Total pages in book: 220
Estimated words: 205637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1028(@200wpm)___ 823(@250wpm)___ 685(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 205637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1028(@200wpm)___ 823(@250wpm)___ 685(@300wpm)
“Go, go, go!” Govam whispered, motioning me on.
Nyfain caught up with us quickly, his hand landing on my arm as he hustled me through the remainder of the room. With the others following, we ran down a narrow stone corridor covered in grime and took the open doorway to the left. There Govam stopped, tapping our shoulders to keep us moving.
I saw now why he had been adamant about smaller groups. This one was almost too large for our frantic plight.
Nyfain pushed into the corner of a small, dank room as the rest of our people filed in. In a moment, Govam threaded himself through everyone to get to us, shoved past Nyfain, and pulled a latch that opened a door I hadn’t even seen.
This would’ve been impossible without him. Absolutely impossible.
On the other side, he motioned us through, trying to hurry everyone behind us. As the last of our group filed out, he shut the door quickly, making sure the click was as quiet as possible, and then fell back against it, sweat shining on his brow.
The sound of hard breathing filled the space, followed by Govam’s long, deep breaths.
“Some maid,” he whispered. He was obviously talking about Leala’s save back there.
I put up my hands. “Right?” I said, nodding. “She needs a raise.”
“You good?” Nyfain asked me, his lips to my ear as Govam made his way through everyone and started to lead again.
I gave him a thumbs-up as we wound through a small tunnel resembling a secret passageway more than a hallway. At the end, Govam stopped again and turned to face us, finger at his lips. Having learned from his previous misstep, he handed Nyfain his knife before leaning in to talk to us. It was probably more comfortable than an alpha dragon’s grip on his wrist.
“This is the hardest part, right here,” he whispered. “We need to get the key to the mess hall. The others will be waiting for us at their doors. It’s on us to let them in. To do that, we have to get in. To do that—”
“We need the key, yes, yes,” I murmured.
Does he think we’re stupid or something? my dragon asked.
“Shh,” I told her. Then, when everyone looked at me, I realized I’d said it out loud. “Dragon,” I whispered.
“The guard of the watch is in the chamber beyond this door,” Govam said. “He will very likely be at the window looking out at the beach, watching our boats drifting slowly nearer. Or maybe they are anchored by now. Worst case, he is at his desk. We can’t kill him, though. The key is right behind that, hanging on a hook.”
“Why aren’t we killing the guard?” I asked.
“Because he checks in often. They will know very quickly if he is gone. Killing him is our last resort. Our worst-case scenario is if he sounds the alarm.” He paused to make sure we had that. “We need someone who is stealthy. Someone who is small, preferably, and easy to miss. Someone with opposable thumbs.”
I looked back at the faeries, because no way could a dragon do it. Our feet might be quiet, but our menace was very loud. Before I could choose, though, I caught Leala edging forward, her eyebrows up.
Then I remembered her animal.
She shifted into a slow loris. It was a little monkey-like being with a poisonous bite. Most importantly, though, her animal had thumblike appendages. She could grip.
I motioned her forward.
“Yes, milady?” she said quietly.
I explained what we needed, and a determined expression covered her face.
“Okay, milady. What happens if he notices me?”
“Can you kill him?”
“Not quickly.”
“Then we’ll rush out if something goes wrong.”
She nodded, stripping quickly and shifting down into the big-eyed, small-bodied monkey thing. Govam stepped back with wide eyes, then lifted the flats of his feet, as though what he really wanted to do was dance away.
She scurried toward the door, and this time he flinched and staggered backward, like it was a mouse he was afraid of.
“Where’s the latch for the door?” I whispered.
He watched her like he might a deadly viper, closing in on her slowly. He reached way over her head, stuck his fingers into a little groove, and very slowly peeled the door open. She looked out, those huge, luminous eyes blinking as the light sparkled against them. She held up her hand, and he flinched again, dancing backward as she darted out.
I shoved Nyfain to take his place. I did not know what Govam’s deal was, but if he kept acting like that, he was going to get us caught. Not to mention it was ridiculous. Her little form was super cute.
Nyfain leaned against the wall, sword in hand, watching Leala and preparing to intercede if necessary.
Scratching sounded against the wall. Govam shuddered and rolled his shoulders. In a moment, Leala’s animal darted back through on three legs, holding something to her chest.