“A secret passageway.” There’s no missing the thrill in my tone.
“But of course, a thief would be most fascinated by those.” She grins. “These castles were always built with plans to flee in mind. The royal chambers often have an escape route. It was usually hidden behind a bookcase or a tapestry, or a statue. Sometimes it is a trapdoor beneath a rug. And occasionally it is quite elaborate. In my chamber, there is a mechanism to open a panel in the wall beside the fireplace.”
“That is so cool,” I blurt, all semblance of calm vanishing. “Can you take me through them all later?”
Her smile wavers. “This way.” She marches forward, and I can’t help but notice that her enthusiasm for playing tour guide has dulled. “Malachi gave me precious little time to explain, Romeria, so please listen carefully. Are you listening?”
“Yes. And it’s Romy.” Her question makes me feel more like a petulant child than the talented thief she insists everything hinges on.
“You have been tasked with retrieving something of great value. A stone. It is located in a sacred garden where outsiders are not permitted.”
So, I need to steal something after all. “What does it look like?”
“You will know when you see it. The sacred garden is guarded, and there is only one way in.”
“Guarded by who?”
She hesitates. “Soldiers, of a sort.”
My eyebrows pop. “Soldiers?” I’ve only ever dealt with basic security guards and bouncers.
“You will have to earn your way in, and that will take time.”
“And you’re going to distract them, right?” With her deadly sword and daggers.
“I am able to get you there, but we are unable to go with you. The only aid I can offer is this.” She slides the ring off her finger and, with a long, lingering look at it, she seizes my forearm, her nails digging into my flesh as she slips the ring on me. “Do not remove it under any circumstances.”
The gaudy piece is lighter than I imagined. It must have some sort of tracking device in it, though I don’t know how that will help me. “And when am I doing this?”
“Tonight.”
My mouth gapes with shock. “Are you insane?” Tonight! “I need at least a week to case this place, probably more, so I can figure out entries and exits, numbers, shift changes—”
“It must be tonight!” she yells, all semblance of composure vanishing.
That can only mean one thing—that her husband will die otherwise.
I’m beginning to see why she isn’t retrieving this stone herself—because it’s an idiot’s mission that will surely get me killed.
She inhales deeply, and when she speaks again, her calm demeanor has returned. “I wish I could better prepare you, but we do not have time, and I’m afraid no amount of planning would help the situation we both find ourselves in.”
She’s speaking in riddles again. I need concrete answers if I have a hope in hell of pulling this off. “Where exactly am I going?”
“To Cirilea, in Islor.”
“I’ve never heard of it.” Not that I’m an expert with European geography.
“Most have not. It is far from here.”
“And how are we getting there? Flying, I assume?”
“I will take you there.” She stops in front of a broad wooden door strapped with iron bands. “Once you have taken the stone, Malachi will ensure your freedom.”
“How?” I don’t even know what he looks like.
“You will know when the time comes.” Sofie yanks on the handle and the door swings open with a screeching grind. A single torch ignites ahead, bathing the walls in a dim glow.
I promise myself I will figure out how Sofie is lighting those. “What’s this room?”