Before She Ignites (Fallen Isles Trilogy #1)(102)

Ilina had the key ring, but now we were all free; her job was over.

We needed a plan beyond surviving this attack. We needed to get out of here.

“Come on.” I motioned for Ilina and Aaru to move toward Chenda.

Aaru bent to retrieve his fallen knife, flinching when his knuckles brushed against a noorestone. I bit my lip against a tiny sob. Why did this mysterious power of mine have to be something so hurtful to him?

This was no time to feel sorry for myself.

“We don’t have many options,” I said when the four of us—plus dragon—were grouped up, squarely between Hristo and Gerel. Both were getting tired. We had to hurry. “There are three exits. One leads into the woods just outside the city. One leads into Warrior’s Circle. And I’m not sure where the last one leads, but probably somewhere mostly uninhabited because they’d have needed to move dragons through there.”

Ilina’s eyebrows rose sharply. “Are there more dragons?”

“I don’t know.” Without thinking, I lowered my hand for Kelsine, who fitted the top of her head against my palm. Everyone stared, but I had no idea how to explain.

“Exits, you said?” Chenda glanced over her shoulder where Hristo was struggling against two Luminary Guards.

“Yes.” I cleared my throat. “I’ll give each of you directions to an exit, in case we get separated or one of you needs to lead. Gerel knows the Heart. That leaves Hristo to watch out for.”

“He won’t get left behind,” Ilina said.

“I know.” I organized the exits in my head, but the clack and clash of metal was distracting; my brain wanted to count people and weapons and times people hit one another. I had to focus. “The exit into Warrior’s Circle is probably the most dangerous. It should be the last resort.”

Aaru gestured and, when he had my attention, tapped his fingers against the back of his hand. ::Me.::

I nodded. “Agreed. You get the Warrior’s Circle exit.”

Ilina opened her mouth—probably to ask about that exchange—but she closed it. “I’ll take the dragon exit.”

That left Chenda with the forest exit. Quickly, I gave them instructions—the number of hallways and turns—and made them repeat them back to me three times.

“We’ll go at the first chance we get. We don’t leave anyone behind.”

“What about your other friend?” Ilina asked. “Tirta?”

My heart sank at the reminder, and my gaze drifted down the hall where she watched the fighting—and us—with her arms crossed over her chest. “She’s with the Luminary Council. She was never my friend.”

“Oh.” Ilina eyed Aaru and Chenda suspiciously. “Are you sure these two aren’t going to betray you, too?”

Chenda shot Ilina an annoyed look. “I am not someone who betrays.”

Aaru didn’t say anything.

“I trust them,” I said. “And Gerel, too. They’re taking just as much of a risk trusting us.”

Ilina didn’t even try to hide her skepticism.

“We should release the other prisoners,” Chenda said. “Their freedom if they’ll fight for us. We need the numbers.”

“You’re right.”

“Well, I’m not letting them out.” Ilina grabbed the bow and adjusted the string. She drew a ragged breath and—after only a moment’s hesitation—nocked and took aim. The arrow flew and connected with a Luminary Guard’s thigh. He staggered back—away from Hristo.

It was horrible, this lining people up to kill them. And Gerel—Hristo, too—would kill her enemies. But it was us or them, and I would do anything to save my friends.

Even this.

::I will free the others,:: Aaru tapped.

On Altan’s key ring, I found the cell key and handed the whole ring to him. “Let them out as we make headway.”

He bowed his head and—knife in his left hand—strode to the cell next to his, just behind Hristo. My protector didn’t even glance over his shoulder, just kicked up and caught his opponent in the chest. The Luminary Guard went stumbling backward, making room for Hristo to push forward.

Aaru released Kason, who lunged from his cell and into the fray.

I knelt to retrieve our supplies. The earthquake had shaken so many things loose—the blankets, the medical kits, jackets. Noorestones littered the ground like little jewels of light. I glanced up at Chenda. “Help with this.”

Together, we shoved all the supplies into a backpack. When it was full, we put the noorestones into a second pack. “I didn’t realize you liked noorestones so much,” she said. “Can the dragon help?”

I glanced at Kelsine. Tension laced her posture as she pressed against my hip, but I couldn’t tell if it was protective or wanting to be protected. “Maybe. She can’t breathe fire again until she rests, but she still has talons.”

Golden eyes met mine, and then she turned toward Hristo and the Luminary Guards with her teeth bared. If they were scared of the dragon, they didn’t show it, and I wished she’d joined Gerel against the warriors. They wouldn’t dare hurt her—but maybe she wouldn’t hurt them, either.

I scanned the hall for Aaru. He’d released Kason and Varissa so far, and with their help, five of the seven Luminary Guards were down. Tirta hovered in the doorway, looking uncertain. In spite of our progress, Hristo dripped with blood, some of it his own. It soaked through his clothes in dirty red patches, but surely some of it belonged to others. His sword, too, was wet and gleamed red.