Page 111 of Drawn in Blood
Rowan’s face lit up as she stared down at the map, almost like she could read Ember’s thoughts. “It’s a tunnel system.”
Ember nodded, a grin spreading across her face. “I’m willing to bet each of these buildings has an entrance to the tunnel.” She ran her finger across the map, down the streets, up to the castle and the square drawn over it. “There’s an entrance in the castle.” She continued tracing the lines, past the dungeon, under the mountain past where the wards reached and… “It’s our way out.”
Chapter 36
Wild Draics Couldn’t Keep Me Away
Ember lay in bed that night, flipping through her father’s journal, another small book, and studying the map of the tunnels over and over again as she gave Theo a brief synopsis of their plan. He didn’t need all of the grand details—didn’t need to know how their mother truly felt about him—but he didn’t seem heartbroken over the prospect of leaving. If anything, he seemed excited.
So, he studied with her, looking over the maps again and again. They didn’t know anything about the tunnels, didn’t have time to check them out before they took a gaggle of children into them searching for freedom. They could be caved in for all they knew, or maybe the Jarl found them and blocked off. Maybe it was a plan her father had made, but never carried out for a reason.
She rubbed her forehead, squeezing her eyes shut. They didn’t have time to come up with a plan B—this was it. They just had to pray to the gods that it would work. The tether at her sternum tugged lightly, and a lump built in her throat. Theo was sleeping soundly beside her, a book still open on his chest when a knock at the window sounded.
Ember bolted upright in her bed and snapped the book closed, slipping out of bed toward her balcony door. Another knock, and she gripped the book tighter. She peeked through the closed drapes and let out a gasp at the face smiling at her from the other side.
“You about gave me a heart attack!” she whispered—loudly—as she swung the doors open before she threw herself at the boys on the other side, wrapping her arms tightly around both of their necks. She steadied herself against them, the tether at her chest thrumming as she choked back tears.
“We really have to get you some new weapons.” Killian laughed as he looked down at her, snatching the book she had gripped in her hand as she stepped away.
“I have weapons,” Ember replied, as she sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I have loads of weapons.”
“You,” Killian grinned, “Ember Lothbrok, have weapons—plural?”
“I think you’ll find that I’m full of surprises, Killian Vargr.” She smirked.
“Can we focus on the rescue here?” Fen asked, snapping his finger between them.
“You weren’t very focused when you were screaming at every squirrel snapping a twig on our way here.” Killian grinned.
Fen’s cheeks colored as Ember looked between the two of them.
“Fen’s afraid of Sasquatch.” He smiled, nodding at his friend.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Fen interjected, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. “I’m notafraidof Sasquatch. I just think we should all be on alert.”
Ember smiled, tears pricking the corners of her eyes as they bickered. Something inside her shook—her magic taking in air, like it had been underwater since she left Sigurvik. She wrappedFen in a hug, holding him tight, as if she loosened her grip even for a moment, he might slip away.
“You’re here.” She grinned wildly.
“Wild draic’s couldn’t keep me away,” he whispered in reply.
“How did you get here?” she asked, wiping away the tears that were pooled on her bottom lash.
Fen grinned as he held up his wrist. A braided leather bracelet was wrapped around his arm, metal beads carved with runes scattered about it.
“Where did you get that?” Ember recognized it—it was the same bracelet Collum and that captain wore.
“Nicked it.” Fen shrugged with a grin, like it was no big deal.
Ember furrowed her brow at the boys and suddenly felt like she was back in Galdr, desperately trying to keep them out of trouble. “From whom?”
“Siris,” Killian replied with a slight grimace.
“You stole it from your brother?” Ember asked.
“The details aren’t important,” Fen replied, as he shook his head. “What matters now is that we’re here to take you home.”
Ember’s face fell. “I can’t leave,” she whispered, glancing over at Theo.
