CHAPTER SIX

"There has to be another way out," I said, pacing the healing chamber.

The High Priest shook his head. "Only three exits. The main gates, the eastern door, and the crypt entrance. Prince Nasir's men watch all of them."

"The crypt," Lady Amara said. "Where does it lead?"

"To burial grounds beneath the city. A maze of tunnels."

"Then we use it," Louis said firmly. "High Priest, send a priest to Commander Hafiz at the western garrison. Tell him to bring every loyal soldier."

I looked out the window. Nasir's assassins surrounded the temple. At least thirty of them now.

"They're bringing supplies," Lady Amara said, joining me. "Stacking them near the walls."

My stomach dropped. "Oil barrels."

"He lied about the three hours," Louis said grimly. "He's going to burn us now."

A young priestess burst in, face white. "The eastern door! They've poured oil along the base!"

"The gates too," another priest added.

The High Priest stared in horror. "They're going to burn the Temple of the Moon?"

A crash was heard. The smell of smoke drifted through the window.

"They've started," I whispered.

Orange flames licked up the eastern wall. Black smoke billowed into the sky.

"Everyone to the crypt!" the High Priest shouted. "Now!"

We ran through corridors filling with smoke. Heat pressed against the walls, making the air shimmer. Down spiral stairs, deeper into the temple's heart. The High Priest pulled open an iron door carved with moon symbols. Cold air rushed out, smelling of earth and ancient stone.

"Stay together," he said, voice shaking. "The tunnels split in every direction. One wrong turn and you'll be lost forever."

"Get your people out," Louis ordered. "We'll manage."

The High Priest nodded and turned to help the frightened priests descend into the darkness.

Lady Amara grabbed torches from the wall. "There are three of us and dozens of them. Even if we lose them in the tunnels, they'll search until they find us."

"Not if we collapse the tunnels behind us," I said.

They both looked at me.

"The support beams," I explained. "My father studied architecture. These old tunnels use wooden beams. They'll be rotted after centuries. If we strike the right ones……"

"Could collapse on us too," Louis finished.

"Better than burning."

"Can't argue with that."

We descended into the crypt. The torchlight revealed rows of stone burial chambers carved into the walls. Dust covered everything. The air was thick and stale.

Behind us, shouts echoed down the stairs. Footsteps. They were coming.

"They're coming," Lady Amara said. "Which way?"

"Left. Feel for airflow. That means another passage."

We ran through darkness, torches casting wild shadows. Louis struck a cracked beam with his sword. Once. Twice. The wood splintered.

"Run!"

The ceiling collapsed behind us. Dust filled the air. When we stopped, the tunnel was completely blocked.

"That bought us time," Louis gasped.

We kept moving. Left, right, down. The air grew thinner.

"Wait," I said. "Water. I hear water."

We followed the sound to a larger chamber. A stream cut through it, disappearing into a narrow passage.

"It must lead to the river," Lady Amara said.

We waded in. Cold water rose to our waists. We walked through the narrow passage, in a single file. The torch suddenly died, plunging us into darkness.

"Keep moving," Louis said. "Feel the walls."

Then…. light ahead. Faint but real.

"There!" I gasped.

We emerged into the moon light. The stream flowed out from under the city wall. We climbed onto the riverbank, soaking and gasping.

Behind us, the city burned. The Temple of the Moon was engulfed in flames.

"We made it," Lady Amara said.

A slow clapping made us spin around.

Prince Nasir stood on the riverbank, surrounded by at least twenty armed men.

"Impressive," he said, smiling that cold smile. "You're more resourceful than I expected, brother. I should have known you'd find the old waterway. Father used to tell us about it when we were children. Remember?"

Louis's hand went to his sword, but he was exhausted, wounded, soaking wet.

"It's over, Louis," Nasir continued. "The temple is destroyed. Anyone who might have testified about what happened today is dead or scattered. And now here you are, alone with a traitor and a pretender to the throne." He gestured at Lady Amara and me. "No witnesses. No sanctuary. No escape."

"Except you're forgetting something," a new voice said.

Commander Hafiz stepped out of the darkness behind Nasir, fifty soldiers at his back. "The High Priest's message reached me an hour ago. We've been waiting here, knowing you'd force them to use the old waterway." He looked at Nasir with disgust. "You're under arrest, Prince Nasir. For treason, for attacking a royal garrison, for destroying a sacred temple, and for attempted murder of a member of the royal family."

Nasir's smile never faltered. "Am I? Look around, Commander. Your fifty men against my entire network throughout the city? Against the palace guards who serve me? Against my brother Prince Khalid's forces in the south?" He laughed. "You're arresting no one."

"We'll see about that," Hafiz said, his soldiers drawing weapons.

Nasir's men did the same.

Louis stepped forward, sword raised despite his exhaustion. "Brother, this ends now. Surrender."

"Never," Nasir said softly. "Because you see, Louis, while you were playing hero in that temple, I was busy. Very busy." His smile widened. "I've already sent word to our dear father the king. Told him all about the rebel uprising. The attack on the garrison. The burning of the temple." He paused. "And I told him you were leading it."

My blood went cold.

"You're lying," Louis said, but his voice wavered.

"Am I? By now, Father has received my message. He believes his beloved son Louis has turned traitor. Has joined with the lost princess of House Rashad to overthrow him. Has burned the Temple of the Moon as a declaration of war." Nasir's eyes glittered with triumph. "The king is marching here right now with the royal army. Not to save you, brother. To execute you."

Louis staggered back a step. "Father would never believe that. He knows me."

"Does he?" Nasir tilted his head. "Does he really know the son who's been hiding secrets? Who concealed a girl with the Mark of the Warrior Moon? Who took refuge in a temple instead of coming home?" He paused, letting the words sink in. "I have witnesses, brother. Signed statements from priests who'll swear you threatened them. Evidence of your conspiracy." His smile turned cruel. "Father already doubts you. I simply confirmed his fears."

Lady Amara's face went white. "He couldn't have. The king would never believe……"

"Wouldn't he? I have witnesses. Signed statements. Evidence." Nasir gestured at the burning city. "I have a burning temple and a brother who's been hiding with a girl who has the Mark of the Warrior Moon. What do you think Father will believe?"

Louis lowered his sword slightly, the weight of understanding crashing down on him.

"That's right," Nasir whispered. "You've already lost. You just don't know it yet."

From the city walls, horns began to blow. The deep, resonant sound of the royal army's approach.

"So here's what happens next," Nasir said, his voice carrying across the tense silence. "You can surrender to me now, and I might convince Father to show mercy. A quick execution instead of torture. Or you can run, and be hunted down like the traitor I've made you out to be. Your choice, brother. But choose quickly. Father will be here within the hour."

Louis stood frozen, staring at his brother. At the burning city. At the approaching army that thought he was a traitor.

I stepped up beside him. "We run."

"Where?" he asked, voice hollow. "Khalifa, there's nowhere left to run."

"Then we fight," I said, my hand tightening on my sword.

Lady Amara moved to my other side. "The girl's right. We fight."

Nasir laughed. "Fight? With what army? With what allies? You're finished."

The horns blew again, closer now.

"Last chance," Nasir said. "Surrender or die running."

Louis looked at me. At Lady Amara. At Commander Hafiz and his soldiers.

Then he did something I didn't expect.

He smiled.

"You made one mistake, Nasir," Louis said quietly. "You assumed I came to this city alone. That I had no allies. No plans." He raised his voice. "You assumed I was as stupid as you are."

Nasir's smile faltered. "What are you talking about?"

"The message Commander Hafiz received? That wasn't the only message we sent." Louis turned to Hafiz. "Did they arrive?"

"They did, Your Highness," Hafiz said, grinning now. "Right on schedule."

"Did who arrive?" Nasir demanded, looking around nervously.

That's when the second set of horns sounded. Different horns. Coming from the opposite direction.

And over the hills beyond the city rode an army. Not the king's army.

An army flying the banners of House Rashad.

The lost dynasty had returned.