A hand poked through the shortcut. Shyla bit down on a curse.

“Huh? What the— Uri, get down here and bring that druk!”

“What did you find?” Uri asked.

Shyla sent her magic to the man as well.

Solid wall.

“I don’t know, you big lug. Give me the light.”

A druk was thrust into the map room. Shyla backed away from the shortcut.

Not here.

The female guard stuck her head in. “That was weird.”

“What in seven hells, Gafna. Where’s your head?”

“In some kind of room.” She withdrew. “See for yourself.”

“That’s a solid wall.”

“It looks like one, but it’s not. Isn’t this what Captain Yates said to be on the lookout for?”

This wasn’t going to end well, but Shyla didn’t know what else to do.

Not here.

A big hand with calluses appeared followed by a scowling guard’s face. His surprise didn’t last long. He retreated.

“Block that opening,” he ordered Gafna. “I’m going to find out about that room.”

Not here.

Gafna reappeared, but she stopped so half of her body remained in the First Room. She held her sword and scanned the octagonal space.

Sleep.

The woman blinked a few times and yawned, but she shook off the command. Shyla increased her will.

Sleep.

Gafna’s head dropped. Not wasting time, Shyla raced over to the double stained-glass doors. They were locked. Scorching hells. After a moment of panic, she remembered that this room was guarded like all the others. Reaching out, she sensed the two monks on the other side.

Open doors.

Nothing.

Open doors.

“Hey, what are you doing?” a muffled voice on the other side said.

A key rasped in the keyhole. “Unlocking the door.”

“Why?”

She didn’t have time for this. Using more of her waning energy, she pushed it at the two monks.

Open doors.

A metallic snap broke the quiet. The doors slid apart. Both monks peeked inside.

Not here.

She darted into the hallway.

Lock doors.

They did as instructed. Shyla hurried away. She was on level nine. And probably so were the other units. If she only encountered a few guards she could slip by them and get higher. If not…she’d be caught. Best to think positive.

Voices alerted her before she turned the corner. She skidded to a stop and backtracked to the intersection she’d just passed. Ducking down the left tunnel, she pressed against the wall just as the group walked by. Hanif led Captain Yates and four guards. They were so focused on getting to the map room that none glanced her way. She remembered to breathe. After waiting for what seemed like a couple thousand angles, she ventured out and tried to find a route free of guards.