Navigating the kitchens was surprisingly easy. People were running around, focusing so much of their attention on their own duties that they didn't even think twice about Maela and Ralan walking through. The guild in charge of cooking was under the Harvest Guild, so green tunics and robes were everywhere, although there was the occasional white of a knight. There were no blue merchants or others in the yellow of the Craft Guild.

They were only stopped once, and that was by a Harvest Guild member. Ralan's explanation of broken equipment needing fixed resulted in nothing more than a comment of "Hurry up, dinner will be served soon."

They had turned down yet another hallway when Ralan leaned over and whispered to Maela, "Those two with the carafes of wine have been following us."

"Very good, Guildmaster. It only took you three turns to notice that."

"What should we do?"

Before Maela could reply a large man in the white of the Knight Guild walked right toward Ralan and Maela. "You two, what are you doing here? We aren't expecting any Craftsmen."

Ralan tensed and tried to come up with a story for why they would be called to fix equipment without any kind of official notification. Maela held out her hand, stopping Ralan. Before the Knight was within arm's reach, the two Harvest guild members with the carafes of wine awkwardly moved around Ralan and Maela. One of them stumbled and ran into the other one, their carafes flying forward, drenching the white robes of the knight with wine. The carafes shattered on the floor, covering it in glass.

"You idiots! You have ruined my dress whites!" Enraged, the knight turned to the two Harvest guild members who were issuing a stream of apologies.

Maela tugged on Ralan's arm, and they briskly walked past the knight, who had completely forgotten about them.

When they were well past the knight, Ralan whispered, "Did you plan for them to escort us?"

"People are clumsy," she replied, not even trying to hide her smile.

"The defenses here aren't very good," Ralan noted as he and Maela looked through the door of the prison dining hall. Prisoners were actually fed in their cells, so the hall itself was more of a room for the jailors and a large prep area for taking food to the prisoners.

Maela turned and glared at Ralan. "Nothing is ever easy. Don't forget that. Without a plan, you would have been captured in the Flats, on the Circle, and in the hallway back there." Maela took a breath and then softened her voice. "But you are correct about the defenses. But what is there to defend? The prisons are well-guarded, and who would attack the Knight Tower?" They continued on.

The other side of the prison dining hall opened up to a hallway off of the main atrium of the prison part of the Tower. Unlike the small, cramped kitchen halls, the halls of the Tower proper were wide and imposing. Knights walked through them at regular intervals. Also unlike the kitchen halls, there weren't any other guild members in the Tower halls—everyone wore white.

"So the prisons are well-guarded. I'm not sure the two of us could actually fight our way in and then out."

"The prisons are well-guarded, but the catacombs are not."

"The catacombs?"

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"Yes. That's where prisoners are sent to die. They are locked up and forgotten about. The torture room is down there, as well. There is only one way in." Maela pointed to the right. "That iron door and the stairway behind it."

In front of the door stood two knights. They stood at attention but seemed bored. "What's behind the door?"

"Well, there's a long stairway down and then there is a hall hewn from the rock that has cells on each side. It hasn't been used in a long time. Most dangerous offenders are executed beyond the Wall rather than locked up these days."

"My gods, I didn't know that."

"Few people do. It's done out in the plains at a spot called Executioners Hollow." Maela lowered her head. "Quite a few of my friends have traveled there."

Ralan knew what she meant and squeezed her arm. "I'm sorry." She looked at him and gave a slight smile. "We will make things better."

"Yes, Guildmaster." Maela turned back to the guards in front of the iron door. "Yes, we will."

"Back to the catacombs. Is that where Raef and Alard are?"

"Yes, but I don't know what kind of guard is set up downstairs. Our knowledge ends at that door." Maela looked up and down the hall.

"What now?"

"Now we wait for our distraction."

As they were in the kitchen area and not far from the ovens, none of the knights paid any attention to them as they entered and left the hall. Ralan was getting nervous as the number of knights increased. Their ability to get to the guards of the catacombs seemed impossible, let alone getting past those guards.

A boom could be heard in the distance, followed by shouts. A cry of "Riot!" echoed down the hall. Ralan looked at Maela, who looked amused. The knights in the dining hall and the hallway all ran down the hall away from the catacombs.

"The prison?" Ralan whispered. Maela nodded.

Unfortunately, the two knights guarding the door to the catacombs didn't move. Maela cursed. "Why aren't they leaving?" She looked up and down the hall again. "I could kill them pretty easily, but this is wide open, and their bodies would be noticed. By the time it took us to head down and free Alard we would be overwhelmed."

Ralan mirrored Maela's action and looked up and down the hall. He had already formulated a plan. The main entrance to the Tower was not far away, and the hallway was wide. It was spartan, but it had plenty of room to maneuver. "You don't need to kill the guards. I'll take care of them."

Maela looked up, giving Ralan an are you crazy? look. "This I have to hear."

"I'll run out, let them know who I am, and then they'll chase me. As they run from their post, you quickly go down and free Raef and Alard."

"I cannot let you do that. It's too dangerous. You are here just to be glimpsed, so that you are blamed. You aren't to do anything that would put you at risk beyond this already stupid risk of having you here." Ralan opened his mouth to speak, but Maela spoke first, holding up her finger. "A dead Guildmaster Thief is worse than them knowing of the existence of thieves. There is real power in the position. It is not ceremonial. The strength of the position matters to the thieves and everyone in the Old Quarter." Ralan didn't say anything, and Maela added, a hint of frustration in her voice. "We need you, Ralan."

Nodding, Ralan replied, "Okay. Assuming we somehow get past those two knights and free Alard and Raef, what next?"

Maela breathed out, and Ralan realized that she was actually worried over him getting caught. "There is a wagon on the Circle with a broken wheel. There are four horses pulling it. They aren't really tied up, but are ready for us to leap on them and race for the Great Bridge."

"Sounds only slightly less dangerous than the fight our way out plan."

"Well, there are other pieces to the escape, but the important part is to get on the horses and get them galloping."

"Okay, I trust you." Maela looked up at him. "Did you know that for my entire life I've taken part in mischief and caused all kinds of trouble for just about every guild?"

"No, but it doesn't surprise me."

"I've suffered a lot of beatings and other punishments, but those were relatively rare. Do you know why?"

Maela looked impatient. "No. Why?"

"Because my one greatest talent is one that very few people appreciate—not getting caught." Maela's eyes went wide as Ralan added, "Get Raef and Alard to safety." And with a leap, Ralan entered the hallway, running toward the knights guarding the catacombs. "I am Ralan Miller, and you are imprisoning my friend!"

The guards unsheathed their swords but looked hesitant as Ralan approached. Ralan stopped and patted his waist. "Oops. It appears I forgot my weapon. Still, you will not get me!" Ralan waited a moment, and then the two guards rushed him. Turning, Ralan sprinted back up the hall, as he passed the door to the kitchens he winked at Maela.

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