The emotions inside of Sakura were confusing her. Hope and fear warred within her. She wanted to be rescued—wanted more than anything to escape these people—this spider who wanted nothing more than to cut her up, and this witch who wanted to feed the dancer to her spiders so she could withdraw her magical essence from their bellies.

She had shaken in fear for hours, and she felt exhausted. But now he was here. Lawrence—my love. You’ve come!

But the fear within her made Sakura want to howl from the tower for him to stay away. She wanted to keep him safe. Sakura did not want to see him killed. Though they didn’t actually want him, he was simply a hindrance to this swordsman’s aims.

She glanced toward the woman called Markovila, wondering if she might want Lawrence for what he offered as well. She had seemed dismissive of his abilities, but still.

With a hand to her chest, she watched him approach, a woman in white beside him. That was that woman she had seen in camp at the Western Temple. She was a friend.

She smiled, hoping.

When the spider looked at her, his lascivious gaze clinging to her, Sakura forced herself not to recoil. She pretended he wasn’t there.

“Well,” Ladya said, her voice musical, “he’s come for her. It seems your plan has worked.” Sakura had discovered the woman’s name earlier, when the man they called spider had addressed her that way.

The swordsman in the bloodied mask said nothing, only watched. His gaze turned only slightly when an attack to the west broke out.

“What is happening?” she asked.

“Quiet, little dancer girl,” Ladya said. “It doesn’t concern you.” She turned to the little skulking man. “Wretch.”

Snarling, he cringed slightly in irritation at her address.

“Take the dancer to the house.”

He smiled then, and Sakura shook a little harder.

“But remember what I told you—touch her, and it’s you I’ll be feeding to my spiders.”

Clearly disappointed, he jerked on her wrist. She didn’t want to go. “Come!” he howled, then backhanded her across the face. Sakura didn’t cry out, only pressed her palm against the pain. When he revealed his knife, she obeyed, and he pulled her down the stairs.

She stole a glance back, but there was nothing to see.

Be careful, Lawrence!