Liam glared at Alton from across their cell. After Alton’s accusation, they sat in silence. At the very least, the guards could have separated them. The last thing he wanted was to spend one more minute with that traitor. Liam crossed his arms and looked away from him.
“Liam—”
“Don’t talk to me.”
“Liam—”
“What did I just say?”
“We have to get out of here,” Atlon said before Liam could cut him off again. “I have some documents in my satchel they took from me that will get me killed.” Alton stood and paced his side of the cell. “And when they figure out who you are, you’ll get sent back to Anatalia for your very delayed execution—or Frasisca will volunteer to do it for the king.”
Liam crossed his arms over his chest. It gave him a small bit of satisfaction, knowing that Alton could be killed as well. “Why would I want to help you? If you ask me, you deserve what’s coming to you.”
He looked at Liam, exasperated. “If you don’t want to help me, at least help yourself, and we can part ways once we’re out.”
Liam rolled his eyes. He halfway wanted to stay in the prison just to spite Alton and Crompton. But Alton was right; at the very least, Liam should save his own hide. “Fine. We get out of here, and then we part ways.”
“If you help me get out of here, I’ll make sure you get exonerated when our plans come to fruition,” Alton promised.
“I’m sure you will,” Liam said, his voice deadpan. He would trust nothing that came out of Alton’s mouth.
“Are you ready?” Alton asked in hushed tones.
Liam sighed. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Alton nodded. “The guards are coming. Get on the floor.”
“This better work.” Liam lay on the floor, his back to the bars.
“It will. Now be quiet.”
Liam sighed again, closing his eyes.
“Help!” Alton yelled. “Help, my cellmate has fainted!”
Liam heard hurried footsteps and their cell door opening. “What happened to him?”
“I don’t know,” Alton said hurriedly, “he just collapsed, and I can’t wake him up.”
One of the guards rolled Liam onto his back and patted his cheek. “Wake up,” he commanded.
“Should we get the healer?” the other guard asked.
The first guard smacked Liam’s cheek harder. It took everything Liam had not to react to the hits. “Go get the healer,” the guard finally said.
Liam waited until he could no longer hear footsteps before he grabbed the guard by the collar and brought him down to a headbutt. The guard yelled out, and Alton grabbed him from behind, wrapping his arm around the guard’s neck. He held him tightly until the guard stopped moving and dropped him to the side.
Liam grimaced, rubbing his forehead. “Grab his keys.”
Alton grabbed the keys and poked his head out of the cell door. “It’s clear.”
“Let’s go.” Liam slipped past him, his eyes roving the halls to catch anyone coming.
They traded off who was in front, one reaching a branch in the hallway and waving the other on when the coast was clear, being careful to avoid anyone seeing them.
“There’s the exit,” Liam said.
“I have to get my satchel,” Alton reminded him.
Liam hesitated. He didn’t want Alton out of his sight. And if he left now, he’d never know if he could use the information in the satchel against Alton and clear his name for himself. That was all he’d wanted for the last two years he’d been wandering the continent.
Liam sighed. He had no other choice but to help. “Where would they keep it?”
“In the head office, likely.” Alton looked around a corner.
“And do you know where that is?” Liam raised his brows.
“No.”
“This has been a great plan, Alton,” he said acerbically. “How did you manage to get where you are in life?”
Alton glared at him. Instead of saying anything, he rounded the corner and began opening doors at random. After the fourth door, Alton let out a small whoop and snatched something out. Liam looked around. This felt too easy: they’d overcome the guard too easily, they hadn’t seen anyone in the halls, and Alton was able to get his satchel with relative ease.
“What are you playing at?” Liam demanded, blocking Alton’s way out of the room.
“I’m not playing at anything,” he said. “We’re escaping, but if you hold us up, we might not be able to get out without being seen.”
Liam heard footsteps coming their way and ran with Alton. They retraced their steps to the main passageway and found guards coming down the hall. Alton growled an expletive and grabbed Liam by the arm, pulling him in the opposite direction. There was an exit on the opposite side, but it was to the entrance where they’d come in and other guards gathered.
Liam pushed through the door first, startling several guards in the room. Alton pushed in after him and shoved him through the entrance. They wouldn’t have much of a lead with their escape now. After they cleared the prison, they knocked no fewer than six people out of their way and headed for the wooded area at the edge of the city.
“Get to the river!” Alton yelled.
If they could get over the river and into Radovan again, no Frasiscan would follow them; it was outside of their authority to arrest them there. Liam pumped his arms to catch up with Alton. He would not let him out of his sight, especially not now. He wouldn’t lose his chance to exonerate himself now.
Liam looked over his shoulder when he heard shouting and saw three soldiers chasing them. “Hurry!” he yelled as their feet pounded on the wooden bridge.
They made it over the bridge but did not stop. He and Alton ran for nearly two miles along the river where the soldiers would not see them. Liam leaned down, hands resting on his knees. It had been a long time since he’d run that fast and that long. He gasped for breath and sat on the ground.
Alton looked to be in only slightly better shape but remained standing.
“Now what?” Liam asked between breaths.
“Now we go our separate ways,” Alton said between breaths, adjusting the satchel over his chest. “And we never see each other again.”
Liam eyed the satchel. “That’s not good enough,” he said while he rose. “What’s in the satchel?”
Alton backed away from him. “None of your business.”
“Not good enough,” Liam repeated, advancing on Alton. “I want to know what’s in there and if it will exonerate me.”
Alton didn’t reply and, instead, started running again.
“No,” Liam growled more to himself than Alton. He would not let him get away. Liam ran after him, grabbing at the satchel. “Give it to me!”
Alton whirled and punched Liam in the face.
Liam yelled a curse and tackled Alton to the ground. “Give it to me!”
Alton shoved him off and ran toward the river.
Liam couldn’t let him cross again; he couldn’t risk being arrested again—he wouldn’t be able to escape fate a third time. He caught up to Alton, tackling him again. Liam struggled to grab the satchel and yelled triumphantly when he got it past Alton’s shoulders.
Alton ripped it from Liam’s hands and scrambled to stand.
Liam grabbed it back and started running north along the river. If he could make it far enough, he could escape in the Raphiam mountains. There were several caves around the base that were easy to hide in, and Liam had spent a few nights in some of them.
Liam yelled as he fell forward, Alton slamming against his back. Liam watched in horror as the satchel bounced into the river and was carried away by the fast pace of the water.
“No!” Alton yelled. He turned Liam over and punched him several times in the face before he wrapped his hands around his throat. “You bastard!”
Liam swallowed hard, trying to take in air. Alton’s hands tightened, and black came in around the edges of his vision. If he didn’t get him off soon, he didn’t know what would happen. Liam clawed at Alton’s hands, but Alton did not relent.
“What have you done?” Alton tightened his grip.
Liam’s lungs burned.
“I needed those papers!”
His head swam.
“The king isn’t going to need to execute you when I’m done with you!” Alton yelled in Liam’s face.
His vision went dark.