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Creeping ivy climbed along the back of Brunard’s large, ivory stone manor and surrounded the one door. The chatter of the city in the distance and the birds singing happily in the trees greeted them. Layala peeked out from behind a thick blackberry bush with plump berries ripe for the picking.

“Mmm,” Tif mumbled from the pack on Aunt Evalyn’s back. The gnome snagged a luscious berry to plop in her mouth. The loud munching in Layala’s ear made her turn and glare.

“Do you mind?” Layala hissed.

Tif grew a sheepish grin full of purple juices and seeds. “Thorry.”

“Eat berries later.”

Tif pulled out her little dagger and her chomping turned into a warrior’s grimace. “Ready for battle, my queen.”

“You’re staying.”

“Way to crush my dreams of being a warrior sidekick.”

Layala rolled her eyes. The gnome was scared of everything. A warrior sidekick was the last thing she would ever be.

A set of guards looped around the back of the manor, chatting happily, and completely oblivious to the threat merely feet away. Seeing their green and brown garb, and the pearl-colored chest armor brought memories back to the day she hacked, slashed, and killed only Maker knows how many. It was a flash of red, of chaos, and screaming.

Sweat dampened her temples. She could only imagine what feelings this place brought up for Thane. She never asked how long he’d been tortured in that cage. He told everyone they weren’t here for a battle but if she worried about anyone doing something rash, it was Thane.

A cool breath seemed to cascade down Layala’s neck and she had the unmistakable feeling someone stood close. Whipping her head around, she reached back for her sword but dropped her hand. Siegfried seemed to have appeared out of nowhere and lowered to one knee behind Thane and Layala. All elves were light-footed but Siegfried was a ghost.

“No sign of the dragon or Brunard on my perimeter sweep,” he said in a low voice. “The city appears to be doing business as usual.”

“Alright, we go in then,” Thane said.

The group waited in silence. Even their breaths could barely be heard. Layala’s own heart beat louder. She counted,one, two, three, four… thirty-one. Another set of guards came around the corner, different from the first. They waited again, counting the time between.

“We have about a thirty-second window to get through that door,” Thane said. And there were at least two sets of guards in rotation, possibly more given the size of the building. “I’ll go first to get it open.”

“You?” Fennan balked. “No, if anyone goes first, it’s one of us who are more disposable. I’ll go and kick in the door.”

“None of you are disposable,” Thane snapped.

“Kicking it in will be way too loud,” Piper hissed. “And the guards will notice a splintered door.”

“Thane is right. This is a job for him,” Leif said. “You broke the padlock on Layala’s prison cart easily.”

Thane sat quietly for a moment rubbing his scruffy chin. “Yes. There’s a chance I might break the door handle as well, but I’ll take it.”

Layala stared at the large keyhole below the round gold handle. She’d done this before to free Thane. “I’ll do it and there won’t be noticeable damage.”

“Your magic could alert pale ones if there are any close by,” Aunt Evalyn said, beside Layala.

“They would likely have followed our trail to the lakeside towns. If there are any pale ones near it won’t be many and the city guard will handle them. It would be a welcome distraction if anything.”

“It’s risky, Layala.” Aunt Evalyn put a gentle hand on her shoulder. Aunt Evalyn knew the consequences of her magic as much as anyone. She’d almost died because of it once.

“We take the risk, or we prepare for a big battle and the possibility that Brunard will be alerted and get away.”

The Ravens looked at each other. Another set of guards came into view. Everyone seemed to crouch lower at once. Thane twisted his mouth but nodded and once the guards were out of sight, he leaned closer. “I’ll be right behind you. There will likely be guards inside that we need to silence immediately. Evalyn, you’ll wait out here. If things get bloody, run back to the horses. You too, Tifapine.”

“I’ll whistle if anyone approaches,” Fennan said.

With a deep breath, Layala nodded. They waited in tense silence for the next set of patrol to move by and disappear. Then Layala dashed out, her shirt snagged on a thorn of the blackberry bush and sliced through her sleeve and into her arm. She winced at the sting but didn’t slow. At the door, she looked both ways to make sure it was still clear.Come on, hurry hurry.Heart hammering, she set her right palm against the lock and pushed out her magic. The breaking of metal quietly clicked and with her other hand she twisted the gold knob.

A whistle cut the air. Shit. Had it been thirty seconds already? Thane shoved the door open, grabbed her arm and dragged her into a dark corridor. Her eyes adjusted to the change in lighting quickly; they were alone. Thank the Maker.