They stayed silent as the voices above them continued their conversation. Her mind was still reeling from the fact that the underground tunnels used by the network led to Adelmo’s home.

A realization hit her and she turned to look at Quenti, her eyes full of accusation.

Had she known?

Quenti looked away sheepishly, but nodded to the others.

When the voices above them faded, Runeo sent a curl of wind through the floorboards to tug at Adelmo’s arm. Through the slats, Alara could see his shadow flinch and then lean toward the floor. She lit her flint and set the small basement room aglow.

“El’dyo!” Adelmo’s voice was soft and Alara smiled at the familiarity.

A few moments later, a beam of light filled the room and Alara saw a piece of the flooring lift away. A rope ladder fell through the opening, and they climbed out into the stables.

Before Alara could even get her bearings, Adelmo pulled her into a tight hug. “El’dyo, child, what are you doing here?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but he shushed with a raised finger. “Hold on, give me a minute.” He disappeared through the doorway where his house attached to the stables, and Alara heard the shutters closed.

“Come in, just be quiet.”

They followed his waving hand into the small home. The fire was lit, burning bright in the hearth, and the air was already growing warm with the shutters sealed.

“So… you’re a part of the underground network?” Alara said, not knowing whether to be grateful or upset. “You’re working against the Council?” The words came out harsher than she expected, and she softened her voice. “Did you help Quenti escape?”

“The network has many hands,” Adelmo said. “No one knows everything. It’s what keeps us safe. But yes, I helped. I am sorry that I could never speak to you about these matters before. You were so close to Senye Emaru and embedded in the rhetoric. I hoped this day would come when we were on the same side.”

Alara was silent, unsure of how to respond. Was she on his side now? If Emaru discovered what she was doing, she certainly wouldn’t be considered on the side of the Council. “I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m just trying to right a wrong.”

“So, tell me all about it.” Adelmo’s voice was soft as he looked between their faces.

Together, Quenti and Alara explained their situation, Lili occasionally adding a few details. Runeo was silent as he watched the exchange, distrustfulness in his eyes as he watched Adelmo.

“We’re here to free their people,” Alara finished, nodding to Runeo and Lili.

“That’s easier said than done,” the old man said, his eyes sad. “If it were as simple as freeing bruyas from dungeons, we would have done that long ago.” His eyes focused on Alara as he said this, and she shuddered.

“But they did nothing wrong!”

“Right,” Adelmo said. “Innocent or not, the network will not support a rescue mission.”

“Why not? Isn’t that what they’re supposed to do? Help people?”

“The network is about the long game—keeping those with magia safe. They save people when they can and stand back when they need to. Running into the dungeons and trying to free random bruyas is a surefire way of getting caught and blowing open the entire network.” He shook his head. “If we get exposed, thousands of future bruyas and magites will suffer.”

Alara stared at him, trying to understand what she was hearing. How could the network claim to want to help bruyas when they wouldn’t even save the innocent ones?

“We need to try,” Alara said, her voice desperate.

“The network can’t help.” Adelmo’s voice was soft, but Runeo tensed up.

“And are you going to stop us?” he asked, his voice cold.

Adelmo shook his head. “I’m one blameless. I’m no match against the four of you.” He stepped back, his hands up and open. “I will not stand in your way. But know that if the network finds out what you’re doing, the councilguards aren’t the only ones you’ll have to worry about. If you get caught—you’ll get no help from us.” His hand was warm as it landed on Alara’s shoulder and he squeezed it. “So please, do not get caught.”

Alara nodded and placed her own hand over his. His skin was dry and soft. “Can we get your help with one thing?”

“Perhaps.” Adelmo lifted his eyebrow, hesitant to commit.

“We need two more magite outfits for Lili and Runeo.”

“And perhaps one that isn’t torn for you,” he said, eyeing the ripped cuff of Alara’s tunic and the mud stains along the hems.

“Oh.” Alara tugged at her outfit and gave him a crooked smile. “Yeah.”

“That I can help with.” He walked over to the chest in the corner of the room where Alara used to keep her fighting gear. He dug for a moment and then pulled out a pile of different-colored tunics. Alara gave a small gasp to see that he even had some black mage attire in the trunk.

He spread the clothing out, the fabrics wrinkled, but clean. “Take your pick.”

***

The four of them made their way through Cielo, and all the while, Alara and Quenti tried to keep their heads down, not making eye contact with those as they passed. They still weren’t sure how many people knew Alara’s face or that she had been “captured” by the evil bruyas. Lili’s eyes were wide as she took in the city's architecture, while Runeo had a perpetual look of disgust as they passed through the streets.

“Can you look less like you want to kill everyone?” Alara hissed under her breath. “It’s a little conspicuous.”

Runeo’s eyes flashed to the side, and she knew he had heard her. He said nothing, but his face shifted, his lips softening on the edges. His dark eyes were still intense as they took things in, but at least he looked less angry. The four of them had chosen magite outfits—thinking people would be more likely to pay attention to a wandering mage. Lili had found an earth magite’s clothes that fit well and Alara had replaced her tunic with another red one. Runeo, on the other hand, was left with a blue tunic of a water magite—the only clothes that fit his longer limbs. It was clear in his walk that he was uncomfortable in the thin fabric. More than a few times, Alara caught him tugging at the hem of his tunic.

“I’m more worried about your face than his,” Quenti whispered from beside her. Alara ran a finger along the ridge of her scar. She knew the other girl was right. Her eyes darted around. They were almost to the entrance to the Haven, where the chances of running into someone she knew would increase significantly.

Suddenly, she saw something in the distance that made her lips turn upward into a smile.

“Runeo?” Alara asked. “Can you do me a favor?”

He looked over at her and followed her gaze to the woman who walked down the street, a l’lama in tow with wares strapped to its back. Runeo nodded at Alara, seeming to get the message. She responded with a raised eyebrow.

With a small wave of his hand, a red hat with a large flat rim flew off the back of the l’lama in a gust of wind. It glided twenty yards before landing in the street just in front of them. Alara gave a quick glance around before scooping the hat up and placing it on her head, tilting it to cover her face.

“Thank you.”

Runeo grunted in response.

A minute later, they had reached the entrance to the Haven. Alara took a deep breath as they stepped into the shadowed tunnel. It was the same entrance Adelmo had led her and Quenti through so long ago. They kept their pace steady as they passed by the healer quarters, though Alara saw Lili staring into the open doorways, her eyes studying the movement of the other healers.

Alara had taken the lead, a strand of magia sent out as she tried to piece together where the dungeons would be. She was taking them through the school and toward the councilrooms. Going through the market was more direct, but Alara was trying to avoid the crowds. Thanks to Adelmo, Alara knew it was Sunday, which meant that most of the magites would be in the market or around the city—away from the school on their day off.

They got through most of the campus without running across anyone. Alara knew the tunnels well enough to take them around any magite she sensed in their path. But even as they went, she wasn’t sure where they needed to go. She guessed the dungeons would be somewhere near the councilrooms, but where, she wasn’t sure. The councilrooms were the one area she had always avoided, having been chased off by Senye Cruz one too many times.

She put her hand up, signaling the others to slow down. She could feel some magites up ahead of them in the hallway. They were near the dorm rooms, on the edge of where the councilrooms started. Alara needed a moment to think. She saw a door ajar up ahead and darted inside, letting the others follow behind her.

The room was a small study area with scattered tables and a handful of books left abandoned.

It wasn’t until Lili let out a soft yelp that Alara realized it wasn’t empty. Sitting in one chair and holding a small book was a young boy. His face was pale and cheeks pink. His curled hair fell into his face as he looked up at the small group in surprise.

Lili was the first to react, she jumped forward and laid a hand on his head, giving small gasp as he slumped forward. “Oh Sol, I’m going to be punished for that.” She moved the boy carefully, so his head lay on the table, her hands fluttering as she stepped back.

Quenti gave the boy a strange look.

“What’s wrong?” Alara asked.

“Nothing. I just—this is the kid that brought me my bed when I first got here.” There was a hint of guilt in her voice.

Alara ran a hand over the burns on her face again, feeling the shame well up and threaten to engulf her. “This is all my fault. I just got distracted—I shouldn’t have.”

Quenti put a soft hand on her shoulder, “This is the most I’ve seen you use your powers—ever. We all make mistakes.”

Lili nodded in agreement, but Alara heard Runeo’s grunt of annoyance.

“Where to, then?” he said. “Or are you out of power?”

Alara shot him a glare. “Give me a minute. I’ve gotten us this far, haven’t I?”

She slumped into one of the other chairs, away from the sleeping child, closing her eyes. Reaching toward the warmth in her chest and snagging a thread of magia, she sent it out toward the councilrooms. These tunnels were like second nature to her, and she had little difficulty finding the main councilchamber. With a small thrill, she recognized Emaru’s energy. She could almost picture the councilwoman sitting at the table alone, her energy shifting as she read some particularly moving passage from a book.

Alara felt a small twinge of pride and warmth. She’d have to tell Emaru about this when she saw her again. How would she explain all her decisions over the past several weeks? Alara shook these thoughts away. She couldn’t worry about that until Khuna and Micos were safe.

Khuna and Micos. Alara’s eyes flew open, and she shot a look at Quenti.

“I have an idea.”

She closed her eyes again and continued her search of the councilrooms, heading down below the main chambers. It took a few minutes, and she felt beads of sweat forming on her hairline from the effort, but then her face split into a wide smile.

Two floors below the main councilchamber, she felt the distinct but dulled energy of Khuna. She wasn’t moving and something seemed off, but it was definitely the young bruya. Alara felt around the room in her mind, touching on a few magia cores. At least one of them was pacing, while the others remained still.

“I know where the dungeons are.”