Her chest was heaving with a combination of fear and anger, but her fight was gone. Cursing under her breath, Kestra crouched down, retrieving a burlap bag from beneath her foot that seemed to have held up remarkably well over the years. That alone attested to the magic inside that bag.
She thrust it at Tenger. "You have what you want. Now, release my servants. I am free too, and I am going back up that wall."
Tenger took the bag, opened it, and smiled before closing it up again. Kestra was already trying to find the best place to begin her climb, so she didn't see the rest of what Tenger was doing. I did.
He grabbed Kestra, and Trina immediately offered him her knife. "If you want your servants back, then you w
ill come with me to get them. Simon, climb that wall and bring the rest of our people down. I expect you to get safely down too, so hurry."
Kestra tried to break free of Tenger's grip, but stopped when she felt the sharp edge of his knife. Instead, she darkened her glare at me. She knew I'd let Tenger take her and would hate me for it. Well, she could be angry all she wanted. She was not going back up that wall. For better or worse, that was my job.
No, this wouldn't be for better or worse. When I reached the top, it was only going to be worse.
I barely breathed while Simon made the long climb back up the wall. Two or three times, I was certain he would not find a reliable hold, but every time he did, I paid attention to his route. For a good reason.
As soon as he rolled safely over the top, he immediately lowered the rope back down, sending the women and children first. Tenger had backed me into the shadows while Trina directed them into the tunnels. No one noticed us. Even if they did, I'd get no sympathy. Most of these prisoners would blame me for their arrests.
"You have the dagger," I said to Tenger. "Release me."
"Not until I'm certain it's the Olden Blade."
"Do you want it for yourself? Do you think you are the Infidante? Then shouldn't it have lit up for you when you opened that bag?"
"It won't light up until the ceremony. You know that, my lady." He pushed me toward the tunnel. "Let's go."
Suddenly panicked, I dug my heels into the mud, and they found purchase with a buried rock, so for the moment, we stopped. "I can't go into the tunnel, Tenger. You don't understand, but I really can't. Let me help Simon. He'll bring me back to the Coracks to retrieve my servants."
"Simon has completed his mission." Tenger angled the knife, ensuring I felt its edge. "But you have not."
The last of the prisoners to come down was the old man, who upon landing said to Trina, "The guards are out already. They're just not sure where all of us went."
They'd figure it out soon enough, and Simon was alone up there. He threw the rope down, making it nearly impossible for the guards to follow the escapees. Now all he had to do was remember how he had come down before. He had to, because we all knew what the guards would do to him if he didn't. But I dreaded seeing his body come over the edge. There was evidence of many others who had tried that very thing, and failed.
Trina sent the final escapee into the tunnels, then at Tenger's order, followed.
Tenger called up, "Simon?" When no answer came, he said, "Simon understands the rules of war as well as anyone. Sacrifices must be made."
"He sacrificed himself for all of us! And you won't help him!" With all the prisoners down, I'd finally had enough of this charade. I yanked Tenger's elbow down toward my chest, grabbing his hand with the knife as it came up. With a hard kick backward, I was released, and as I twisted around, it was an easy thing to bring my own elbow down on the back of his neck, sending him to the ground. I rose up with Tenger's knife in my own hands and aimed it toward him. One of the first defensive moves Darrow had taught me.
"Give me that bag," I said.
Rolling on the muddy ground, Tenger pulled it closer to him. "Fight me for it, or go save Simon. What will you choose?"
Out in the narrow passage above us, the guards were shouting at one another to come down to this cell. Simon was trapped.
I looked back at Tenger. "If the Olden Blade does choose you, know this--I will get it back."
"Whoever it chooses, it is theirs for life," Tenger said.
I glowered at him. "But not in death, Captain Tenger. Not in death."
Once I released him, Tenger hurried toward the tunnel. I used his knife to cut my skirts just below my knees, as high as I dared. Every governess from my past had probably gasped with horror just now, not knowing exactly what had caused them to shudder, but that somehow, I was responsible. It had to be done though. I'd never make it up this steep slope with muddy skirts dragging me down. Leaving the cut pieces behind, I put Tenger's knife between my teeth and began climbing, exactly as Simon had done.
I was less than halfway up when the guards entered the cell. I heard Simon trying to fight, but he didn't get far before he was shoved down hard upon the ground, followed by several kicks that sounded like boots connecting with stone, or worse, the bones of his body. His groans were sharp and slightly muted, so I guessed his face was down in the mud.
"There's no escape from that pit," the guard shouted. "Where did the prisoners go?"
"Stupid ... question," Simon said. "Stupid guards."