The door handle rattled, and then Hodge’s voice boomed, ‘I know you are in there, Blackmane. Hand her over to me, and in return, I will not force her to watch your death.’

‘He will break the door,’ she whispered.

Blackmane secured one end of the garment rope to the bed and tossed the other end through the window. ‘Get on my back, quickly.’

She ran to him and climbed onto his back.

He climbed out the window, pressing the soles of his boots into the wall. ‘Hold on tight.’ He then lowered them all the way to the ground while Hodge continued to shout above them.

When they reached the bottom, Isabel climbed off and looked around. ‘How are we going to get over the wall?’

He took her hand and ran towards the wall. ‘We’re going to climb the stairs, like civilised people.’

She did her best to keep up with his fast pace. ‘And when we reach the top?’

Thankfully, Blackmane did not have a chance to reply, because two guards emerged from the turret ahead and came for them. ‘I’m going to let go of your hand, and you’re going to stay right behind me.’

She nodded.

He continued at the same pace, drawing his dagger so he was once again armed with two weapons.

‘Halt!’ one man shouted.

Blackmane cut his way through, then glanced over his shoulder to ensure Isabel was behind him as they neared the stairwell. ‘That’s it. Keep up.’

They flew up the steps, greeted by guards at the top. It took Blackmane longer than usual to take them down because he had to account for Isabel behind him. When all the guards were dead, he sheathed both weapons and took hold of her face. ‘You all right?’

She was staring wide-eyed at the men bleeding out at their feet. ‘I… Yes.’

Of course she was trying to be brave, because he was asking it of her. But unfortunately, the worst part was still ahead of them. It was time to see just how much she trusted him. ‘Do you remember the first time I saw you atop the wall?’

The sound of boots pounding the stone steps drifted out to them from the turret. She looked over her shoulder.

‘Don’t worry about them,’ Blackmane said. ‘Focus on me.’

She turned back to him. ‘Yes, I remember.’

‘Where is she?’

She flinched at Hodge’s voice in the distance.

‘Your arms were outstretched like wings,’ Blackmane continued, ‘because you wanted so desperately to fly away from this place.’

Isabel sucked in a breath at the increasing noise behind her. ‘I remember.’

He brought his face close to hers. ‘Today, I need you to fly.’

‘What?’

He pulled her over to the embrasure and lifted her onto it. ‘Keep your body as straight as possible. Enter the water feet first.’

She clung to his arm. ‘You want me to jump into the moat?’