As she walked through the tunnel leading to his door, Shyla slowed. The…bumps of hidden watchers reached her. She sensed two people lurking in the shadows. Guards or hunters or maybe a rival’s men? Perhaps a couple of Fadey’s minions, protecting their boss’s home. When she neared his door, she had to make a decision—keep walking or stop and knock.

She needed to find Aphra. Deciding to stick to her original plan, she knocked on his thick colored-glass door. The last time she visited, one of his minions wouldn’t let her in without a bribe. Shyla dug into her pack, finding her pouch of coins.

The door slid open without anyone demanding that she state her business. Fadey stood on the other side. His mouth hung open as he stared at her in shock. She was equally surprised as his clothes were rumpled and stained. His curly black beard was straggly and unkempt. She’d never seen him so disheveled.

“Fadey, what—”

“Come inside, quick.” He grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the room, shutting the door right behind him.

“What happened? What’s going on?”

“You’ve returned from the dead. I can ask you the same thing.”

“I asked first.”

“And it would take me angles to tell you everything. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time. You need to leave before the guards arrest you.”

Three

That explained the two shadows outside his door. “Do you have another exit?” she asked.

“Of course,” Fadey said, gesturing to his back rooms. “But they’re being watched by the prince’s dogs as well.”

She thought quickly. “All right. I’ll be back.”

“No. Run away and don’t come back!”

“Don’t worry, Fadey. I’ve a plan. They won’t know I returned.”

He pulled on his beard. The long strands of curly hair straightened. “I can’t help you if you’re arrested.” Fadey released his hold and the beard bounced back into place.

“I know. Keep your door unlocked so I can slip inside.” She left his rooms and glanced to each side as if nervous, clutching her wrap tighter.

The guards stepped from the shadows to her left, but she pretended that she didn’t notice them. Instead, she turned and hurried down the tunnel. They followed her. Shyla led them further away from Fadey’s rooms and snagged a druk lantern before going into the abandoned tunnels. Unlike Jayden, she wasn’t as knowledgeable about all the back ways, shortcuts, and hidden areas of Zirdai, but she’d explored many of the upper levels, including level seventeen.

She looped around a few times, hoping to get the guards lost. They didn’t grab a druk. No doubt to stay hidden in the darkness beyond the reach of her orange-tinted light. When she entered the next intersection, she turned right and closed the druk, plunging them all in complete blackness.