In the distance, they heard grunts and a number of thuds, a truncated shout, and in naught but ten minutes, five tridents embedded themselves in the dirt about them, and Jorie and his males had returned.

“The outer guard has been dealt with. I will give watch out here. You have but half an hour,” he warned them. “If you do not meet me right here,” he pointed with the elaborately—and fearsomely—fashioned end of his pronged staff to the ground, “you will learn what else this can do.”

He finished his statement bringing the “this” in front of him—his trident—and circling it twice before he leaned into it, staff end to the earth.

They nodded and quickly stole across the deserted bailey, each witch with a guard of two mermales.

Having made their plan before they left, they knew what they were about.

Thus, after Melisse swung her hand in front of her and they heard the locks open and the bolt slide across on the inside, these to the studded double doors to the castle, they made them, and two of the Mer pushed them open.

They entered.

Without hesitation, Melisse went up the hall.

Lena down it.

She had to magic three guards they encountered to sleep before they arrived at the door of the bedchamber they sought.

It, too, was locked.

She made swift work of opening it, entering, and moving directly to the bed, her guard at her back.

Without hesitation, she swept aside the curtains that held the draughts at bay.

The woman in the bed shot to sitting as if she’d been awake.

For a woman who lived her life, Melisse suspected sleep was rarely easy.

In these times, she doubted the woman enjoyed much of it at all.

“Who are you?” the lady of the manor asked.

Melisse didn’t answer.

She asked her own question.

“You have children, yes?”

“I—”

“You have twenty minutes to get dressed, get them dressed, pack anything of importance to you, and make way to the town square. Your dungeons are of the now being emptied of the hostages your husband’s men took. I will rouse your servants. Anything, and anyone, left in this castle will not exist in an hour.”

“The Regent sends the dragons,” she whispered in horror.

Melisse opened her mouth to answer to this, but she got not a word out.

The bedclothes flew.

And then the woman flew.

Melisse left the room.

She found the servant’s quarters and emptied them by delivering the same message.

She was pleased to note that she did not have to waste precious time convincing anyone.

Some even had bags packed.

By the time she and the two Mer with her had cleared their part of the castle and sauntered out to where Jorie was standing, the exodus had begun.