her. She tore the leather strap loose and with a nonchalant twist of her wrist, the ring spun through the air. It passed neatly between the bars and the tall woman on the other side caught it in her hand.
The jingle of her catch cued the guards into confused action. The man with the wooden leg jumped after the keys, banging himself painfully against the bars. Dun stepped closer and punched the leader in the face before an order could leave his mouth. He dropped like a stone. The man shouting at the Krake earlier tried to make a stealthy getaway, hugging the wall as he ran. Kalis tripped him by sticking her foot between his and dropping her weight on his back when he stumbled. The last guard looked at the men spread on the floor around him, then at Dun, and held up his hands in surrender with a whimper.
“Tie them,” The tall woman was out of the cell and already tearing up the leader’s cape to use for rope. “And don’t let her out of your sight.” She nodded at the girl that alerted the guards. Still holding her mouth, she didn’t seem to notice the two other girls who were both holding one of her elbows.
It didn’t take long to tie and gag the guards and lock them in the cage.
“Someone will come check before long,” The tall woman pulled Kalis to her chest in a hug. “So we need to be leaving.”
“Our boat won’t hold more than two.”
“Not much of an escape plan, eh?” A short, rotund woman said. She had a pretty face, split in half by a white scar that ran from her forehead, across her cheek and her jaw. She grinned at Dun, obviously amused by his discomfort and confusion.
“Don’t tease Elis,” Kalis frowned at her. “He came to save you, at his own peril.”
Elis tilted her head to look at Kalis and then raised it to examine Dun.
“Looks sturdy enough to take some teasing, little shrimp—” She quickly raised her hands in surrender when Kalis sucked in air for a reply.
“You have a better plan?” Dun asked.
“I thought you’d never ask!” Elis’ grin wrinkled her scar like a white snake, but her humour was contagious and Dun found himself grinning back at the stubby woman. “We saw some hidden,” She twisted her fingers to indicate what she thought of the path’s hiding skills. “Boats in a cave near the one they brought us to. If we can get to them, we’ll make it to the coast, cross the cliffs. The girls will pick us up on the other side, with a bit of luck even before these guys find their asses and give chase.”
Kalis looked back to Dun in question.
“You can come with us?”
He saw a worried expression slip across Elis’ marred features. But even though part of him wanted to come, make sure the mouthy shrimp got home safe, and maybe see the Isles of Krake for himself, he knew he couldn’t. There was no way to tell how long it would take him to get back to the city now that the Krake and the path were in an open confrontation, and he couldn’t leave Vera to fend for herself.
“Nah, I think your ladies can take it from here. I’ll just slip out across the bridge while they’re busy chasing you,” He winked at Elis before he looked down on Kalis with a more tender expression. “How about you make sure those gods of yours don’t drown me when I come to visit and drop of your new cape.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” She hid her disappointment well, giving him a cocky smile. “But you might want to consider taking some swimming lessons, in case they don’t like the colour.”
Walking back to the city he heard the faint sounds of the chase. There was no way the path was getting its hands on that little shrimp now.
Titles by F.E. Hubert
Tales of Mufroen and Dun
Sword of the Sands
Book of Magic
Sword in the City
Isles of Krake
Swords and Magic (Tales of Mufroen and Dun 1-4)
Available soon:
Dog’s blade
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends