35. Time to Go (Vaye)¶
Vaye rode a wave of panic back to her quarters. Her thoughts were scrambled, bouncing off each other like screaming toddlers. The idea of Adranaya’s light being snuffed out among the Orumir was intolerable. It couldn’t be allowed.
Yobaza was right: it was only a matter of time before they came for Vaye as well. Better to leave now before they had a chance. But where to go? She had to find Gadarien. Maybe together they could come up with something, figure out some way to save themselves and Adranaya.
She stuffed her meager possessions into her rucksack, her heart like a stonemason’s hammer, and hurried to Gadarien’s cell. But he and all his things were gone, furniture strewn about the room. The only place she could think to look for him was their “secret” tunnel leading out to the balcony, although she had little hope of finding him there. She quick-stepped through the novitiate quarters, resisting the urge to run and hiding in doorways and corners until others had passed.
Yobaza’s office was on the way to the tunnel. Vaye paused in front of the door just long enough to make sure no one was in sight before inserting her makeshift key and slipping inside. She half-expected some additional security, but apparently Yobaza was satisfied that the culprit had been caught.
This time, it didn’t matter if Yobaza knew someone had broken in. Vaye grabbed an ancient bronze dagger off the wall and used it to pry open the lock on the desk drawer, praying Grandmother would forgive the desecration. Her ball of nownow had shrunk considerably, but she took what was left, cursing Yobaza’s hypocrisy. Wrapping her tzashim in a scrap of cloth, she carefully slid them into her pack, running her eyes across the other artifacts and wishing she could take them all.
Then she noticed the thin witchglass tripwire near the door, broken off when she’d entered. “Fuck,” she whispered, a fresh burst of fear expanding in her chest. She didn’t know what the tripwire did, but guards would certainly be coming soon.
She poked her head out the door. The hallway remained empty, but she thought she heard shouts in the distance. She ran, almost bouncing off the walls as she turned the corners.
The tunnel to the balcony was as dark as it had been the day Gadarien had first shown it to her, the door shut tight. She rattled the handle, then bent down, peering at the lock. She was reaching for her ornament when a hand clamped over her mouth and cold steel pressed into her throat.
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