Despite the double-checking they did ahead of time, there were aspects to the plan that weren’t quite right. The door they came across was a few paces away from where they believed it would be, and the landing was slightly larger than they had anticipated. Much of their intel came from someone else’s recollection, and building a map on that was difficult.
“How does it look?” Wrenlow asked.
“I wish you could see what I can see,” Gavin whispered.
“You could’ve asked her for a better enchantment.”
“I can only imagine what she would’ve said if I’d suggested she needed to improve the type of enchantment she was willing to give us. It’s a wonder that—”
“You two need to be quiet,” Gaspar hissed.
“There’s no one here,” Gavin said.
“You have no idea who might be listening. Do you think you’re the only two who have an enchanted way of speaking?”
Gavin froze. He hadn’t given much thought to that possibility before, though he probably should have. Knowing what he did of Yoran and the way that people presumably hated magic, he’d found a surprising amount of it throughout the city. Some of it was obvious, but not all. There were aspects to some of the enchantments he’d seen here that had caught him off guard.
“Let’s just say you and Desarra did a great job,” Gavin said into the enchantment.
Gaspar shot him a look of irritation at the mention of Desarra’s name.
“Thanks,” Wrenlow said.
Gavin hurried up the stairs and turned the corner, then paused on the third level. He wasn’t far from where he needed to end up. He looked all around him and counted the doors. He worked his way along and marked them off.
The sound of footsteps came toward him.
“Gaspar?” he whispered into the earpiece.
“Not me,” Gaspar responded.
Gavin spun and found himself face-to-face with what he assumed to be a soldier from his silence and fighting stance. He guessed that this man was skilled with a blade, but there was a difference between skill and skill.
Gavin had skill.
He twisted, turning the dagger upward and forcing it away. He jammed the attacker on the side of the head with the hilt of his dagger, which knocked him toward the ground. The man didn’t pass out from the blow. Instead, he spun his leg. Gavin jumped over it, flipping in the air and landing a kick. His boot connected with the side of the soldier’s head, knocking him unconscious.
Gavin glanced down. He couldn’t leave him here. An unconscious body would raise questions if another patrol came out, it would rouse the entire guard.
He hoisted the soldier. “Which rooms are empty?” he whispered.
“How am I supposed to know?” Wrenlow said. “The reports we had didn’t give us that information. Desarra gave me the layout, and I confirmed it. That’s it. We weren’t able to determine which rooms were empty and which were not.”
“I need to know which ones you think might be empty.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing,” he said.
“Gavin—”
“You need to just tell me which one you think is empty.”
“Maybe the third one,” Wrenlow said. “The others should all be bedrooms.”
Gavin dragged the soldier down to the third room and leaned his head against the door, listening for a moment. There was no sound from the other side, so he tested the door and gently pushed it open.
A closet.
At least there was that. He could leave the guard here. If the man awakened, then he would raise an alarm, but Gavin hoped he would be gone by that time. Gavin wondered if he might be able to jam the door closed, but there wasn’t time.
He closed the door and leaned on it as he looked along the hallway.
Which room do I need?
If only Desarra had said more, though Gavin had a nagging suspicion that she knew more than she was letting on. It was too bad Gaspar had never let him question her.
Once he chose a room, Gavin and Gaspar had to be ready. They were bound to raise an alarm. He scanned the doors and picked one.
He darted forward along the hall to the door. He paused, resting his hand on it and listening, but he heard nothing. He didn’t even feel anything on the other side. Gavin twisted the handle and pushed it open.
Two guards stood stationed at another door. They were dressed simply in gray mail and leathers with a short sword sheathed at their sides. One of them carried a crossbow, which would be beneficial if they were able to get to it in time. One of the men had a long, hooked nose, and the other had a scar on his neck. They looked rugged, as if they had been through a scuffle or two. Still, Gavin didn’t fear going through them. He’d been around men much rougher than that before.
This was nothing but an antechamber. Gavin slipped in and closed the door as the guards turned their attention to him. He flashed a smile.
Their speed surprised him. Not El’aras quick, but still quick. Enchanted quick.
He twisted and spun in a Sudo move before dropping. He drove his fist toward one soldier’s stomach, and the man wrenched out of the way, avoiding his blow. Gavin jumped and tried to land a kick, but their enchantments allowed them to back up more rapidly than he could move.
Both men carried short swords. Gavin wasn’t interested in killing them. Not unless he found they’d done something to the boy. Still, if it came down to him or them, he’d have to choose himself. It was the choice he’d make every time.
He focused on his core reserves and called upon that power. As it bubbled up within him, he exploded toward the nearest of
