curtain walls, the northern vineyard smoldered, clouding the hundreds of soldiers clad in red or black capes. It was the New Kingsguard—troops loyal to Esek. But was Esek or someone else their leader?
“Little Cham, come.”
Achan pulled back from the arrow loop. The panel to his room was closed. Shung’s shadowy form blocked the flickering light from the torch he held in the passageway. Matthias stood between them. At least the boy would be safe. But Achan would not start this war in hiding. He knew not whether Shung would obey him over Sir Caleb.
Best not to put the man in the position to choose.
He put on his helm and followed Shung down the narrow passage, slowing as they took the awkward steps that led underneath Achan’s privy antechamber. Achan ran his gloved hand along the low ceiling so his helm would not scrape against the stone.
The end of Ôwr’s scabbard tapped against each step behind him. Achan pushed the hilt down to keep it from hitting the steps. Shung paused in the small space at the bottom and looked back at Achan before starting up on the other side of the privy.
Did he suspect Achan wanted to slip away?
Once the passage leveled out, it was easier to move. Achan paused at each arrow loop and looked out on the distant battle. He should try again to use his bloodvoice to look in on Lord Nathak, see if he was out there commanding the New Kingsguard soldiers. Achan knew better than to walk and watch at the same time, though.
Shung stopped at the corner before the hidden tower stairs. He turned, waiting for Matthias and Achan to catch up. “Not far now.”
Achan swallowed his regret and nodded, hoping Shung would understand why Achan needed to join the battle.
Achan’s chambers were on the fourth level. The secret meeting chambers were on the third. Shung led them down one flight and stepped out onto the third level. He moved quickly along the western wall, south. Achan lagged behind, pausing at another arrow loop.
Three bodies lay on the inner bailey ground below. Two cloaked in black, one in red. Red-caped men crouched in clusters on the sentry walk behind each battlement. A good sign. Captain Loam’s men must have stopped the infiltration and pushed the battle out to the vineyards.
“Little Cham.”
Achan stepped back to see Shung waiting at the top of the next flight of steps that passed under another privy. If Achan’s memory was correct, there were two such detours along this wall, then a long stretch leading to the secret rooms near Duchess Amal’s study.
Achan moved on. “Captain Loam has taken the battle outside the fortress.”
“Good. It will end soon.” Shung took the steps slowly. Matthias followed, then Achan. When they reached the b ottom, sure enough, Shung looked back to meet Achan’s gaze before starting up the next flight.
Achan turned and practically crawled away up the steps. At the top, the light from the arrow loop lit enough of his surroundings that he was able to skip sideways along the corridor until he reached the tower. He took the stairs down too fast, stumbled, and slid down six or seven steps on his knees. He grasped at the wall and managed to catch his footing. He froze a moment, heart dancing, listening for Shung’s voice.
Nothing.
He checked to make sure Ôwr was still at his side, then, with one hand on the wall, he took the steps one at a time, thankful for arrow loops and the pale light that seeped through them. Blessed sun. ’Twas dawn, and none could refute it. The curse of Darkness had not reached this place. Not yet, anyway.
Achan’s temples twinged. Shung Noatak.
And there it came. Achan ignored Shung’s knock and continued on until the light from the last arrow loop faded. He hesitated, weighing his options, unwilling to admit he should have stayed with Shung. He wanted the first floor. If there were no more arrow loops, did that mean he was underground? Or did the first floor not have arrow loops? He wished he’d been more
“Little Cham, come.”
Achan pulled back from the arrow loop. The panel to his room was closed. Shung’s shadowy form blocked the flickering light from the torch he held in the passageway. Matthias stood between them. At least the boy would be safe. But Achan would not start this war in hiding. He knew not whether Shung would obey him over Sir Caleb.
Best not to put the man in the position to choose.
He put on his helm and followed Shung down the narrow passage, slowing as they took the awkward steps that led underneath Achan’s privy antechamber. Achan ran his gloved hand along the low ceiling so his helm would not scrape against the stone.
The end of Ôwr’s scabbard tapped against each step behind him. Achan pushed the hilt down to keep it from hitting the steps. Shung paused in the small space at the bottom and looked back at Achan before starting up on the other side of the privy.
Did he suspect Achan wanted to slip away?
Once the passage leveled out, it was easier to move. Achan paused at each arrow loop and looked out on the distant battle. He should try again to use his bloodvoice to look in on Lord Nathak, see if he was out there commanding the New Kingsguard soldiers. Achan knew better than to walk and watch at the same time, though.
Shung stopped at the corner before the hidden tower stairs. He turned, waiting for Matthias and Achan to catch up. “Not far now.”
Achan swallowed his regret and nodded, hoping Shung would understand why Achan needed to join the battle.
Achan’s chambers were on the fourth level. The secret meeting chambers were on the third. Shung led them down one flight and stepped out onto the third level. He moved quickly along the western wall, south. Achan lagged behind, pausing at another arrow loop.
Three bodies lay on the inner bailey ground below. Two cloaked in black, one in red. Red-caped men crouched in clusters on the sentry walk behind each battlement. A good sign. Captain Loam’s men must have stopped the infiltration and pushed the battle out to the vineyards.
“Little Cham.”
Achan stepped back to see Shung waiting at the top of the next flight of steps that passed under another privy. If Achan’s memory was correct, there were two such detours along this wall, then a long stretch leading to the secret rooms near Duchess Amal’s study.
Achan moved on. “Captain Loam has taken the battle outside the fortress.”
“Good. It will end soon.” Shung took the steps slowly. Matthias followed, then Achan. When they reached the b ottom, sure enough, Shung looked back to meet Achan’s gaze before starting up the next flight.
Achan turned and practically crawled away up the steps. At the top, the light from the arrow loop lit enough of his surroundings that he was able to skip sideways along the corridor until he reached the tower. He took the stairs down too fast, stumbled, and slid down six or seven steps on his knees. He grasped at the wall and managed to catch his footing. He froze a moment, heart dancing, listening for Shung’s voice.
Nothing.
He checked to make sure Ôwr was still at his side, then, with one hand on the wall, he took the steps one at a time, thankful for arrow loops and the pale light that seeped through them. Blessed sun. ’Twas dawn, and none could refute it. The curse of Darkness had not reached this place. Not yet, anyway.
Achan’s temples twinged. Shung Noatak.
And there it came. Achan ignored Shung’s knock and continued on until the light from the last arrow loop faded. He hesitated, weighing his options, unwilling to admit he should have stayed with Shung. He wanted the first floor. If there were no more arrow loops, did that mean he was underground? Or did the first floor not have arrow loops? He wished he’d been more
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