Kerrin sat with his legs crossed, his back against the wall of his cell, facing the door. He leaned forward, intently maneuvering a nail around in the depths of the shackle lock around his ankle. He shifted position to give his back a rest and the sole of his left boot, now missing a nail to keep it in place, flapped a little.

Kerrin sat with his legs crossed, his back against the wall of his cell, facing the door. He leaned forward, intently maneuvering a nail around in the depths of the shackle lock around his ankle. He shifted position to give his back a rest and the sole of his left boot, now missing a nail to keep it in place, flapped a little. Kerrin shot a glance to the door. Though they couldn’t have heard such an insignificant noise, he was nonetheless wary. He kept perfectly still and listened. It hadn’t been too long since the girl had brought down their dinner. Just the thought of it and the remembrance of the smell made his stomach growl. Kerrin ignored the noise and continued watching the door. He couldn’t hear a thing. That was strange. He should’ve been hearing their voices joking and swapping stories like they had been the last few hours. Although—Kerrin thought back. Gradually their voices had died out. He stood up, dragging his left foot as he shuffled to the door. These men must have been giants when this was built he thought, looking up at the window set in the door at least a foot above his head. Even he, who had very little contact with the Lowlanders before now, knew that they weren’t even that tall. Or I suppose a more logical reason would be the wish to keep prisoners isolated. He pressed his ear against the door. Nothing—no, wait. Kerrin held his breath. A light, whiffling sound oozed through the door. What in all the Lands? He stepped back from the door, straining to hear the sound. Then it hit him, and Kerrin had to bit his lip to keep from laughing aloud. They’re asleep! Five men all hand picked for their bravery, and they’re asleep! He chuckled, then sobered. Like it will do me any good. Aye, I’m stuck in here for good unless Vari’n can get me a pardon. He sat back down and went back to picking the shackle lock. Better work at the lock than sit wondering what his fate would be. A footstep sounded outside the cell. Keys clanked softly. Kerrin eyed the door, then pushed the nail back into his shoe sole. He curled up, resting his head on his arm. Hopefully, whoever it was would think him asleep. The door creaked open. “Kerrin?” Kerrin sat bolt upright, saring at the shadow in the doorway. “Vari’n?” Varian crouched beside him, fingers running over the keyring in his hand. Varian’s young friend—what was his name?—stood in the doorway, watching in the hall. Past him, Kerrin could see two guars slumped on a table, snoring. One man’s drool hung in strings from his mouth, puddling on the table. “What did you do?” Kerrin whispered. Varian grinned. “Tikah convinced the castle herbalist to give her a box of sleeping pills. We put them into the guards’ supper.” “Tikah?” “Mel’s sister.” Mel. That was his name. The young man glanced at him and smiled shyly. The lock around Kerrin’s ankle came open with a snap. Both Varian and Mel tensed, heads snapping toward the guards. Kerrin braced his hands underneath his body, ready to spring to his feet. The guards snored on. Kerin stood up and gripped Varian’s hand tight. “Thank you.” Varian shrugged. “You might want to save your thanks until I actually have you out of the castle.” Mel stepped out of the cell, his hand gripping the dagger at his side. Varian pushed Kerrin forward. Kerrin watched the guards as he walked past. Their eyes weren’t even flickering. “Your castle herbalist does well at her trade,” he whispered. “She’s one of the best.” Mel pulled open the prison door. “I’ll be back in a minute, Varian.” Kerrin stepped outside, glancing at the walls. No guards that he could see. “Are there any patrols on the walls?” “Two, one for the south and west, one for the east and north. Normally, they don’t have any—but he thought he’d better take extra measures tonight.” “Why can’t he believe that we’re peaceful, for the most part?” “I’m trying to convince him of that.” Varian crouched in the shadow of the building. “We’re going over the wall in this corner. I wish we could’ve had a horse for you, but Jevran closed the gates. No one is allowed in or out unless they have his express permission in writing.” “How do you plan to take care of the guards?” “Mel’s taking care of that.” Kerrin studied Varian’s face. The young man stared at the wall, biting his lower lip. His eyes glittered sharply in the moonlight. “You’re not doing this for revenge, Vari’n?” “’Course not. If I was, would you back out?” “I don’t know.” Varian leaned back against the wall. “I’m doing this to save you from my brother’s ignorance. And I plan to change his mind about the Highlanders.” Kerrin started to ask another question, but Varian gripped his arm. He nodded to the wall. A man was silhouetted against the moon, pacing along the wall. Kerrin shrank into the shadows, pressing his back against the stones behind him. He curled into a ball. Please, God, he thought. His mind whirled over pictures of his wife, his four children. Keara, the one who’s work he’d come to sell. Lia—faithful Lia, always awake when he came home from hunting. Always standing by his side, for twenty-seven years. He needed to hold his wife. “Gone,” Varian whispered. Kerrin looked up and saw the man’s back was to them. He tok a deep breath, trying to calm his heart. A muffled whump came from the courtyard. Kerrin started and grabbed at the wall for support. Lights flickered on the wall, but the shadow of the prison house hid them and the corner they were going to climb. “Did anyone see you?” Varian’s sharp question was directed at Mel. Mel dropped a backpack at Varian’s feet. “Not that I know of. I was well hidden before the flames caught the oil.” “All right—get, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The boy nodded and ran off. “What did he do?” Kerrin asked. “Fired a haystack after dousing it with oil.” They could hear yells and alarms from the courtyard. The guard on the wall ran down the flight of stairs by the gate, his sword drawn. Varian opened the pack and jerked out a grappling rope. “There’s food enough for two weeks in there,” he said, hefting the pack to Kerrin. Kerrin thrust his arms through the straps as Varian swung the grappling hook up with practiced ease. It curled through the air and hit the wall with a clank. Kerrin shot a look over his shoulder. Fire-shadows danced on the wall, but no one came after them. “It’s tight. You go up first. I’ll come behind to give you further instructions in the woods,” Varian said. Kerrin nodded and grabbed the rope. He swung his feet up on the wall and hauled on the rope. “Just like cliff-climbing when I was younger,” he grunted. Varian chuckled below him. Kerrin snorted. He could tell he wasn’t a young teenager anymore. His knees already ached. But, he reasoned, it was better than sitting in the prison house. He reached the top of the wall and clambered up. As soon as he released the rope, it went taut again. Varian was up on the wall in half the time it took him. He swung the rope over to the outer side of the wall and jerked on it, making sure the hook still held tight. “Let’s hurry,” he whispered. “You next,” Kerrin said. “I need a moment to get strength back in my hands.” Varian nodded and swung over the wall. Kerrin watched his downward progress. As Varian touched the ground, Kerrin reached to take the rope. A shout behind him made him spin. A cold hand seized his throat. Below stood a soldier, his crossbow trained at him. “Stop or I’ll fire!” Kerrin swung down, holding the rope so loosely in his hands that he slid down it. He hit the ground hard, sending a sharp thud through his shins. “Varian, we have to run for it. We’ve been spotted.”