Kieran moved like a serpent strike, the blade flashing with the light from the blazing room. The gladius and the dagger met, clanging and hissing as the two engaged. Lia looked for an opening, but the two were a mass of arms and legs. Instead, she rushed to the basket of wet garments and retrieved her gladius. The air was so full of smoke she could barely see either man, but both were coughing. So was Marciana, kneeling on the floor at the base of the doorway, watching as the kishion and the Evnissyen fought.

There was a grunt, a hiss of pain. Kieran’s face was masked with soot. The two smashed into each other again, stabbing, feinting, thrusting. Then the kishion was swung around and struck a bedpost, his head whacking it so hard that spittle sprayed from his mouth. Kieran had lost the dagger somehow, but his fist buried in the kishion’s ribs and she heard the bones snap. Then a knee went up and the kishion doubled over. He popped up quickly again, striking Kieran in the face with his palm.

Kieran staggered back, grimacing, and Lia noticed blood on his sleeve as a wound stained his shirt. With a scowl of hatred, Kieran struck so fast his gladius sunk into the kishion’s gut, pulled it out just as quickly, as the dead man slumped to the ground.

“You are wounded,” Lia said, seeing the rivulet of blood coming from his arm.

“So glad you noticed,” he replied curtly then coughed violently. He surveyed the blazing room, the fire thrashing the rafters. He moved quickly, stepping up on a chest and yanked down another set of curtains from the windows by the iron bar.

“To the stairwell before we choke to death!” he ordered. “Did you light the room afire? You did, I know it. Foolish, foolish girl!”

Lia rushed to Marciana and helped her stand and then pulled her down the stairwell.

Marciana’s eyes were swollen but thankful. “I begged the Medium that you would find me in time,” she whimpered. “I am so grateful, Lia. Where is Colvin? Is he truly in Dochte Abbey? He is in great danger.”

“What precisely do you consider our present situation to be?” Kieran shouted from behind. “A maypole dance? Lia, break that window. Dieyre’s men will have gathered at the door below by now. I lowered the crossbar, but it will not hold for long.”

She noticed the banging coming from below. The windows were narrow and veiled, the glass dark with soot. She tried to unfasten them and Kieran just grunted in amazement.

“I said smash them, girl! We do not have much time!”

Lia used her gladius hilt and struck the window, smashing it. He joined her on the stairs and dropped the mass of curtains and helped her crush the window panes. Then heaving the mass of curtain over the edge, he let it tumble down the side. Then he fixed the curtain rod against the wall on each side of the window to act as a brace.

He looked down below and winced, shaking his head furiously. He glanced up at the room and saw the fire blazing down the stairwell. “The curtain only reaches partway down. We will have to jump the rest. Lia, you first. Climb to the end of the curtain, hang there, and then fall. Quickly, girl!”

“Will the curtain hold my weight?” she asked.

“Only one way to know. Go!” He coughed against his arm, gripped her waist and hoisted her up the window ledge.

Lia sheathed her gladius in her belt and grabbed the curtain. She started outside and heard some fabric rip and her stomach lurched seeing how far it was to the ground below. Above, the roof of the tower was blazing. Smoke came from the window above, calling attention to Lambeth for all to see. There was nothing but cobblestone below her, which would not cushion a fall. Several bystanders in the street were pointing and shouting in worry. She lowered herself hand over hand down the length of the curtain until she was at the lowest part. She dangled from the curtain, trying not to be dizzy, and glanced down at the street. It looked so far away.

Jump.

The whisper in her thoughts compelled her.

She fought down her fears and let go of the curtain. Plummeting like a stone, she then struck the cobbles below with jolt of pain. It was not so far as it seemed after all, and she sighed with relief.

“Lia!” came a voice. Reome rushed through the bystanders on the street to her.

Lia realized through her daze that they were outside the manor walls. The tower window was on the exterior wall of the grounds. Lia was grateful and hugged Reome quickly. When she turned back, she saw Marciana coming down the length of curtain. Ash sprinkled down from the blaze of the tower beams above. Cinders rained as well, stinging her eyes as she looked up. Marciana struggled against the fabric, but she lowered herself down as well. She reached the end of the curtain.