Chapter Twenty-Five—Into the Monster's Lair

Shiro trudged out of the muddy water and through the reeds. As he stalked up the bank, he glanced about, making sure no one was watching. Even had there been watchers, they might not have seen Shiro as the grounds below Faridoon’s wall were dark.

Ali joined him at the wall. “All good so far,” he said, glancing at Naro, a frown on his face. They watched the cat eye trudge through the reedy bank. “The bag,” Ali said.

Naro supplied a leather bag and pulled out the coiled rope and climbing hook. Hopefully that metal hook wouldn’t be very loud. Had Faridoon very many guards, this approach probably wouldn’t work.

Naro looked at them for permission. Ali turned to Shiro. “Are you ready?”

Shiro was already covering his face with part of his turban. “Are you ready?”

Ali grinned. “Do it, Naro.” Then he covered his face much the same way.

Naro tossed the hook over the wall. Shiro heard the metal scrap, but it wasn’t overly loud. Still, if there was someone on the other side of the wall nearby, their cover would be gone.

Naro check to see if the rope was secure. He nodded.

Shiro stepped forward and took the rope in his hands and started climbing, grunting somewhat as he went. In his land, ninja were adept at such skills and that was without magic.

As he reached the top of the wall, he peaked over the edge. Inside Faridoon’s grounds consisted of well-maintained gardens and fountains. As he watched, the front gate opened, admitting a man in robes carrying a long staff.

Is that a mage?

It was impossible to tell, and Shiro wasn’t going to call off rescuing Jessamine for such an uncertain thing.

I would come inside if the Black Cobra himself was here.

He lifted one leg over the wall and dropped down on the other side. In case there were any wandering eyes, he quickly crouched along a hedge to keep himself as hidden as possible.

Ali came over, followed by Naro. The cat eye slave lifted the hook and dropped before coiling the rope up and leaving it in a secure spot near the wall.

“Well,” Ali said quietly. “Getting inside was easy.”

“You were right,” Shiro said.

“About what?”

“About Faridoon having no money to pay his guards.”

“Oh,” Ali said. “I thought I just made that up.”

Shiro gave him a reproachful look.

“What?” he said, “It was a feeling, okay man?”

“Arrogant Ali,” Shiro said, giving him a moniker.

The Abassir man almost laughed, but Shiro could tell he was trying to remain quiet and collected.

“Now to find Jessamine,” Ali said. “Naro, you stay here. If something inside goes wrong, you kill the gate guards, yes?”

The cat eye nodded, his green eyes taking on a glowing sheen in the subtle light cast from the windows of the house.

“All ready, Shiro,” Ali said.

Shiro glanced about, trying to decide which way would be best. On their right was a grassy area and a cobbled patio with a veranda. If they got up on there, they could make their way into the second level of the house, or climb up even to the third level.

He was no ninja or assassin, but Shiro thought it best to work down through the house, rather than up through the ground floor. The ground floor was always where there were more guards.

Right?

Making his decision, he said, “All right. Follow me.”