Ember Gods

Chapter 40

Eachan ran into the kitchen to help Aloren out of the cupboard. She was shaking with fear, tears running down her cheeks. She started pounding him on the chest, anger and panic making her words come out in a jumble. "How—how dare—you put me in this situation? I trusted you!"

He let her continue hitting him—he deserved much worse than this. "I know, Aloren. I know."

She crumpled to the ground, sobbing. He didn't know how to make things better. "Had to protect my family," was the only thing he could say in his defense. His argument was weak—especially now that Duana was gone. Dead. The word hit him hard and tears sprang to his eyes.

"It's not too late, Aloren, I can still help you. Please, let me."

She watched him quietly for several moments, and he waited patiently.

Finally, she nodded and sat up, wiping her face. A calm expression replaced the panic. "I watched—could see through the crack. They didn't even look at the body! Why do they think it was me?"

"They've never seen you before, and haven't seen my daughter in years." He helped her to her feet, then into the front room. "But I don't think they believed me. I need to get you out of this place."

Aloren stared at him, her lip quivering. "I just don't understand. Why turn me in, then try to help me?"

He sighed, not meeting her eyes. "I've been a coward far too long—could've saved her life—selfish." He stepped away from her.

A crash on the door made them both jump—the tip of an ax appeared in the thick wood. The villagers had found a better way to attack the town hall.

Aloren shied away. "What do we do?"

"If I can get you out of the city, will you know where to go?"

"Yes—but I can't get through the wall without—"

"Don't worry about that." Eachan grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the stairs leading up.

"Where are we going?"

"Trust me."

She jerked her arm out of his hand. "How can you say that?"

He turned to her, feeling shame spread through him. He grabbed her shoulders, looking her in the eye. "If I swear on the body of my daughter—on her memory—that I will do everything I can to get you out, will you believe me?"

She watched him—didn't let him look away—and took a deep breath, exhaling in a rush. "Yes."

"Then come with me."

He pulled her up the stairs, down a hall, and into his quarters, shutting the door behind them. She only hesitated for a moment before allowing him to lead her across the room, past the bed, and to a poorly fashioned door. He flung it open, revealing another set of stairs, these leading down.

A great crash and a cheer from the front of the building made them both jump.

"They've broken in!" Eachan said. "Down, now!"

She started down the stairs and Eachan followed, closing the door. The only sound for a few moments was their feet on the wooden stairs. Aloren gasped, and Eachan heard her stumble. He couldn't stop quickly enough and tripped over her, landing roughly at the bottom of the stairs.

He pulled himself up, his joints groaning in protest, then he fumbled in the dark, reaching everywhere, trying to find her.

"Aloren?" he whispered. "Aloren!"

"Here." Her voice was just a breath.

"How badly are you hurt?"

"Don't know." She took his hand, letting him help her up.

"Can you walk?"

He felt her moving forward.

"Yes."

"Then let's go."

The air streamed past them as they ran blindly onward, Eachan trailing a hand against the wall. Relief poured over him that he'd constructed the tunnel so smoothly. There wouldn't be anything to trip them along the way. Last he'd checked, a day ago, animals hadn't found it yet.

Noises behind them—he looked back. A light at the end—the villagers had found the tunnel. He wasn't surprised, since many of them had helped dig it. They hadn't known what it was for, though, and couldn't figure that out on their own. The few who'd helped toward the end, Eachan had released as a test, making them promise to return. When they never came back, he didn't send more.

A pulsing across his entire torso made him stumble, then fall to the ground. Aloren screamed. He forced himself to his feet and lurched forward a foot or so more before collapsing again.

"Come on, Eachan, come on!" Aloren tugged on his arms.

"Something's wrong," he said, out of breath. Why was it so difficult to move? "Go, girl. Run!"

The dim light revealed the confusion in her eyes. She looked down the tunnel first one way then the other, and back at him, indecision and panic on her face.