Page 32 of Triplets for the Barbarians

“Sorry,” Fadai says. “We’re back. All clear.”

They let me out, and I take a few minutes to stretch my body, my limbs taut and my joints aching and crackling with every movement. “Jesus, it took you forever,” I grumble.

“We had to make sure it was safe,” Yossul replies, giving me a worried look. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just stiff as a board,” I say. “What about Rupi and the guys?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Yossul mutters. “We haven’t seen them.”

Fadai shakes his head. “It’s taking them longer to reach the eastern gate. Maybe there’s a checkpoint there. They won’t have our credentials for easier access, but I trust they’ll get through.”

“They’ve passed tighter spots,” I say, then look around with a furrowed brow.

The alley is dark and narrow, tall buildings rise on both sides. Most of the lights are out. I don’t think many people are living here anymore—not since they built the hangar, anyway. I imagine the army evicted everyone or relocated them elsewhere in the city. This works to our advantage, however, since we’re able to be here at this hour and this close to the starship.

City lights glimmer between the buildings and passing drones flash. We hear orders being barked in the distance. The sounds fill me with angst as I turn to face Yossul and Fadai. “They’re still looking for me, huh?”

“Yeah,” Yossul replies. We asked around and struck up conversations here and there. They’re keeping the news of your escape under wraps. They don’t want anyone to know you’ve escaped, and they certainly don’t want rumors reaching the Fire Tribe.”

“We’re counting on their inflated egos, then,” I chuckle dryly.

“The hangar looks pretty clear. They probably don’t think you’re nuts enough to try to get in there all on your own,” Fadai says. We counted three dozen soldiers guarding the exterior. Shifts change with those guarding the interior every hour or so. If we move now, we’ll catch a shift change in about five minutes.”

“Good, then let’s go,” I say. “Rupi said he’d meet us by the service door, anyway.”

Fadai frowns slightly. “We should wait another hour until we spot them, too. They’ll be in their merchant disguises. We can’t go in there without explosives ready, Jewel.”

“What if they’re already inside, waiting for us?” I ask. It could be wishful thinking, but Rupi has proven himself especially resourceful in similar situations. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s already charging the explosives on all four sides of the starship while the three of us stay out here, wondering whether we should go in or not. “And if they’re not, we’ll wait for them inside. It’s easier to hide in the hangar than in any of these alleys where guards might come looking.”

The Kreek brothers exchange nervous glances and ultimately nod in reluctant agreement as we gear up and leave the buggy behind. I’ve got the detonators and the appropriate wiring in my bag, along with two laser pistols and two long knives for close combat, though I’m hoping I won’t need them.

We approach carefully and head toward the square where the hangar rises ominously. I’m covered with a dark brown cloak, and I stick to the shadows while I keep up with Yossul and Fadai, watching as several guards move along and around the central structure.

My heart is racing as we get closer.

I can see the service door.

All we need to do is catch one of the soldiers going in or out so we can snag his access card. It should be easy enough. Yossul bolts forward and tackles an incoming grunt. He snakes an arm around the guy’s neck and drags him out of the light. Once the guard is in the shadows of the alley, he’s done for.

I should feel bad for him, but he chose his side long ago.

Yossul retrieves the access card from his coat pocket, and we’re ready to dart forward and through the service door. Yet, as soon as we set foot outside the alley, we find ourselves surrounded by Sky Tribe soldiers, pointing their automated laser rifles at us.

“Oh, shit,” I hear myself whisper as I grasp this new reality.

We knew it was a risk. We didn’t expect it to happen so soon, though.

“They were waiting for us,” Fadai concludes.

“Hands up. Don’t move,” says a familiar voice emerging from behind the soldiers.

I look around, my eyes jumping all over the place as shivers run down my spine. Dread grips me by the back of the neck once I see Blaze Pyrin walking toward us. There’s a bandage wrapped around his head.

I guess he didn’t die in that cell, the motherfucker… and now, we’re screwed. My worst nightmare is resurrected and with a vengeance. There’s no way out of this. Yossul’s and Fadai’s covers are also blown.

“It takes a lot more to kill the likes of me,” Blaze declares with a satisfied smirk.

His skin is paler than usual. I assumed he lost plenty of blood while languishing in the command center’s basement until the guards found him. But he’s still standing, donning his fancy black leather tunic with gold-plated tresses, hands in his pockets as he casually approaches us.

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