Page 239 of Sword & Shadow
“It’s not ideal,” Auden said, his tone grim despite his smile as Isla approached. “Hello, Ise.”
Isla patted his cheek like only a big sister could, then she tugged Ilain close for a fierce hug. She drew back, waving a hand in front of her nose. “Heavens above, you weren’t joking about the smell.”
“Tell me you can do something about it,” Ilain pleaded.
Emmaas stepped up then, offering a canvas sack. “Best we can offer,” he said.
“Oh, Major Caarney,” Ilain rolled onto the balls of her feet and kissed his cheek, “I could almost marry you.”
Ethenn shifted uncomfortably beside Deckard as Emmaas chucked Ilain on the chin. “No, thank you, darling,” the Warrior said playfully.
Without any further preamble, Ilain and Auden began to disrobe.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Thom exclaimed, whirling around.
Deckard quite agreed. He, Ethenn, and Evylin immediately followed suit. The Alliance members turned away more casually. Deckard snatched Rafferty by the collar and forced him to turn around as well.
“What’s the plan?” Auden asked as they dressed.
Emmaas gave the summary. “We’re down to—” He glanced at the metal disk again. Deckard could see it better now, realizing it was a pocket watch. A rare and expensive trinket, due to its intricate workmanship. “Eleven minutes.”
“And it took us twelve to get here,” Jarrad noted. “Splendid.”
“We’ll just have to move fast then,” Ilain said, appearing at their side. For the first time since their acquaintance, she wore trousers with a man’s shirt tucked into the waist, both in dark gray. Auden’s outfit matched.
As they began to jog back through the crypt’s corridors, Thom let out a low, teasing whistle. “Why, milady,” he said, giving Ilain a scan. “You should wear trousers more often. Ouch!” He shook out his hand from where a flame had flared up and scorched him.
Ilain seared him with her glare. “If you want to retain possession of your lashes, you’ll keep your eyes off my ass,” she threatened, then looked pointedly at Rafferty and Jarrad. “That goes for all of you.”
“What about Loxley?” Rafferty asked.
Ilain shrugged. “He can look all he likes.”
Ethenn’s entire face went bright red. Despite his embarrassment, he managed to speak steadily. “I’m glad you’re both safe.”
“Same to all of you,” Auden said. “We’re sorry we couldn’t prepare you for Isla’s presence. I’m sure you’ve been greatly worried.”
“How exactly are you two lucid?” Thom asked. “I thought that drug took hours to wear off.”
“It does,” Isla said. “Which is why I faked their final dosage when they arrived. The viastasis should have worn off at least four hours ago.”
Ilain let out a dramatic sigh as they exited the crypt. “And let me tell you, four hours of listening to those two waxing poetic about Renaul’s fine larder when you haven’t had a bite to eat in days is the severest form of torture.”
“Aw, buck up, kiddo,” Jarrad said as they entered the small courtyard. “We’ll have a grand feast when we get home.”
While Deckard thought it surprising that Jarrad, who looked no older than Thom, would call Ilain “kiddo” when she was in her forties, he realized he had no way of knowing the man’s true age. Or any of the Alliance members’ ages, for that matter,since the magic they wielded tended to prolong the aging process considerably.
They passed the statue of Obscura and returned to the dark halls of Renaul’s home. “Seven minutes,” Emmaas whispered as Isla took the lead once more.
Back in the servants’ passages, Auden asked for their exit strategy.
“Front door,” Emmaas said simply, clearly too focused to reply in full sentences.
Deckard’s brow pinched together. “Won’t that be the most heavily guarded?”
“We don’t have time for discussion,” Isla said. “Faster now.”
They wound and twisted through the halls and passages, going out of their way to bypass numerous patrols. “Won’t someone have found the guards we left outside our rooms by now?” Ethenn asked.
