Chapter 29

Trapped  and under siege in the temple, Erut suggests they ransack the offices and look for important papers. He also suggests, reluctantly, that he escape through a window and mix in with the other Kevutians to find out what is going on. He goes just as there is a pounding at the door. It happens to be the maceoran herself and she wants to talk.

An excerpt:

Ony’a had been listening and watching the conversation intently, but when Erut started stumbling on his own words she took more notice. There was fear and uncertainty rising in him. It didn’t take long for her to guess what he was thinking. What made her even more curious was why he was even considering the idea at all. She gave him a sidelong look.

“Let me hear it,” said Lagos.

“Well, uh, I…” said Erut.

“No!” Ony’a said to Erut. “It’s too dangerous.”

“What’s too dangerous?” said Lagos. “You already know what he’s going to say?”

“I have a pretty good idea based on what he’s feeling.”

“Alright, then, what’s he thinking?” asked Lagos.

“Nothing, forget it!” said Ony’a, but Erut blurted it out before he could even stop himself.

“I could crawl through one of the windows, claim I escaped from you, and then blend in with the other soldiers…”

“If none of them recognize you,” Ony’a said.

“I could find Omin and Avin, see if they could help us,” Erut continued.

“There’s nothing they can do to help us,” Ony’a said with a hint of panic in her voice. She didn’t like the idea of not being able to protect him.

Erut turned to Ony’a. He saw the look of fear in her eyes, not for herself but for him. “At the very least they might be able to smuggle in food and supplies.” He took Ony’a hands in his. “You have been so kind to me, all of you, but I can’t stay here. If soldiers come in here they will take one look at me and brand me a traitor. I’d rather be doing something useful.”