“Blocked,” Saul said, engaging with another soldier.

“Stairwell,” Loren shouted. “Keep them from coming out.”

Odd’s men moved to stop them. I stood in the middle, unable to      help. All my knives had toxin on them.

“Avry,” Loren called. He had disarmed a man and held him in a      headlock.

I understood and darted in to zap the man into unconsciousness.      After that, I zapped anyone my team trapped. We had a nice surge of energy,      pushing both sides back. But with fatalities and injuries increasing and the      large number of opponents, it would only be a matter of time. Fear pulsed in      time with my heart. I kept an eye on Flea. He held his own, fighting with a      fierce determination. But for how long?

Should I surrender? I imagined Cellina would be quite ecstatic      to learn I’d been captured. And then I realized she could threaten to harm Flea,      the monkeys, and Odd if I didn’t heal Tohon.

No surrendering for me. This would have to be a fight to my      death. I refused to be put in that horrible position.

A ruckus behind the enemy’s line caused a change in dynamics.      The soldiers eased off their assault against us. It seemed as if they were being      attacked from the opposite direction. Saul’s squad took advantage of their      distraction and increased the pressure.

Then the stairwell group retreated.

“They’re probably going to get reinforcements,” Loren said.

“Then let’s not linger,” Quain said.

It didn’t take long for us to dispatch the remaining soldiers.      The reason for our change in luck stood farther down the hallway. A group of      caregivers from the infirmary held hollow tubes up to their mouths.

My team hesitated, not sure what to make of this new      development. But I did. Christina, who had been my assistant when I’d worked      here, led the group, standing out in front. She signaled and they all put their      weapons down.

“It’s okay.” I pushed my way through. When I reached Christina,      I hugged her briefly. “I’m so glad you survived the occupation!”

She gave me a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “You      taught me so much, they couldn’t get rid of me. Although I’d rather have gone      with you.”

Ah, the reason for the stiffness. “I’m sorry. There was no      time. Noelle had knocked Tohon out. We only had a few minutes.” But I had a plan      in place before that. Why hadn’t I thought of taking Christina with us? Because      all my focus had been on getting my sister to a Peace Lily before she died.      Didn’t work.

“Thanks for saving us,” Odd said. He gestured to the fallen      soldiers. “What did you use?”

“Darts filled with sleeping draft. We thought we should be      prepared in case Cellina changed her mind about us.”

“Good idea. Uh... Not that I’m ungrateful, but why did you help      us?”

Christina met my gaze. “I heard Avry’s name and came out to      investigate.” She shrugged. “If she is captured, things will go from bad to      worse.”

“Do you know if there are more soldiers coming?” Odd asked.

“No.”

“Let’s go before we find out.” Saul signaled a retreat. “Back      door, now!”

The odd squad led the way. A few of our team had to be      helped.

“Come with us,” I said to Christina. “All of you.”

The caregivers exchanged surprised glances.

“But our patients...” Christina pressed her hands to her      chest.

“Now or never, ladies,” Saul said.

“We’ve set up an infirmary. You can work there if you want,” I      said.

“All right,” Christina said. “I’m in.”

A couple of the other caregivers joined us, but most stayed      behind. We raced toward the exit. Christina kept pace with me.

“Why did you come back?” she asked.

“We came for Estrid.”

“She’s not here.”

“Do you know where she is?” I asked.

“In the POW camp with the others.”

I paused. “Is she...”

“Yes, she’s still frozen.”

Before I could process her comments, we reached the exit and      stopped.

“What’s going on?” Odd demanded, shoving people out of his      way.

I followed Odd. Something blocked the door. Or rather      someone.

A small girl stood with her arms crossed. “I’ve a message for      Healer Avry.”