Athan cursed. “He’s with them? He’s supposed to be burning farms to the south!”
“They haven’t been able to light fires, same as us,” Jenny said. “So, now they’re probably looking for someone to blame and explain to the king why his orders ain’t being carried out.”
“Wonderful,” Athan muttered.
“What should we do?” Dnara asked as Jenny led them into the darker recesses of the temple, far from the moonlit courtyard.
“We get you as far from here as possible,” Jenny said, stopping and holding up her hand as they came to a door. She opened it slowly, stuck her head past the threshold and peered into the shadows beyond.
Dnara looked towards the town beyond the temple walls. “But, if I leave, they’ll tear the town apart.”
Athan brought their joined hands up to his chest. “If you stay, they’ll arrest you and take you to Carn. I won’t allow that.”
“Don’t know if the town will allow it either,” Jenny said as she brought her head back from the shadows. Her eyes mirrored Athan’s defiance as she spoke to Dnara. “The mayor demanded the soldiers leave town. Stood up for you, he did. Said you saved his daughter. It set a spark, his words, and I think there’s to be a conflict.”
“We have to stop it,” Dnara said, naïvely defiant in a moment of desperation. “People could get hurt.”
“True, that,” Jenny replied. “But this conflict ain’t your doing. It’s been brewin’ for generations, between the common folk who’ve watched their whole world blacken while the king’s men do not but burn whatever’s left.”
“But, if I turn myself in-”
“No.” Athan brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers in an oath. “I’ll not lose you.”
Jenny glanced between them, one sharp, silver eyebrow raising along with the corner of her mouth, until the seriousness of the situation came back to the forefront. She set a hand on Dnara’s shoulder, begging her to see reason. “They’ll put you in a rope,” she said. “First a black one, to bring you powerless and hollow before the king. Then, once the king is done using you as a temporary scapegoat for the troubles plaguing this land, he’ll put another rope around your neck and have you hung from the Red Keep’s dragon statue perched on the Cliffs of Silence.”
Jenny’s words shook Dnara’s resolve. “You’ve seen it all happen before, haven’t you?”
“Seen it?” Jenny’s eyes lowered in shame and sadness. “Sweet girl, I’ve done it. When my past deeds come to collect, they’ll take me to the Cliffs of Silence to hang with all the souls I’ve sent there.” Jenny’s eyes rose back up, determination etched as deeply within them as carved stone. “But, before that happens, I aim to set things right, so I can meet those souls with more than empty hands and a withered heart. And that starts with keeping you safe, understand?”
The look in Jenny’s eyes gave Dnara no remaining argument. “Yes.”
“Athan!” Garrett called out as he ran to them, silver chains chiming and silken brocade cloak billowing boldly behind. “I’ve been looking all over Faedra’s creation for you!”
Jenny pulled out her short sword and stepped in front, pushing Dnara into the doorway. “Stay your approach, boy.”
“Boy?” Garrett scoffed.
“It’s okay,” Athan assured Jenny. “He’s... a friend.”
“Ah, so you admit it,” Garrett quipped, not slowing his stride until stopping before them with gallant flair. He glanced to Jenny’s blade for a moment then to Dnara as she stood half-masked in shadow. “Good, you’re all right.” He let out a soft breath then focused on Athan. “You need to get her out of town.”
Athan rolled his eyes. “What in Retgar’s lousy rusted axe do you think we’re doing?”
“Oh, well...” Garrett momentarily deflated in his moment of stolen heroism but recovered quickly. “How can I help?”
“You can get Treven for me,” Athan said.
“The mule?” Now it was Garrett’s turn to roll his eyes. “I swear... The entire King’s Guard is looking for you, and your first thoughts are of that damn stubborn beast?”
“We’ll need transportation,” Jenny said. “Figured we’d steal a few horses if we came upon them, but that’d cause trouble of its own. Can you get my horse, too? The black one hitched next to Treven.”
Garrett opened his mouth to argue but shrugged instead. “Sure, why not? Anything else? A cow, perhaps? Or, maybe the armored stallion the King’s Sword is sitting on? I’m sure he’s a reasonable fellow, if I-”
“Just the mule and the horse,” Athan interrupted. “And calm down. It’ll be fine.”
“I am calm!” Garrett’s voice hitched, revealing his nerves. After another deep breath, a hand swiping through his hair and a squaring of his shoulders, he regained his noble composure. “Where am I to take them?”
“To the north gate,” Jenny said. “Beothen should be there by now. He’ll guide you on where to meet us.”
“Okay,” Garrett agreed. “What about you?”
“We’ll be there,” Jenny promised. “But we can’t go the same way.” Without explaining further, she stepped past Dnara and into the dark room beyond the doorway. “Come, we must hurry.”
“Good luck, friend,” Athan said to Garrett then passed through the door with a light tug on Dnara’s hand to follow.
“Luck?” Garrett scoffed at the concept. “A Whitehall makes his own luck.”
“Thank you,” Dnara said. “And be careful.”
Garrett gave a dramatic bow. “Always, my lady.”
The bow and his confident smile was the last thing she saw before the feint light of the doorway narrowed from her vision and Athan’s grasp pulled her into the waiting darkness.
23
Jenny led them through the abandoned passage revealed to her by the elder priest once the King’s Guard had made known their purpose. Dusty and lined with spider webs, the narrow stone corridor passed beneath the newer portion of town. Built long
