"Do you live in Fairview?" one of the four soldiers who barred the gate to the fourth ring asked Amber.
"My sister," Amber said, thinking furiously.
"Is she as pretty as you?" another guard said.
Amber tried for a coquettish smile.
One of his fellows pulled a face. "Don't mind him. You can pass."
Her heart racing, Amber passed the four guards and entered the next district, evidently called Fairview.
It was a residential area, with well-to-do houses once again joined together in rows. Each house had three stories, with a small garden on the lowest level, a wide balcony on the first floor, and a tiny balcony under the window on the highest floor. It was a pleasant area, with clean gutters and paved white stones underfoot. Yet, like the others, the inhabitants of Fairview were scared.
A group of well-dressed young men, their jaws set in determination, headed past Amber, in the direction of the walls. Older men also pushed past, some holding swords, others wearing antiquated armour or holding hunting bows.
"Excuse me," Amber stopped a red-eyed woman who held a basket of oranges in her hands. "Which way is it to the next inner gate?"
"Clockwise," the red-eyed woman said. "Can you help me take some oranges to the walls? The men are going to need them. The more we take tonight, the more they'll have when the attack comes tomorrow."
"I'm sorry," Amber said, feeling wretched. "There's something important I need to do."
The red-eyed woman's face twisted. "I'll bet if you had a man on the walls you'd help me."
"I do," Amber said.
Suddenly it came to her, the danger these people were in. The danger Miro was in. She saw the defeat in this woman's eyes; she knew they were doomed. This army had conquered Narea, by all accounts a much more powerful nation. Gokan didn't stand a chance, yet Miro would be on the walls even now, looking down at the horde, preparing to face them when morning came.
These weren't her people; this wasn't their fight. Amber needed to find the Guild, and Miro needed to find something out about who this leader was. Then they needed to get out of here, as quickly as they could.
"I'm sorry," the red-eyed woman said, and Amber realised she'd stopped and put her hand over her mouth. "I really am. I'm so sorry. My husband is there too. The inner gate is clockwise from here. They won't let you in though, not unless you're a noble, or have a pass from a noble."
"I must get in," Amber said. "I have to!"
"Wait," the woman said. "Put out your hand." She set down her basket, and then pulled something from her finger, placing it on Amber's outstretched palm. It was a ring, undeniably precious, set with sparkling red and blue stones. "Lord Byron gave me this once. It's a long story, but he said it belonged to his mother. The pattern of stones is the mark of House Byron. If you show it to the guards, they'll let you through."
"How can I thank you?"
The red-eyed woman shrugged. "What use is it now?" She squeezed Amber's shoulder. "Good luck," she said, picking up her basket and heading for the walls.
Following her directions, Amber travelled in a clockwise direction, passing the beautiful gardens and glowing windows of the district the guard had called Fairview, walking hurriedly until she saw the gate that led to the third ring. If she made it through this gate she would be only one gate away from the Guild.
The sun had long gone and twilight faded into night, a time when most people would be eating their evening meal. Amber wondered if this would help her or make her task more difficult.
There were eight guards, all well-armed and alert. Amber guessed the man with the stripes on his shoulders was the officer, and rather than allowing herself to be challenged she went directly to him.
"Lord Byron said I was to show you this and you would let me through," Amber said. She held out the ring the woman had given her, holding her breath.
"What's your business in the Parklands?"
Amber paused and looked up, as if remembering words she'd been taught. "I'm to tell Lord Byron his son is well, and misses him. The officers are looking after him, and he's settled in for the night."
"Oh," the officer said, making way for Amber to get past. "I see."
He handed Amber back the ring, and she nodded and smiled as she passed the guards and entered between the open arms of the ornate gate.
Then she heard a voice behind her. "Wait a minute, captain. Lord Byron doesn't have a son."
The officer cursed as Amber burst into a run. "Stop her!"
Amber had spent the day running but she forced fatigued muscles into action, her desperation spurring her on. Behind her she heard the heavy boots of the soldiers as they chased her, and she looked for somewhere to hide.
Tomas needed her. Miro needed her.