A few crossbow bolts zipped past, but at the sight of something flying toward them, most of the Auxiliaries sensibly dove for cover. Maya reached around to the small of her back, laying a finger against her haken, and drew on deiat. Where Beq’s stone hit the ground, she summoned a column of flame, liquid fire that blasted out of the rock and splashed off the ceiling in glowing droplets. She kept the temperature low—it wouldn’t do to actually sear some unlucky Auxiliary—but the light and smoke were enough to make everyone keep their head down.

“Now!” Maya said.

She surged to her feet, grabbing Beq’s arm with one hand, and ran for it. Sarah did the same, dodging between the chunks of rock. She rounded a particularly large boulder, then doubled back. Concealed behind it was a narrow crack in the rock, which in the blue light of Sarah’s glowstone revealed itself to be an entrance to a parallel tunnel.

Sarah didn’t hesitate in wedging herself through, and Maya and Beq followed. Maya let the fire blink out, and she heard the harsh voices of the Auxiliaries shouting to one another. The sound of boots and crossbow fire faded quickly, though, as they pounded down a narrow, darkened tunnel.

“Wait here,” Sarah said quietly. She shoved the glowstone inside her coat, plunging them into near-total darkness. “See if they follow.”

For a few tense minutes they stood there in silence. When no lights flickered behind them, Sarah relaxed, producing the glowstone again.

“Probably charged off down the main tunnel after us,” she said. “I hope they get lost for days.”

“Are you all right?” Maya said to Beq.

“I think so.” Beq raised an eyebrow. “Maybe a little singed.”

“I’ll say,” Sarah said. “That was a plaguing impressive alchemical. I don’t suppose you want to tell me where you got it?”

“Honestly, I’m not feeling generous right now,” Maya said. She looked down at Sarah, who raised her hands apologetically.

“I said I was sorry! When they told me someone was asking questions, I figured bringing a couple of sell-swords along was the smart move.” She sighed. “More fool me.”

There was an awkward silence.

“So now what?” Beq said.

“I think we ask some questions,” Maya said. “Starting with this one. You’re one of these rebels, aren’t you?”

It was a shot in the dark, but an educated one. With a whole market full of people selling dhak, who else would rate the attention of a full squad of Auxiliaries down here?

“I wouldn’t tell you if I was,” Sarah said with a slight smile. “But I’m starting to think we might share a mutual interest.”

“What exactly would that be?” Maya said.

“Dux Raskos Rottentooth,” Sarah said. “Specifically, seeing him get what’s coming to him.”

“That’s … not impossible,” Maya said. “So what if we do?”