had just been hiding.
I hoped that Rio and Kewyn had the sense to keep still and quiet. They were in the shadows enough to be hidden, as long as they did not make Jazibe examine us any closer.
“What is it, Miss Jazibe?” the councilor asked.
“Nothing, sir. I just thought I smelled something foul.”
The round dragon-kin laughed, “Probably just one of those darned humans that the guard has been recruiting.”
Jazibe chuckled and I waited until the two kin's footsteps faded into the distance. I let out a frustrated sigh and stepped out of my hiding place. Rio and Kewyn met me at the stairway, our eyes following the dragon-kin that passed. There was no sign of them coming back.
“I hate her so much,” I growled. “She probably knew I was there to hear her.”
“If that's so, why didn't she recapture us?” Kewyn wondered aloud.
At that moment, my keen ears picked up the sound of a door slamming against a wall as it opened, and a dozen metal-clad feet beating against the carpet.
“The guards are coming,” I said.
“Let's try not think about it,” Rio said, his gaze traveling up the stairs toward the sound. He ushered us down the stairs. “Come on. We’re almost there.”
“But if it's a trap-” Kewyn began. Rio turned on her, his face serious.
“Wouldn’t we rather take that chance than give up and get captured again?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“Then we need to keep moving.”
We rushed down the steps until the hall opened to a round chamber with marble walls. The stairs continued down from here, but Rio ran ahead of us to a door leading off this tower. A narrow bridge connected the landing and the door with open windows on either side. I tried not to look down as we followed him, the wind throwing my hair into my eyes.
Kewyn and I watched silently as Rio pressed one of his shell-like ears to the stone, listening for voices or footsteps on the other side. When he pulled away, he beckoned us and pushed the door open.
All three of us leaned forward, peering through the doorway before stepping through into another set of hallways. Grey stone arches crossed the ceiling, lined with