Page 93 of The Arrow and the Alder

Her continued care and concern invigorated his spirit. He placed his hand over hers, holding it there as he closed his eyes and—finally—unraveled the last two.

He exhaled a long breath, lowered his hand from the door, and opened his eyes. He looked at Josephine and nodded.

Her gaze skirted his face before she released him and pushed on the door.

It opened easily.

A slice of torchlight cut through the darkness within, and in that slice, Alder spotted a figure.

Abecka.

She was hunched upon the floor with her hair hanging like a curtain over her face.

Josephine ran to her and dropped to her knees. “Abecka…” She grabbed Abecka’s face and lifted as Abecka strained to see in the sudden influx of light. Blood stained her lips and brow, and one of her eyes was swollen shut.

“Josephine…? Is that you?” Abecka whispered.

“Yes, can you stand?”

Josephine held on to Abecka while she climbed to her feet. Abecka swayed, and Josephine met Alder’s gaze, both of them sharing the same thought:How are we to get out of here if Abecka can’t walk?

“Abecka…do you know of another way out of here?” Alder asked.

“There is a…tunnel,” Abecka said with a wince, as if even talking were painful. “It was built to smuggle artifacts to safety in the event of a siege.”

“Where is it?” Alder pressed.

It took Abecka a moment to respond. “Somewhere in the vault, I believe.”

Of course it was.

Alder cursed.

“Is it guarded?” Serinbor asked. A long and angry red cut slashed his chin.

“Potentially, though I doubt he expected us to escape.” Abecka gave Alder a look of gratitude.

“You can thank your great-granddaughter,” Alder said, smirking at Josephine, who presented the lock picks.

Rian took one look at those picks and laughed. It was the sort of laugh that came from knowing a long and extensive backstory and seeing the irony in the moment.

“I see you knew my nani,” Josephine said with a grin.

“But what about the coat?” Evora asked.

This sobered everyone.

“Where is Basrain keeping it?” Josephine asked Abecka.

“Itwasin the vault with us while we researched, but…” Abecka swallowed as if it was difficult to speak through her pain. “Basrain never left it there. I believe he kept it in his chambers for safekeeping.”

Her intel sat like a dark cloud over them all.

“Prince Alder,” Abecka said suddenly. “Take the others to the tunnel. Let me retrieve the coat, and I will meet you at the ridge.”

“Not on your own, you won’t,” Alder argued. “Let me or Rian?—”

“I can hide myself far more easily than I can hide the rest of you,” Abecka said. “Trust me when I say that this is our best chance.”

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