30. Nicolette

Farrow led us from the castle in record time, but we didn’t escape unnoticed. About the same moment we made it outside, a warning trumpet blared from the towers, beckoning more forces to help in finding the escaped felons. In finding us.

“We left our horses this way,” Indigo started, but Farrow grabbed his arm.

“No. That’s too close to the main entrance. They’ll spot us immediately. Let’s go this way,” he urged, leading us in the other direction. “Maybe if we make it to the stables without being spotted, we can steal some horses and get out of town.”

But we no sooner darted in that direction than we found our way blocked.

“Whoa!” Indigo grabbed Farrow’s arm, halting him. “Guards.”

“Shit. This way, then.”

Farrow tried to lead us to a side alley.

More guards.

They closed in on us from every street and angle, creeping stealthily forward on foot, weapons raised.

“We’re surrounded.”

I glanced around desperately, only to spot a weathered old man sitting in a two-wheeled cart that w