Total pages in book: 179
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 850(@200wpm)___ 680(@250wpm)___ 566(@300wpm)
Despite her griping, Gwenna clambers up the wall with little effort, and disappears onto the other side. Lark and Mereden each go up, both with a fair amount of skill, and I’m proud of them for how far they’ve come. A month ago we wouldn’t have been able to manage. When it’s my turn at the rope, I’m not nearly as adept as the others. I manage to get about halfway up before my arms get weak and I struggle. Magpie climbs up behind me and shoves on my backside, foisting me over the edge of the tall wall. There’s another rope down the other side, and I manage to more or less tumble down this one without hurting myself.
It stings to know that I’m the least skilled of our Five, but when they pat me on the back and murmur encouraging things, I know they don’t care. We’re in this together.
Magpie gathers the rope and ushers us forward. “Come on,” she whispers. “Mind your step and stick to the path. If you fall into a pit, I’m not coming after you.” She points ahead. “Follow me to the drop.”
We creep after her, and I’m at the back of the group. I can’t help but feel that with the grounds deserted at night, it’s like moving through a cemetery full of open graves. The wide-open pits yawn in the darkness, and I imagine losing my footing and stumbling into one, only to fall to my death in the ruins of Old Prell.
Quietly, I hook a finger into Gwenna’s belt ahead of me. “Wish we’d roped ourselves together.”
“There’s something about this that seems off,” she tells me. “It feels weird. Wrong.”
I know what she means. Seeing the guild grounds deserted like this is strange. “Of course it feels wrong. We’re sneaking in after dark to steal artifacts and lying to everyone.” Poor Hawk is really going to hate me after this.
“Does Magpie seem a little manic to you?” she asks.
I glance ahead. It’s true that Magpie is highly alert right now, her eyes bright with determination. Maybe she’s eager to help us steal? Either that or she just wants this done quickly. “Perhaps we’re just not used to seeing her sober.”
Gwenna snorts. “That could be it, aye.”
As we cut through the massive, deserted yard, a light flicks on and I see a man’s face in the shadows. It isn’t until we get closer that I see he’s holding the same strange wand I saw previously. It’s the man who was using the portal wand to transport rock. He’s wrapped in a dark cloak and looks at Magpie nervously. “Is everyone here?”
“Yes. You know how to direct that thing to the drop?”
“Wait, we’re not lowering ourselves down in the basket?” Lark asks, confused. “Whyever not?”
“Because I bribed the portal master, that’s why.” Magpie gives her an annoyed look. “Just shut your mouth and come stand next to me.”
“But don’t I need to tie in with my Five?”
“Isn’t necessary,” her aunt tells her, gesturing that Lark should come to her side again. “Come on.”
“But—” Lark hesitates, glancing over at Kipp and Mereden, and then where I stand behind Gwenna. “I’m pretty sure the rules state—”
“The rules state a lot of things,” Magpie snarls at her, “including that you shouldn’t steal from the guild, but we’re not paying attention to that part, are we?”
Lark jerks back in surprise, wounded by her aunt’s tone. “Sorry. I was just asking.”
“I don’t think it’s foolish to be cautious,” I say, stepping forward. “And we’ve taught ourselves to tie together quickly. We can do so now.”
“Fine. Whatever.” Magpie gives a cross look to the portal master. “I hope you don’t mind waiting on this nonsense.”
He shrugs, uneasy. “You’re paying me.”
I don’t like this. I don’t like it because it makes me wonder how many others bribe their way into the Everbelow under the cover of night and steal from the guild. I don’t like that I would normally condemn such deeds and instead I’m about to break the rules myself. I shove down all those unhappy feelings and rope myself in, passing it along to Gwenna quickly. She ties herself to me, and then we go down the line until we’re all tied together and in position, Lark behind Kipp. Magpie watches us with annoyance, and then shakes her head. “Fine. Get ready to step through to the drop when he opens the portal.”
We step through and immediately I can feel the cool shift of the air. The night was warm above but down below it’s chilly and slightly damp. I hug my cloak closer and move toward the others so I don’t jerk on the rope. The tunnel seems larger than before, which surprises me, but perhaps I misremembered it in my awe at being in Old Prell. Gwenna flicks on the lantern atop her staff—as she’s navigator this time—and holds it aloft, looking around.