit the floor. Several of their torches and weapons went flying.
Charging up the stairway, the two girls made sure to coat the steps behind them as well. Near the top, they turned to look. Mallory put one hand over her mouth; Ariana’s jaw dropped.
Being novices in the craft, the girls hadn’t stopped to wonder whether the substance they created might be flammable. The torches the guards dropped had set the azure glaze afire, turning the entire floor into a raging inferno.
Unable to escape, the guards shouted and begged as the roaring flames approached. Screaming madly and flailing their limbs, one by one they started burning alive. As Mallory and Ariana stood there watching, the sickening stench of burning flesh rose to greet them.
Snaking its way toward the circular stairway, the rampaging blaze set fire to the first step, then began madly chasing them up the stairs. Mallory and Ariana turned and ran for their lives up the last two steps, then charged through the huge doorway.
Mary swung the door shut and locked it. Smoke quickly started seeping through the gap at the bottom and along the door frame.
“We have to run away from here!” one of the younger girls screamed.
“No!” Mary shouted back. “You must do as I say! There is no time to explain! Walk behind me in single file! Whatever you do, don’t talk and don’t run!”
Not knowing what else to do, Mallory nodded to the girls. They nodded back.
Just as the massive door started to come ablaze, Mary led her young charges toward the prison foyer.
The foyer was the only marginally attractive room in the prison. As she led the girls across the shiny marble floor, she nodded politely to the guards stationed there. Smiling, the guards nodded back.
Deciding to be of service, a guard walked to the double doors and held them open for the madam and her new charges. As they quietly walked through, he even went so far as to bow. Bowing back, Mary fought hard to contain a grin.
The nine females sauntered out of the prison and into the busy street. Night had fallen, and the oil streetlamps burned brightly. Praying that the girls would have the good sense to remain quiet, Mary quickly hailed a passing carriage.
Six of the girls were able to sit inside; two had to climb atop the roof. Reaching up, Mary handed the driver more kisa than he had seen in a week. He beamed a toothless smile down at her.
“Where to, m’lady?” he asked. Hearing the question, Mallory stuck her head out of one of the carriage windows.
“To the royal palace!” she ordered.
When Mary gave her a questioning glance, Mallory scowled back. “I’m giving the orders now,” she said quietly.
Mary shook her head. Wasting no time, she climbed up to sit with the driver.
“The royal palace it is,” she repeated.
With a crack of the driver’s whip, they were off.
CHAPTER XI
WHEN TRISTAN REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS HE FOUNDhimself supine on a dewy field. His weapons poked sharply into his back. The night was clear and the stars burned brightly overhead. As he sat up, his head swam sickeningly.
“Do not be alarmed,” said a hollow voice. “The sensation will pass. As we travel together it will no long occur.”
Tristan looked around. Only a few meters away, the Sippora River lay impossibly still, and the three red moons reflected calmly atop its waters. He saw flat grasslands stretching for leagues in every direction, suggesting that he was somewhere on the fields of Farplain.
A campfire burned nearby. A bit farther on, two unsaddled horses stood tied to a tether line. One was Shadow. A freshly dressed venison hindquarter rotated without support above the crackling fire. Its enticing aroma filled the night air.
Dark and unmoving, a figure sat cross-legged by the fire. A pewter vial hung from a silver chain lying around his neck. Xanthus’ axe and shield lay beside him on the ground.
The prince stood on wobbly legs. He quickly drew his dreggan. After taking two steps toward Xanthus, he suddenly remembered the failed result when Faegan had attacked the Darkling. Tristan looked for a time at Xanthus’ unmoving form, then sheathed his sword.
“A wise decision,” Xanthus said. “Come sit by the fire.”
Tristan looked around warily. Other than the lone campfire, he saw no other lights on the plains. He soon noticed that the night creatures did not sing. The Farplain winds were notorious for their consistency, but tonight the air was uncommonly still. Save for the usual sounds from the campfire and the tethered horses, everything was eerily quiet. Then Tristan noticed the field grass. All around the entire campsite, the vegetation was dead.
Tristan walked tentatively toward the fire. He was desperately hungry. The smell coming from the roasting meat made his stomach growl, but he dared not try any.
“Where are we?” he demanded.
Xanthus turned toward him. His eyes glowed eerily.
“We are the equivalent of one day’s ride northwest, along the Sippora’s banks,” Xanthus answered. “It is still the night of your masquerade ball. Thanks to the craft’s wonders, we traveled this far in mere moments.”
“Where are you taking me?” the prince asked.
