“I don’t have a weapon or—”
“I have one.” Iria pulled her sword from her belt. “Stay behind me.”
Em looked at her in surprise. “You’re coming with me?”
“Do you really think the king is going to believe we knew nothing about you? We arrived right after you.” Iria leaned around the corner. She jerked her head, indicating it was clear to go.
“We need to get Aren,” Em said.
“Koldo’s getting him. We’re meeting away from the castle.” They reached the top of the stairs, and Iria glanced down at the staff moving around the castle. “I think running is best.”
“It’ll attract attention. Do you know if they’ve all seen the painting yet?”
“No way to know.”
“WHAT?” Cas’s scream echoed through the castle, hoarse and furious. Em’s chest tightened, her heart leaping into her throat. She couldn’t think about him right now.
“Running is best,” Em said, grabbing Iria’s arm. “But not here. Back stairway.”
They sprinted down the hallway and to the staircase, their shoes thumping against the steps as they ran. Em slowed until her feet were almost silent. Iria followed suit, whipping her head around as they reached the ground floor.
Em quietly darted around the corner and pushed open the door to the kitchen. It was empty, and she and Iria raced across the room. She dove outside, squinting as the late afternoon sunlight splashed across her face.
“Which way?” Iria asked. “The front gate is going to be tough.”
“Impossible. There are too many guards.” She pointed to the tree Cas used to sneak out. “There. If we can jump the wall, we’ll only have to deal with one or two guards.”
“Where is she?” The queen’s screeching voice drifted out from a window. “Guards, go! Stop her!”
Iria took off and Em followed close behind, leaping over a bench as she raced for the back wall. The tree loomed in front of her, and she grabbed a branch and launched her body up the tree onto the top of the wall. They’d used a rope to climb down last time, and she swallowed as she judged the distance.
Iria hopped onto the wall beside her, and Em jumped before she could change her mind. She landed on her feet—hard—and she stumbled as pain sliced through her legs. She shook them out, relief coursing through her as she realized she hadn’t broken anything.
A guard ran at them at top speed, and Iria crashed down next to her, sword already drawn. Em moved to help her, but a second body smacked into her, knocking them both to the ground.
Arms circled around her, the grip cutting at the air in her chest. She was on her stomach, her cheek digging into the ground.
“Who are you?” a man growled.
She twisted against him, kicking up dirt. One elbow thrust into the guard’s face and she managed to wriggle free.
She scrambled to her feet. Galo stood in front of her, his eyes flashing with anger. He wore his exercise clothes, his hands free of weapons.
She raised her fist and launched it into his cheek as he came at her. He stumbled backward, blinking, and she took the free moment to check on Iria. She was still engaged in a heated battle with the other guard.
Galo moved in the corner of her eye, and she turned in time to get an elbow in her stomach as he swept her legs out from under her. She gasped as she hit the ground.
He reached for her and she quickly rolled out of reach. She jumped to her feet and threw two punches, one right after the other. He returned one that stung against her cheek, but he clearly wasn’t used to fighting without a sword.
She raised her knee and shoved it into his stomach. Galo wheezed, hitting his knees.
A sword appeared next to Galo’s neck. Em’s head snapped up to find Iria standing over him, a sword in each hand. The other guard was dead on the ground behind her.
Em shook her head, reaching for the sword aimed at Galo. Iria gave her a curious look, but handed the blade over.
A face appeared at the top of the wall, and Iria grabbed Em’s arm, trying to tug her away.
It was Cas. He stepped onto the wall, and any hope of him understanding vanished when she saw his furious face.
I’m sorry. The words echoed in her head immediately.
“Let’s go!” Iria yelled, pulling her harder. Em whirled around and took off, the sound of boots hitting the ground echoing behind her.
“Hey!” Cas’s yell followed her, and she ignored it the first time. “Hey!”
She looked over her shoulder to see him standing next to Galo, who was still crumpled on the ground, his hand clutched against his stomach.
“At least tell me your name!” Cas spread his arms wide, his expression a crazy mix of anger and incredulity.
She turned, running backward as she called in a loud, clear voice, “Emelina Flores!”
TWENTY-TWO
EMELINA FLORES.
The name had nudged out all other thoughts and settled in his brain like an open wound.