“You’ve made quite a stir, Alara.” Senye Cruz said, looking through the bars. “You have both the Council and the Network up in arms.”

“The Network?” Alara said, eyes widening, “What Network?”

“You’ve always been a terrible liar. It just doesn’t fit you, child.” Senye Cruz said with a tilt of her head. “I know about the Network. I’m one of those who run it.”

“You’re what?” Alara wasn’t sure what Senye Cruz saw in her face, but the woman laughed and shook her head. She made her way toward the wall, plucking the keys from where they hung near the door.

“Who do you think helped Quenti escape?” She asked with a smile. Unlocking Runeo and Alara’s cells, Senye Cruz stepped back and made room for them to pass.

Runeo stepped out first, eyeing the woman with suspicion. He allowed her to take his wrist and unlock the cuff. As he rubbed his skin where the cuff had been, a breeze fluttered through the dungeon. He smiled at Senye Cruz, “Thank you.”

Her golden eyes winked in the firelight and she nodded at him before turning to Alara.

The magite stepped out of her cell and over the slumped body of Luis, being careful to not get blood on her boots. Senye Cruz approached her, the keys for the cuffs in her hands. Alara allowed her to unlock the first cuff, feeling the weight of it lift from her chest. The silver-haired woman nodded to her second wrist and Alara looked to where the cuff laid against her arm, scuffed from years of use.

“You were trained,” Senye Cruz said, “to fear your abilities—to keep them under control. Are you ready to embrace this part of you?”

Alara looked between the cuff and Senye Cruz. She felt like the world was shifting beneath her and she was just barely holding on. She wasn’t ready for much of anything at this moment, and all she could do was anxiously run her fingers along the wrinkled burn along her neck.

Senye Cruz stepped forward and placed a small hand over her own. “The fire only burns you if you let it. Your magia is a part of you, like any other limb or organ. The only ones who should fear your magia are those that would stand against you.”

Alara felt the queasiness in her stomach shift. While it didn’t quite lift, she nodded anyway. She would never be ready, but if there was a time to do something crazy, this was it.

Alara lifted her wrist and allowed Senye Cruz to unlock the cuff. Her skin felt icy as it fell to the ground, but it was quickly replaced as a heat shot through her. The flame that always flicked in her chest flared to life. The torches in the room danced dangerously and Alara felt the temperature in the prison spike.

She felt a cool hand on her shoulder and Senye Cruz leaned down to look her in the eye. “Take a deep breath and remain calm. Remember that your power is a part of you. It isn’t something to fight or control.”

Her voice was soothing and Alara found herself nodding as the flame within her calmed. The heat didn’t dissipate, but she adjusted to the thrill of fire that pulsed through her bloodstream.

The flames on the torches calmed and returned to their normal flicker. “Much better,” Senye Cruz said. She looked back up, her eyes taking in the room. “It looks like you are the only two. Who else were you with?”

Alara felt a small weight lift off her shoulders as she too looked around. No one else had been caught. She told Senye Cruz who else was in the group and felt as the older woman tried to send out an envia to Mitteo, Elna, and Suri, letting them know where they were at. She shook her head after a second. “I can’t find them, but the Haven is always difficult to send through. The fact they aren’t in here is a good sign, though.”

Alara nodded at this, but it was Runeo who spoke up. “What does it matter? If the barrier is up, we’re still trapped.”

“I know where the receptive holding the spell is.”

Alara’s eyebrows raised at this. “The spell is in a receptive?”

“Break the receptive and the barrier will go down. If you get out fast enough after, they won’t have time to put the barrier back up. And I can help delay that.”

“I didn’t know there were receptives powerful enough to hold such a spell,” Runeo said.

“There aren’t many. It will be sad to see this one broken, but I fear we have no choice.” Senye Cruz looked around at the other cells as the small group of prisoners stared at the scene playing out in front of them. She made eye contact with one man and he quickly backed away from the bars, his eyes widening in fear. But another man was leaning against the bars of his cell, a smirk on his face.

“Do you need help with any of this?” His voice was gruff. It matched his unshaved face and dark, shadowed eyes.

Alara shot a look to Senye Cruz that suggested she did not think they needed help from this strange man, but Senye Cruz ignored her, head tilted toward the prisoner.

“What’s your name?”

“Tony.”

“And your crime?”

“An unregistered mage. I got caught outside of Lejon trying to cross the Ruined Lands.”

Senye Cruz nodded and looked at Alara, as if looking for approval.

“Do you trust him?” Alara asked.

“I remember the story of his arrest. They don’t hold people for violent crimes here—only crimes against the Council. It is likely these people are on our side.”

“And if he’s not?” Alara’s eyes narrowed as she turned to look at the man. He was thin and dirty from his stay in the prison, but he held himself with confidence. She realized standing there that she could feel his magia rolling off him. She could almost feel the cool, clear energy that he gave off. “You’re a water mage?” she asked, eyeing him.

He looked a little surprised, but nodded. “Technically, not a mage, but I trained in the Haven before I defected. I know my way around.”

Alara hesitated, looking at the keys in Senye Cruz’s hand. She shook her head. “It’s too dangerous.” Her eyes met Runeo’s, and she saw he was studying her. He said nothing as he moved toward Senye Cruz, shoulders straight.

He offered his hand out and Alara watched as Senye Cruz dropped the keys into his palm. He silently walked over and unlocked the man’s cell, stepping back to let him out. He smiled at Runeo, rolling his shoulders back and forth before leaning down to wrestle the weapons out of one of the dead councilguard’s hands.

Runeo threw the keys back to Senye Cruz. “We should let the rest out, too.”

Alara’s mouth opened in protest, but Senye Cruz’s golden eyes sparked in the light. “Since we’re breaking all the rules anyway, I don’t see why not. I can help the rest out and find your friends. I will let them know the plan and make sure you all find each other at the end of this.”

“I don’t like this,” Alara bit out.

“We can use all the help we can get,” Runeo said.

Alara turned to Senye Cruz. “Are you coming with us?” She looked over at the tall mage in her bright, neatly pressed clothes. She wore the red and orange shawl of a fire mage with white thread woven throughout to show her status as a mind-talker, a thin bronze headband wrapped around her head to show her status as a councilmember.

“My place is still here. I can help you escape, but I’ve done more good staying here than I could do out there.”

“Won’t you get caught, for all of this?” Alara said, a hand waving over the bodies that were scattered around the room and cell doors flung wide.

Senye Cruz raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I was in my quarters when the prisoners all escaped. Speaking of which, the councilguards were supposed to bring you up to the councilrooms with Luis. Emaru will notice soon that you haven’t arrived, and I am supposed to be there soon as well.”

She rushed to open the cells of the last few prisoners and then turned back to Alara. “The receptive is in the main worship hall. Destroy it and the barrier will go down. I will delay its reinstatement as long as I can and I’ll send an envia when I find your friends. But for now, you should go!”

Alara nodded, and before Senye Cruz could question it, Alara threw an arm around her. “Thank you.”

“Go, child!” Senye Cruz said, awkwardly peeling the magite off of her.

With that, Alara, Runeo, and Tony left the dungeon. Runeo and Tony had changed into the councilguards’ gear and collected their weapons. He handed a small dagger and spear off to Alara as they left.

“Where to?”

Alara saw they both looked at her expectantly, and she straightened her shoulders and took a breath before turning to the left.

“You heard her. We’re headed to the worship hall.”