And then there’s Secret Eater. Forged because I was ridiculous enough to admire a boy through the window.

Accidents. These were all instances of accidents. Blades that were magicked when my feelings were overwrought or when I was experiencing something new.

Even at my worst, I can be strong.

When next I open my eyes, I lower my face to the bars, so close the torch almost burns my lips.

“Break,” I whisper, my breath brushing against the bar, sending the flame sputtering. I focus on my anger, on how Kymora broke my life and tore me away from almost everything I love.

The sound of metal snapping thunders through the prison. Kellyn jumps back from the bars and drops the torch, which flicks out instantly.

I can hear doors opening and closing somewhere else in the prison.

“Someone is coming to investigate!” I say. At the same time, I pull my sleeves over my hands, reach for the heated bar, find the break with my fingers, and pull the bottom half downward. Kellyn grips the top half of the broken bar, pulling upward.

I turn myself sideways and slither through the two pieces first. I go for Secret Eater immediately, attaching it back to my hip.

In the light of the last torch on the wall, I watch Temra and Petrik slide through the gap. Temra gets her hands on her sword just as a guard gets the door open.

She runs him through without a moment’s thought. Petrik steps forward, his hand going to the soldier’s open mouth to absorb any sound he might make. He’s dead before he hits the floor.

“Let’s go,” Petrik says to Kellyn.

“I’m stuck,” the mercenary says.

Kellyn has one leg and arm on the side of freedom, but his massive chest is wedged in the gap between the bars.

“Breathe out,” Petrik mutters.

Kellyn does so, and I grab his free arm and yank with all my might.

With a grunt of pain Kellyn flops to the floor.

Then we flee, wending our way through the jail. When we finally find the outer doors, we slip past the guards, preferring stealth to another fight. They talk to each other with their backs to us, and the four of us tiptoe around the building until we find the road.

With the cover of darkness, none of the city dwellers are able to see our faces. No one calls out to us or steps into our path. In fact, the few Briskans out and about don’t even seem startled by the sight of a company sprinting down alleyways at night, which doesn’t speak well for the city.

The exercise warms my previously chilled limbs, and freedom warms my scared heart.

The captain will be very disappointed when he visits the prison tomorrow morning. No retirement for him.

CHAPTER
NINETEEN

Before delivering us to the prison, the captain and his men stole anything of value we had, and they left Petrik’s books lying in the street. We’re now on the road for what feels like the thousandth time with nothing except the clothes on our backs, the weapons at our sides, and the company we keep.