The rows of buildings leaned against each other. Skinny houses mixed with businesses in a haphazard way. Factories sprawled in all directions as if plopped there from high above. I imagined old buildings squashed underneath them. The odor of rotting garbage dominated. A plume of gray smoke engulfed us. We choked on the acrid fumes that burned our eyes.

The citizens hustled by, avoiding eye contact. Red-robed acolytes patrolled the streets. They peered at us with suspicion, but no one approached. It took me more than a few moments to figure out what was off about the tight and cramped city. Even though it was a large city filled with people and industry, it was quiet. No one laughed, talked, yelled, or said much of anything. Even their footsteps were muted, as if they wore rubber-soled shoes and boots. Creepy.

After an hour, I’d lost track of the turns we’d taken. The sunlight faded and the lamplighter crews lit the city’s lamps. Even they went about their work with hardly a word. After a few more hours of navigating the dark streets, Ives stopped us and warned the monastery was around the corner.

We checked our disguises one more time, and I adjusted my hidden contraband. Turning the corner, we all stopped and stared. Made of pure white marble, the building stretched for blocks in either direction. No windows marked the walls that stretched upward in multiple tiers. Each tier was smaller than the one below like layers on a giant wedding cake. Halfway up the eight-story structure, towers soared above the monastery, resembling candles. And this was just what we could see in the semidarkness.

This humongous structure made a fortress look tiny in comparison.

* * *

I stared at the monastery as my heart did flips in my chest. I’d be lucky to get out, let alone find Melina. Our plan seemed too simple for this monstrosity. Plus we only had a week at most before Estrid and the bulk of her army returned. Kerrick had sensed her in the forest along with many others just before we crossed Ozero’s border.

After I lectured Flea on staying out of trouble and made him promise to be careful, Flea and Ives said goodbye and slipped away. I met Odd’s questioning gaze.

“It’s not too late to back out,” Odd said.

“No. We’ll stick to the plan. Make sure you don’t lose that container.”

He gave me a tight smile. “Yes, sir.”

“Ready, boys?” I asked the monkeys, holding out my elbows.

Quain grabbed my right arm. “Kicking and screaming?”

Loren latched onto the other. “Dragging your feet? Perhaps dead weight?”

“I’m going to go for the full-out, desperate struggle,” I said.

“Ah, a little bit of everything.” Loren’s tone held approval.

“Nice.” Quain tightened his grip.