There’s a loud crash from the entryway, and Laurel’s attention moves behind her for just a moment. Krantz lunges for her, pulling a knife from where it’s sheathed at his side and sending it hurling toward her exposed stomach. My heart drops out of my chest and my breath hitches. I’m running for her, all sense of reason gone. I’m determined to keep that blade from even grazing her perfect milky white skin, but I won’t reach her in time. The blade is spinning end over end, humming with the magic of a metal channeler.

Right as it’s about to strike her, the blade diverts, likely from Laurel’s own magic, and all the tension in my body releases. It’s enough of a distraction that several rebels have ripped the vines off and made it out of the room, but I don’t care. Laurel is safe. Krantz rolls past her on the ground, then runs out of the room himself, hands empty. They’ve stolen very little thayar, thank the aether.

There are now more rebels in the entryway, fighting the guards. There must have been some backup plans after all, at least enough to get the rebels out safely.

I want to stay with Laurel, but know I need to run out with the rebels. I look at her sharply, begging her to understand, before grabbing a half full crate of thayar and making my way past her. She could easily stop all of us with her magic, but she doesn’t. I keep the original group of rebels hidden, and we sneak out of the tower. Once we’re out, Krantz orders the others to fall back, and soon we’re all running back toward the merchant district.

“What now?” I ask Krantz, keeping pace with the fleeing group.

“We have safe houses in place. You should find your people and get back to the palace before you’re missed,” he orders, then takes the crate from me. “We hoped to get more today, but this mission still achieved what we needed it to.”

“And what is that?” I ask.

“Chaos.”

When we reach the merchant quarter, Royal Guards and soldiers battle rebels in the streets. Most of the citizens have gone, hopefully to safety. Krantz and the others slip into an alley as I release the magic hiding them.

I search for Fionn and Silene, but don’t see them anywhere and start to panic. Making my way toward the pub turned gambling den where we first met the rebels, I pray they hid somewhere when the Royal Guards arrived. My magic keeps me hidden as I traverse the deserted and rubble-filled streets.

My hunch was right, and Fionn and Silene are in the pub, pretending to be shielding from the attack with other citizens. Relief washes over me. I come up behind them and whisper, “We need to get out of here.”