Page 27 of Triplets for the Barbarians

It’s precisely where we saw it, each point of access heavily guarded by at least a dozen soldiers. Drones fly overhead in a recurring pattern, their bee-like hums echoing across the square. The streets are closed and barricaded with chunks of black limestone and military-grade signage that clearly states the repercussions of trespassing. The people of Pearl City know to keep their distance.

It’s a dark night. The moons are hidden behind heavy clouds, and the streetlights cast long shadows we can use as we sneak around, casing the place as best as we can without detection.

In less than a minute, alarms will sound once Blaze’s body is discovered in the command center’s underground prison. Shaytan Hull will throw quite the hissy fit—not only did the human girl escape, but she also killed his best friend and right-hand man. I doubt he’ll want to keep me alive now.

“What do you see?” Yossul asks as I use the binoculars to study the hangar’s front gate.

“A dozen soldiers and way too many laser weapons, to begin with,” I reply. “We’ll need to draw them away from there in order to infiltrate.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Fadai replies. “We left word at the Blackwood Inn that we were summoned back to Ruby City for commendations and another mission. It keeps our covers clear for at least another day or two.”

“Good. We’ll need all hands on deck for this,” I say.

“Fadai and I will re-enter Pearl City as Hass and Kiel,” Yossul replies. “The Yellow Gang will come through another entry point, and you’ll be with them.”

We’ve already discussed this, but he’s repeating it with purpose. This time, I have to accept my place in the game and play accordingly, not that I can disagree with the decision. The risks we took just to get in here were far too great to begin with.

Blaze popping in proved that we were too close to failure, and so, with a heavy heart and a bruised ego, I have to recalibrate the remainder of our mission parameters.

“There’s a side door we can use,” I whisper and give Yossul the binoculars. Check that east corner. Do you see soldiers coming in and out?”

“Yes.”

“It’s a service door for personnel. See how they check the badges?” I reply.

“If we cause a big enough distraction down one of these shuttered streets, the Yellow Gang can go through there without alerting any of the overhead drones,” Fadai says.

“Precisely,” I say.

With a better idea of how we’re going to do this, we abandon the rest of this first objective. The plan was to find a way in and look inside, too, but the sirens have begun wailing all over Pearl City.

Blaze’s body was found, so the street will soon be riddled with local soldiers and black guards alike. Shaytan Hull will be alerted, and he’ll come roaring back into the neighborhood, too.

We really don’t want to be here for that.

This is the most we’re going to get tonight, and it will have to do, so I let Yossul and Fadai lead the way as we sneak north around the sector and make our way to the northern gates. We hide behind fountains and loosely trimmed hedges decorating the paved sidewalk. We disappear down dark alleyways and wait for throngs of rushing soldiers to pass as the majority of their forces are summoned to the command center for orders regarding my retrieval.

But we eventually make it out of Pearl City. It takes about an hour’s worth of hiding and dashing, of running and climbing, but we make it. We keep to the patches of blackwood trees sprinkled across the valley as the Sky Tribe drones fly out, frantically searching for me.

By the time the moons come out of their hiding place and cast their milky light over the five dormant volcanoes, we’re back where we started, seeking shelter in one of the southernmost mountain’s caves.

11

Yossul

It’s dark and cold in here. I’m not used to the chills running down my back, but I welcome it all against the dangers lurking outside. They won’t catch us. By morning, they’ll have exhausted their search through the city and across the valley. By the time they reach the mountain base, they’ll be spread thin, tired, and nowhere near as determined. That’s the trouble with Shaytan’s army. They lack our motivation.

For now, we’re safe here.

Fadai starts a fire a few yards from the mouth of the cave. The flames dance against the wet limestone walls, adding welcoming heat. Any animals that might’ve made a home in this place are gone, at least for the night. We’ll be able to get some sleep before we leave at sunrise. We huddle in front of the fire, winding down as the adrenaline slowly subsides from our veins.

Jewel trembles like a leaf in the wind.

“You’re still cold,” I conclude and take my jacket off to drape over her shoulders. I loathe wearing the Sky Tribe colors, anyway, and her presence is enough to make my body temperature spike. “Here.”

“I don’t think it’s the cold,” she says, giving me a weary look. “I think it’s what happened with Blaze earlier. It shook me up.”

“That’s what will happen if the Sky Tribe actually gets their hands on you,” Fadai reminds her.

---