“You don’t get it, do you? If we were wrong, and the attack took place tonight, it may very well be over. Our people won’t have been in place to stop it. There’s a good chance our mission is now one of rescue instead of a battle.”

Dell set the sword down heavily, his eyes finding a glass jar of black powder. He recognized it instantly. “What was Edmund doing with this?”

Bemus lifted the jar, preventing Dell from taking it. “A last resort.” He found a bag nearby and stuffed it in before handing Dell a long thin sword. “Mercenaries carry these when they aren’t marching to battle. No one will look twice at it.

Dell took the sword, balancing it on his hand. “Fine.” He reached for a sword belt and tightened it around his waist before sliding the sword into a scabbard.

Bemus slipped knives into various parts of his clothing before retrieving a long staff.

At Dell’s questioning look, he explained. “No one will think me anything but an old man.”

Wasn’t he just an old man? As quickly as the thought came, it dissipated. Edmund had a purpose in everything he did. Bemus must have been more than he seemed.

They strode from the house to enter the small three-stall stables. One of the horses was missing—most likely at the palace where Edmund had left him.

After saddling both roans, they took off through the streets, never losing sight of the monastery sitting atop a great hill in the distance.

The gates of the monastery stood open, but no priests streamed through it. Dell had been to the place only once before when his stepmother sent him to trade for wine. He hadn’t enjoyed his visit then, but now an eerie silence settled over the place.

Dell and Bemus inched forward. Dell jerked his head to the large building housing the famed prison. Torches standing along the entry lit it up against the night sky. “Think Edmund is there?”

Bemus nudged his horse toward the prison doors that looked like they’d been blown off their hinges. A black burn stretched up the side of the building.

Dell’s eyes flicked to Bemus’ saddlebag where the explosive powder rested, knowing exactly what could cause such destruction.

They slid from their horses to enter the building slowly, acrid air hitting them the moment they stepped inside.

Empty cells stretched down the darkened hall, their metal doors standing open.

“Do you think each floor is the same?” Dell asked.

Bemus only gave him a sideways glance in answer before turning on his heel and leaving the way they’d come.