"They've done nothing wrong," Eryn said. "They're just actors. My father, Eddard and I, we were here for singing lessons."

  Letten laughed. "You'll have to learn to sing somewhere else." He started to push the door closed.

  Eryn felt her heart began to race. She could see Edgar, his head bowed, his eyes red. She

  could see Bryant behind him, his face bruised from the beating the soldiers had given him. She had lost a family once. She wasn't going to just let them get taken again.

  Before she knew what she was doing, she bent down and grabbed the hidden knife from

  Silas' boot. In one clean motion, she brought it up and into the Constable's thigh.

  "What the...?"

  It was all he got out before Silas reacted. He threw himself against the door, shoving it

  open and sending Letten flailing backwards. He gave Eryn a single disapproving glance before he was on top of the Constable, his knee planted against his neck, his hand reaching for the man's sword.

  Eryn overcame her surprise and dashed into the room. Bryant recognized her, and he

  brought his chained hands around and clubbed a soldier in the side, knocking him to the ground.

  He pulled the chain up just in time to prevent his neck from being slashed by the other soldier.

  Silas had the Constable's sword, and he balanced his knee on Letten's throat while he

  fended off an attack, his blade and body shifting and moving like a tree in the wind. The

  Constable flailed under him, trying to get him off, but he had no leverage, and he shuddered and grasped for life with increasing panic.

  The other three soldiers had been downstairs, and now Eryn heard screaming and

  shouting, and their boots on the steps. They reached the ballroom just as she reached the

  fireplace, holding her breath as she leaped in towards the flames.

  She felt the heat of it against her legs, but she was through too quickly to be burned. It

  didn't stop her dress from smoldering, and she bent down and smacked it with her hand as fast as she could. She turned and found their things, opening the saddlebag and pulling out the rod with the white stone at the end.

  She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate. She focused on the heat of the fire to help

  her picture the forge, and to see herself working the bellows. She heard the sounds of battle behind it, the clang of steel on steel, shouting, and screaming. She opened her eyes.

  A soldier was leaning down, peering into the fireplace, his eyes resting right on her. Eryn took the rod and swung it, cracking it into the man's unprotected jaw. He screamed and fell back.

  She threw the rod away and found her sword, resting in its old scabbard. She grabbed the

  whole thing and leaped back through the fire. Silas was on his feet now, dispatching a third soldier. Edgar was curled into a ball on the floor, blood pooling around him. Bryant was backing away from a soldier, doing his best to keep the chains between himself and the man's blade.

  Eryn pulled her blade free and charged towards him, sword overhead as Silas had taught

  her. He saw her coming at the last moment, turning and bringing his own sword up to block hers.

  He was surprised to find himself facing a woman, and he hesitated. Eryn didn't. She grabbed his sword hand to keep it away, and stabbed him.

  The remaining soldier stood in the center of the ballroom, looking at the open door. Silas

  stepped in front of it.

  "Drop your sword," he said.

  The soldier considered, and then charged.

  It was over in a blink. The onrushing man tried to stab Silas, but he brought his own

  blade back, stepped the the side, pushed the blade off course, and slashed the soldier's chest. He fell forward onto his stomach.

  Eryn rushed over to where Edgar was laying on the floor. "Edgar!"

  He was still alive. He turned his head and looked up at her. "I'm sorry, my dear," he said.

  "I was too bold. I... I... thought, my brother... could protect me." His eyes dulled.

  "Eryn."

  She looked up. Silas was walking towards her, his face tight with anger.

  "Just tell me why," he said.

  She stared up at him, tears forming in her eyes. Edgar was dead, and it was her fault. If

  she had let the Constable close the door, they would have taken him to the ore mines. It would have been difficult for him, but he would still be alive, and they would still have a chance to set him free. Now, there was no chance for anything.

  "Don't you know why?" she asked, her voice barely more than a sad whisper.

  He stood over her, glaring. Then his face softened.

  "Yes," he replied, crouching down and putting a hand on her shoulder. "We have to go."

  He stood and walked over to Bryant. "Hold out your wrists," he said. The big man

  complied, and he used the Constable's blade to cut through the chains.

  "Bryant, why was Letten here? How did he find out about us?"

  Bryant shook his head. "Not you," he said.

  "It's our fault," Robar said, appearing at the top of the stairs. His face was bloodied, and he was still shackled, but he had shuffled his way up. "He was following us the whole time. I don't know how he got past the spotters."

  "How many of them went to see the hanging?" Silas asked. He was willing to bet it was most of them.

  "I'm such a fool," Robar said. "Such a fool."

  "The Overlord isn't taking any chances," Silas said. "He was hoping that if the hanging didn't draw me out, Letten would be able to find me."

  He turned and looked back at the open door. "Grab as much as you can, we need to go

  now. Bryant, go find the Constable's keys and unchain them." He dropped the Constable's sword and ran for the fireplace.

  Eryn got to her feet. "Robar, where are the others? Galvan, Canae, Lanae?"

  "They went to see the hanging. Sena is downstairs with Winslow, they're okay, but

  chained."

  Bryant knelt over Letten's body. He shifted him until he found a ring of keys. After he

  pulled it off, he stood up and spit on the Constable. "To Heden with you."

  Bryant unchained Robar, who took the keys and went downstairs. Silas came back

  through the fire, holding the saddlebags and his sword. "Bryant, do you have somewhere else you can go?"

  "We have friend, outside the walls. Have to warn others first."

  He disappeared down the stairs, leaving Silas and Eryn alone.

  "They weren't going to take them to the ore mines," Silas said. He opened the saddlebag and pulled out the coin purse.

  Eryn was confused. "What do you mean?"

  "There are more men on their way. The Overlord has always known I've been here. He

  just needed time to set a plan in motion to capture me."

  "How do you know?"

  "It's what I would have done, if I had been thinking like General Talon Rast." He pulled out Alyssa's ring, kissed it, and put it back. "If you want to come with me, go downstairs and change your clothes. Put on something you can move quietly in."

  "Where are we going?" she asked.

  "To find the Overlord, before he finds us."

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Silas

  Silas had removed most of the makeup on his face by the time Eryn returned, flanked by

  Bryant, Robar, Sena, and Winslow. Bryant had a bucket of blue paint in one hand, a brush in the other. He ran out the front door.

  "What is he doing?" Eryn asked.

  "He'll paint parts of the street blue," Sena said. "Small marks that the soldiers won't notice, but the troupe will. They'll know it's not safe, and go to the temple."

  "The temple to Amman?"

  "The one outside the walls," Winslow said. "The priest there, Colm, is a friend of ours.

  He was a member of the troupe, before he chose to follow the path of Amman."

  "Get going," Silas said. "The Overlord's soldiers could show any minute."

  "What about you?" Sena asked.

  "We'll meet up with you at the temple. We have other business to attend to first."

  They fled the theater.

  He looked Eryn over. She had pulled off the wig, and thrown some water over her own

  face to clear the makeup and putty. She was wearing a dark tunic with loose black pants and short leather boots. Combined with her short hair, she would be easy to mistake for a boy.

  "Take this," he said, throwing her the coin purse. "The blue stone is at the bottom, if you need it."

  Eryn caught it, and tucked it into her pants. "I don't know if I can do it," she said. "I tried to use the stone on the rod, but I couldn't concentrate with all of the fighting."

  "That's okay. I know you'll do your best. I'd tell you to stay behind, but I don't expect that you'll listen."

  "I'm coming. I'd rather die fighting, than live running. I could have gone off to join the rebellion if that was what I wanted."

  "Remember what I taught you, and stay close. We're going to go north up the west side of the city to the lake. We'll try to find a way in from the back."

  Eryn came over, reached up, and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Silas was

  stiff at first, but then he joined her in the embrace.

  "Thank you for everything, Silas," she said.

  "It isn't over yet," he replied, letting her go.

  They went to the open door of the theater and looked out. The sun was setting, and the

  streets were growing dark. Someone would be along soon to light the oil lamps, but for now the area was deserted.

  "This way," Silas said, motioning for Eryn to follow. They stayed close to the buildings, walking north to the corner. He saw it now, the small blue mark Bryant had painted on the street.

  He had only noticed it because he was looking for it.

  "I hear horses," Eryn said.

  Silas peeked around the corner. He could see torches in the distance; soldiers on

  horseback, coming down the hill towards them.

  "Across the street," he said. "Run!"

  They ran across the street. When they reached the other side Silas doubled back to check

  if they had been seen. The soldiers hadn't changed their pace.

  "How far to the lake?" Eryn asked.

  "Seven or eight blocks," he replied.

  They started running again. They had nearly reached the next corner when they heard

  footsteps. Silas took Eryn's hand and led her to a tight alley between two of the buildings. He crouched down with her behind him.

  Four soldiers came from around the corner, swords at their hips and crossbows in their

  hands. They looked like they were on edge, expecting to be attacked.

  "We have to surprise them," Silas whispered. "It would be like shooting barrels to hit us in this alley."

  He pulled the knife from his boot, and held it up, ready to throw.

  "When I throw the knife, we charge," he said. "Stay behind me."

  The four soldiers approached, their eyes sweeping back and forth along the street. One of

  them kept his gaze up, expecting that they might be on the rooftops.

  He was the first to fall, a knife sticking out of his neck. The road wasn't that wide, and by the time the other soldiers reacted, Silas was right on top of them. They tried to spin to fire, but they got in one another's way, and hesitated for too long. He tore into them with the Mediator's sword, the lustrous alloy cutting through their armor as though it were cloth instead of iron.

  They were all dead before Eryn had time to draw her sword.

  "Here," Silas said, handing her a crossbow.

  "I don't know how to use this," she replied.

  "Press this to release the string and fire the bolt," Silas said. "Pull the string back, put it in here, and then put the bolt there. It's easier than a bow, and you can shoot one of those."

  He took the quiver from one of the men and handed it to her. She slipped it over her back,

  and held the crossbow the way the soldiers had.

  They ran north another block, and then ducked into an alley. They heard the voices of the

  soldiers on horseback, reaching those they had killed. Silas peeked out from the alley, seeing two soldiers riding towards the theater with torches in their hands.

  "Stay close to the buildings, go slow," Silas said.

  They snuck out of the alley and crept along the side of the building, holding as close to it as they could to avoid being seen. They had nearly reached the next block, when a voice cried out from above them.

  "Guards! He's down 'ere!"

  The soldiers on the horses turned their direction and kicked their mounts forward.

  "Run," Silas said.

  They ran, away from the oncoming horses.

  "We can't outrun them," Eryn cried.

  They could hear the horses getting closer. Silas reached out and took Eryn's hand, pulling

  her towards him. An arrow sailed by and bounced off the street.

  "Hey, in here!"

  A door opened in front of them.

  They headed for it, falling inside just as an arrow struck the wall behind them. The door

  swung closed.

  "Who are you?" Eryn asked. There were three men standing over them, each armed with a crossbow. They were young, not much older than her, each with short brown hair and fair skin.

  One of them held out his hand, and helped her up. Silas pushed himself to his feet on his

  own.

  "Rebels," he said. "They'll hang you for this."

  "They've done worse to our family," one of them said. "I don't know why the Overlord wants you so bad, but as far as I'm concerned, helping you is the best thing we can do."

  "Do you know what's happening?"

  They heard the snorting and whining of the horses as the soldiers reached the door.

  "Overlord's got most of the city locked up in the palace courtyard. He's got another five hundred or so soldiers going door to door, every single home, looking for you. Then he's got the blokes in the streets. We've been waiting for them to come try to search the place." He motioned to a door behind him. "We've got a weapons store down there, for the rebellion. For when the time came. We couldn't get it moved out, so we figured we'd take a few of his bastards with us."

  He motioned for them to stand to the side of the door, and then the rebels took up

  position next to it.

  "Open it," he said.

  Silas jerked the door open. The two horsemen were sitting right in front of it, trying to

  light a torch. Two crossbow bolts knocked them from their horses.

  "Name's Atticus," the leader said. He was the oldest and tallest. "These are my brothers, Elrad and Orm. Where are you headed?"

  "I need to get to the palace."

  Atticus smiled. "You want to go to the palace? You know it's east of here, not north?"

  "From the lake," Silas said.

  Atticus bobbed his head up and down. "Take the horses. We have a man at the wharf, his name is Deshon. He helps us move stuff in and out. He can put you right up to the cliffs behind the palace without being seen, but you'll have to climb up from there. He says he's done it once, just for fun, but I think he's full of dung. Anyways, just tell him Attie sent you."

  "How will I find him?" Silas asked.

  "Ah, don't worry," Atticus said with a laugh. "Deshon stands out."

  "We'll try to keep them off your back," Orm said, while reloading his crossbow.

  "Come on," Silas said. He and Eryn went back out into the street. Silas bent down over one of the soldiers and unbuckled his sword belt, slipping it around his waist and sliding his sword into the scabbard. "Leave the crossbow," he instructed Eryn as they mounted the horses.

  "It'll draw too much attention."

  The brothers followed them out, heading in the other direction. Atticus began shouting.

  "Are you tired of the oppression of his rule? Are you sick of giving up your hard earned coin for taxes on everything from bread to clothes? Have your mother, father, brother, or sister been taken to the ore mines, or killed for little more than looking at a soldier the wrong way?

  Come out into the streets. Do not be afraid. Stand up to him, as we're standing up to him..."

  His voice faded into the background as they raced north.

  The wharf was the busiest part of the city, and also the biggest. It stretched from the east wall all the way to the city center, where part of the hill the palace rested on had been excavated to allow for more dock space. Ships could sail from the Small Sea down the river to Elling Lake, and find port at the city to unload or load their trade goods, to bring back the other direction. The Small Sea connected to the Great Sea, and while only the adventurous tried to cross the Great Sea to the unknown lands, the cogs could hold the shoreline to the east and then south to many of the Empire's other coastal provinces.

  Activity at the wharf didn't seem slowed by the hanging, or the Overlord's pursuit of

  them. Cargo was being loaded and unloaded from large, three-masted, wooden ships, while

  smaller boats handled nets of fish or clams. All around them merchants made deals for the

  offloaded cargo, or bargained to have their trade goods sent to this place or that, while prostitutes tried to entice the sailors and sailors headed into and out of brothels, taverns, and shops. It was busy enough that once they had dismounted and sent the horses on their way, they were able to blend into the crowd, and sneak around the soldiers patrolling the area.

  "How do we find Deshon?" Eryn asked.

  "Atticus said he stands out," Silas said.

  They walked along the wharf, to the east in the direction of the palace, searching for a

  sign of Deshon with one eye, and watching for soldiers with the other. Whenever a retinue would walk past, they would duck off to the side and put their heads down, and try not to be seen.

  "There," Eryn said, pointing.

  Silas followed her finger to a sleek looking wooden ship with three tall masts. A metal

  plaque was affixed to the rear. The Flying Deshon.

  "That does stand out," Silas said. They headed over to it, hitting the dock at a fast walk.