Page 57 of Feathers and Thorns

“Drugged?” she finished for her. “I think so.”

“That stuff they were smoking in Murkwall?”

“Looks like it,” Soren said, feeling for a pulse to confirm her suspicions. She found nothing in his wrist, so she moved to check the left side of his neck. She remembered from a medical text that the left side of the carotid held the strongest pulse. She nearly jumped for joy when she felt the minuscule throb of blood pumping against her fingertips.

“He’s paralyzed, but he’s alive,” she confirmed before rushing around the post to check on Adaryn. “She’s good, too,” Soren said just as the twins and Baz hopped onto the platform. Callan had reached Saoirse and was following close behind. She was disheartened to see that there was still no sign of Rook.

Two more explosions came from the north and south ends of the square, which meant the attack was now coming from all sides.

“We have to get their bodies out of here!” Soren yelled.

The rest of the group looked at her in confusion, and she rolled her eyes.

“They are still alive. I don’t have time to explain. Now help me!” she ordered as she untied Jai and Adaryn from the post.

Baz, who knew better than to question Soren when her mind was set on something, grabbed Jai’s body and threw him over his shoulder. Callan grabbed Adaryn, and the twins were pulling everyone else’s weapons out of the two large bags they had been carrying. They quickly equipped themselves with matching duel tonfa knives that ran the length of their forearms.

Enara hurriedly attached Baz’s sword to his belt and stole a swift kiss over his free shoulder. “Hey,” she said.

“Hey back,” he replied, and then they started heading east, toward the castle.

Just short of the gate, they were stopped by Everett.

“Thank the Maker,” he said, huffing in a breath.

“We need to get them somewhere safe,” Soren said, adjusting the thigh strap that housed her new set of daggers. She had refused to give Rook her father’s bow without some form of collateral.

Everett swallowed thickly and nodded. “I know a place. Come on.” He took off in the other direction.

“I thought we were going to hide him in the castle!” Enara called after him.

“We can’t,” he called back. “The steward has the whole place on lockdown. No one is allowed in. I had already left to come check on Jai, so I’m stuck out here, too.”

They followed him around a couple of side streets until they hit a section that Enara and Baz recognized. They pushed through the iron gate and ran through the tombstones to the mausoleum. The group barely fit into the small space where everyone took a moment to catch their breaths.

When Baz could speak again, he chuckled and looked at Enara. “No one bothers the dead.”

“We have to keep moving,” Soren urged, ignoring their obvious inside joke. “Vreburn was burned to the ground in a matter of hours—we are not safe here.”

“I agree with Soren,” Callan said, his large hand entwined with Saoirse. “Besides, we have no food or water here.” The group had finished the last of their sustenance on the road and had planned to restock after their attempt at heroics.

As if in agreement, Jai groaned from the corner of the room where he was propped up.

Baz scooted over and gave him a slap on the back. “Welcome back to the world of the living, man.”

Jai let out a dry cough. “Thanks, brother.” As if remembering what had happened, he stiffened and turned to Adaryn, his eyes wide with fear. “Is she …?” he asked, his voice a low whisper.

“Don’t worry,” Soren said. “She’s alive. If you took the same dose, hers may take a little longer to wear off since you weigh more than she does.”

“Thank the Maker,” he breathed and ran a hand through his unruly hair. “Now, does anyone want to explain to me why we are in the crypt?”

“There was an attack,” Saoirse said.

“Not to be rude,” Jai replied, “but who are you?”

“Oh.” She giggled. “Sorry, I am Saoirse, and this is?—”

“I am Callan McKenna, Son of Elias McKenna, King of Braexmirth,” he said, grabbing Jai’s forearm in greeting. “And these are the strongest members of our guard, Ori and Ikei.”

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