Page 22 of Rogue Elves of Ardani

“There’s no armory. Just the guards’ quarters.”

“Then go in there and get me a sword.”

“That’s a bad idea.”

His hand tightened on her arm. She was careful not to broadcast her apprehension this time.

She could give him a push. A suggestion. Or outright mind control, if necessary.

But she hated to do that unless there was no other choice. She was still going to need him after they escaped, and she didn’t want to start off their relationship with a betrayal.

She looked him in the eye and spoke slowly but firmly. “It’s too dangerous to go back there. I already had a run-in with Alexei earlier in the night. Do you want him to find us?”

Vaara’s lips tipped down. No, he did not want that.

“The more time we spend here, the better chance we have of getting caught. We should keep as far away from the guards as possible and take the fastest route out.”

“If we run into someone, we’ll be better off armed.”

“If things go as planned, we won’t run into anyone at all,” she countered. She gently pried his hand off her arm. He scowled, but let her go. “Trust me. Please. I have a way out. But we’re only going to make it if we cooperate.”

She didn’t even have to touch him to see the potent churning of fear and suspicion in his mind.

“Fine,” he said.

“You’ll do as I say?” she asked.

“Until we’re out,” he growled.

“That’s all I ask.”

She peered around the corner, then slipped into the hall again. Vaara followed silently behind her. Really, really silently. She had to check again that he was still there. In the dark, he was barely visible. It was chilling.

When Crow had been a child, she’d feared monsters who might be lurking under her bed or down the cellar stairs, just out of sight in the darkness. It occurred to her that Vaara was one of those monsters. A creature that belonged to darkness. A creature who probably meant her harm.

She swallowed. “Can you do that thing again?” she whispered.

He took her hand and spelled them both. They became shadows.

They went to the end of the hall, then stopped. She’d gotten turned around when they’d run to avoid the guard, and now she struggled to match the map of the prison in her head to what she was seeing.

“Well?” Vaara hissed.

“I don’t suppose you know how to get to the north wing?” she asked.

She could see his incredulous expression even through the shadow spell. “Do you think I get to take strolls through the prison to learn where everything is? Do you think they gave me a tour?”

They were interrupted by distant shouts. And then a bell rang, over and over.

Vaara’s hand clamped on hers, and a deluge of fear rushed into her, mixing with her own. She closed her eyes, squashing the incoming emotions down until she could no longer feel them so strongly. Vaara was looking to her, hoping she would know what to do next.

She pulled him around the corner, taking off at a run in the direction she was pretty sure was north. More bells clanged. Voices rose.

This wasn’t supposed to have happened. The guards had no reason to check on either of them at this time of night. Except that she’d given them a reason to be suspicious.

It was Alexei. He’d gone back to see if anything was amiss. And it was.

Crow’s feet pounded on the stone as she ran toward the back of the prison, still holding tight to Vaara’s hand.

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