If they screw, I’ll burst in, dash past, and snatch the prize. I’ll be out the door with the orb before he can pull his cock out of her.

Alas, Arath’s daughter and her noble paramour did not screw. Instead, they sat on the edge of the bed and spoke in tones too low for the thief to overhear. Rigel peered through the keyhole and strained to see what they were up to.

El Sha La packed the bowl of a calabash pipe and passed it to the duke’s son. Revel was hesitant. El purred something into his ear, and he pressed the pipe to his lips. Her teeth flashed in triumph. The sorceress extended her little finger and spoke a sigil. Silver flame flared from her fingertip.

On the other side of the door, the thief froze. Rigel’s knees knocked with terror as the arcane word pressed against the air. He was certain the sorcery would reveal him.

It was only a cantrip to light the pipe.

Revel toked, sputtered, and coughed. Silver light danced in El Sha La’s eyes as she snickered. Her laugh rose above her normal register, light as a bell.

Flustered, Revel tried again. He inhaled deeply, held the smoke, and passed the pipe. El Sha La took an adept drag. The pair faced off, lips sealed. Each tried to hold out the longest. Finally, they exhaled in near-unison. Like entwined snakes, the two plumes joined in a single spiral.

The eye at the keyhole blinked in surprise. The archmage’s daughter and the duke’s son, smoking herb in a garret like Tinkerton scum! The scent of bitter cinnamon seeped beneath the door.

Another lucky break.

Rigel skulked on the moonlit stair and waited for the herb to take hold. The wind rose, and he clutched the ratty hem of his shirt. All his clothes were scrounged hand-me-downs, too large for his lanky frame.

He worried his shirt might whip in the gale and give him away, but there was no need. Giggles erupted inside the garret. The smoke was potent, and even the whiff from beneath the door blurred Rigel’s focus.

Rigel shook his head and pulled back to appraise the entry. The door was a thick slab of black walnut carved with scenes of fantastic battle. Dragons wheeled against griffins, chimerae vied with gorgons, and hydras fought manticores. Rigel had a childish worry they might come to life and bite. A bigger fear was the ebony doorframe. A band of sigils were inlaid in hair-thin silver.

Rigel could not read, but he knew these magic marks could spell terrible trouble. He fingered the leaden chain around his neck and prayed it would preserve him.

The wind howled louder, and cold drops struck his face. The storm was closing in. Delicate as jeweler, Rigel slipped a shim into the jamb. They hadn’t bothered to lock the door. More luck, the lovers weren’t afraid of Arath coming back. If the archmage returned, Rigel’s end would be slow and unspeakable. Better to leap off the tower, headfirst into the cobblestones below.

Rigel swallowed the thought and set his palm against the door. There was no give. He’d have to shove with all his weight.

Voices rose inside the garret. Rigel pressed his ear against the escutcheon and strained to hear. It sounded like an argument. Revel’s voice was a low mumble, El’s pointed and piercing. Rigel had to alternate between listening and peeking. At any moment, one might storm out and discover him.

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“What good are you to me, then?” El Sha La demanded.

Rigel couldn’t believe the way she spoke. This was the duke’s son! El Sha La scolded Revel like a dog. He stood mute and absorbed the abuse. Rigel expected Revel to belt her, but he only hung his head.

Remember, he’s dangerous!

Though he seemed spineless as a sponge, Revel would surely have a sword close at hand. Rigel had nothing but his picks and his wits. He’d have to be very, very quick.

“You’re just a boy,” El Sha La chided.

Rigel held his breath, afraid she meant him.

“Worthless. I need a man.”

Revel whimpered some reply as she berated him.

Rigel squinted. The pair moved closer to the bed. Past them was the goal. A slender, silver pedestal rose from the floor beside the hearth. Atop it was the orb, a wave of cerulean light tumbling endlessly within. The orb was everything.

“A little boy shouldn’t stand so tall. On your knees!”

Rigel was sure the nobleman would refuse. Revel sank to his knees. El Sha La sat on the edge of the bed and hiked up her emerald dress. Beneath was a neat triangle of wispy blonde hair.

Rigel’s mouth fell open.

El Sha La grabbed Revel by his hair and rudely yanked his face between her legs. Revel offered no resistance and went to work. The sorceress smirked down at him.

The act went on for what felt like forever. Their voices swelled with increasing abandon. El Sha La moaned, and Revel’s muffled breaths grew urgent. Rigel’s pulse pounded in his temples.

Don’t forget what you’re here for, idiot.

Rigel slipped his hand over the brass doorknob. It turned without sound. His stomach burned with anxiety. El Sha La screamed as she arrived. Her shameless wail cut right through the door.

Now!

Rigel threw the door open with all his weight and charged across the garret. A soap-bubble sheen of repulsion rippled around the pedestal. Three silver talons clutched the orb. Before the confused lovers could react, Rigel grabbed the sphere. Blinding light flared the instant his fingers touched. The trap was sprung!

A furious blue roar rose from the floor and engulfed Rigel in a pillar of arcane flame. At once, the carpet ignited and the rafters blackened. Rigel should have been incinerated, but the blue torrent never touched him. Instead, his amulet grew burning hot. The leaden chain sizzled against his neck as it drank the spell and melted. Rigel shrieked as beads of molten lead left burning trails down his neck. He choked on the smoke from the smoldering rug and scrambled for the door.

It was all a rush. El Sha La was flush-cheeked and glassy-eyed. Rubber-legged, Revel rushed toward his sword belt as Rigel ran for the door. Revel grabbed his dagger and drew it back to throw. He couldn’t miss at this distance. Their eyes met in shared terror. Revel hesitated. Rigel went for the door. He grabbed the knob as thunder crashed above.

“Stop him!” El Sha La shouted.

Revel hurled the dagger just as Rigel wrenched open the door. Rigel felt it hit him but bolted through the opening and shot into the rain. The stairs were slick, a slip was death. Rigel bounded down five steps at a time. The pain hit him as he reached the landing. The cold dagger was lodged in his shoulder, and he couldn't move his left arm. A shout sounded above the storm from the garret.

They were chasing him!

The orb was locked in his right hand. Rigel shoved it in his pocket, yanked open the door, and dashed down the dark hallway. The window he’d snuck in was somewhere on this level, but he wasn’t sure where anymore. With a lurch, he realized he couldn’t escape that way. He needed both arms to rappel. Instead, he ran on.

Rigel bled through the Tower of the Unraveller as he threw open doors and took turns at random until he found a stairway. Seven levels down, he stumbled onto the twin stairs that descended toward the grand entrance. As he rushed through the dark, he blundered into a marble statue. It toppled and shattered with a tremendous crash.

Shouts rang down the stairwell. Rigel climbed over the rubble and made for the door, nearly free. He could hear rain hiss outside. He pulled the crossbar up and let it drop with a bang.

“STOP! THIEF!”

Revel was almost on him! Rigel shoved the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Heavy footsteps rushed down the stairs. Rigel groped for the lock and bit down, ready to die. Then, he heard a heavy thump, a bellowed oath, and scattering stone. Revel tripped over the fallen statue!

Frantic, Rigel found the bolt and threw it open. He shoved open the door, flew into the pouring rain, and let the night swallow him.