Our gazes shot to each other’s at the shuffle and tap of footsteps on the stair, and the quiet voices with them. Immediately I blew out the candle and we held still, quietly watching as a lantern’s light illuminated the main gateway—though my back was facing the door, so I only saw an edge of light from the corner of my eye. I prayed to God that it was people coming to visit their dead loved ones, or even priests.

But Jember’s quiet swear sent my heart into my throat. “Grave robbers.”

We were grave robbers, but it seemed the least important detail at the moment. “Maybe we can sneak out when they’re in a further room,” I whispered, knowing my words were simply wishful thinking. If it were a parade involving the entire city in the middle of a sandstorm, you would still hear Jember’s peg leg in the midst of it.

“The one with the lantern is smaller.”

Smaller. Meaning I would be the one to have to kill him while Jember took the other. Kill, because doling out threats and injuries only created reasons to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life.

I took out my knife, my palm feeling sweaty around the handle. Killing wasn’t on my list of favorite activities. I’d only done it once, and only because I would’ve been violated otherwise. But I’d cried for days afterward, thoughts of my panicked aim solidifying in my memory along with the haunting image of having to stab my attacker three times to finally kill him. Jember usually handled the killing, and rarely in front of me. And since moving into the cellar of the church, we hadn’t dealt with that issue as much.

When it came to physical confrontation, I would much prefer to hit and run. But, because of his injury, Jember wasn’t as fast as I was. If he was going to hit anyone, he had to make sure they couldn’t get up again and come after him.

I froze at a heavy slam and a panicked shout. A shatter. A cry of pain.

Jember swore again, and I felt the brush of cloth as he stood, heard him step around me. My heart raced with adrenaline. I was ready to jump up for whatever came after us—if only I could hear what was coming, my pulse sounded so loud to my own ears.

The robbers’ lantern approached, but it was held by the tall, athletic figure of a woman, with the familiar face of an angel.

I gaped. “Saba!” I ran to her and wrapped my arms around her solid waist and she rocked me, her head against my hair. “Am I glad you showed up.”