Page 97 of Of Masks and Fury

Eva latched onto my arm again, her fingers digging in. She stared into my eyes with a look that cut through my fear. “The grate. The tunnel! Stay left. Always left. The right will take you to the west tower.”

“How do you know this?”

Her bloodshot eyes bored into mine. “Go left or seek answers in the tower.”

Trew looked at me, the question clear in his eyes.

Stomps from down the hall told me the guards were almost here.

Pherin flew back into the cell and landed on my shoulder.Go!

“The west tower,” I hissed.

Eva smiled, blood staining her teeth. “You’re brave like my Marlane.” She stroked my face with trembling fingers. “So young.” Her wet cough rang out. “Did the best I could. To protect her. Like Velacross asked.”

Velacross had sent Eva to protect my mother,notCommander Thorne.

I stood, gazing down at her.

“Be careful,” she said, lying back on the bunk as another cough wracked her frame. Blood bubbled at the corners of her mouth. “Watch out for him. He’ll hurt you…just like he did your sister.” Her eyes closed.

I wanted to stay and comfort her. I didn’t like leaving her behind in this horrible place.

“We have to go now, Minx,” Trew barked out.

“I’ll come back,” I told her. “I promise.”

“Don’t. Too much danger. Can’t have that,” she whispered. “Leave. I’m at peace.”

If only I could do more.

We fled her cell, only pausing to close the door before rushing down the corridor toward the closet I’d escaped through before. A few prisoners watched from the front of their cells where they clutched bars.

Only one spoke. “Don’t forget about us, Princess. Please.”

“I’m coming back for you all,” I growled.

The one who’d spoken smiled. “Thought you would. You’re not like them. Go do what they can’t. End this.”

“I promise I’ll come back before the Day of Mercy.”

He understood why I was fleeing rather than trying to free them now. They all did. I couldn’t save them by dying here. I had to discover what my father was hiding and become dangerous enough to end this.

“Before the Day of Mercy,” I repeated, meeting his eyes. “I swear it.”

“Tell the king we won’t run,” someone else cried out. “Tell him.”

“I don’t see anything this way,” Derren shouted to fool the guards. “Try the next corridor!”

We burst into the closet, Pherin fluttering inside behind us, and Trew yanked the door closed.

“Up,” I whispered, pointing. “Grate.”

He braced himself against the wall and worked his way up, nudging it to the side. Rust rained down on me like before. Pherin flew in through the hole.

He dropped back down beside me and boosted me up through the opening, quickly following.

I scooted into the narrow tunnel as he slid the grate back into place.