The monkeys and Flea said goodbye to Kerrick. I tapped my chest over my heart in a silent goodbye to him. He smiled.

Setting the pace, Odd walked in front with Flea next to him. I stayed between Quain and Loren, and the rest of the odd squad followed behind. After a few steps, I glanced back. Kerrick stood in the same spot, watching us. His hand rested on the center of his heart.

Unable to stop the silly grin from spreading over my face, I faced forward. Who’d have thought Kerrick had a sentimental side? Not me.

“Uh, Avry, or rather, Irina. You’re supposed to be contrite and repentant,” Quain said.

“I will be once we get closer.”

“As long as we’re not surprised by a patrol. Without weed boy, we don’t— Ow!” An acorn clipped Quain’s forehead, leaving a red mark.

“You were saying?” I asked.

“Forget it.” Quain rubbed his temple and glared into the woods.

We continued on in silence. Before we reached the city’s gates, I tucked a few essential items into the various pockets of my robe and clothes underneath. They’d probably confiscate my pack and search it.

A two-story-high cerulean-blue marble wall surrounded the city of Chinska Mare. Thin white veins snaked through the smooth marble. According to Ives, the city had two gates, one on the west side and the other on the east.

A line of people and wagons waited to enter the city. Odd led us to the end of the queue. A few of those waiting nearby turned and stared at us. I gazed at the worn cobblestones as if dejected. We shuffled forward until it was our turn to state our business.

Odd started to explain, but the guard waved us through with an impatient gesture, just like Ives had predicted. Ives and the men who knew the city the best moved up to the point position and led us through the narrow unmarked streets.

The rows of buildings leaned against each other. Skinny houses mixed with businesses in a haphazard way. Factories sprawled in all directions as if plopped there from high above. I imagined old buildings squashed underneath them. The odor of rotting garbage dominated. A plume of gray smoke engulfed us. We choked on the acrid fumes that burned our eyes.

The citizens hustled by, avoiding eye contact. Red-robed acolytes patrolled the streets. They peered at us with suspicion, but no one approached. It took me more than a few moments to figure out what was off about the tight and cramped city. Even though it was a large city filled with people and industry, it was quiet. No one laughed, talked, yelled, or said much of anything. Even their footsteps were muted, as if they wore rubber-soled shoes and boots. Creepy.

After an hour, I’d lost track of the turns we’d taken. The sunlight faded and the lamplighter crews lit the city’s lamps. Even they went about their work with hardly a word. After a few more hours of navigating the dark streets, Ives stopped us and warned the monastery was around the corner.

We checked our disguises one more time, and I adjusted my hidden contraband. Turning the corner, we all stopped and stared. Made of pure white marble, the building stretched for blocks in either direction. No windows marked the walls that stretched upward in multiple tiers. Each tier was smaller than the one below like layers on a giant wedding cake. Halfway up the eight-story structure, towers soared above the monastery, resembling candles. And this was just what we could see in the semidarkness.

This humongous structure made a fortress look tiny in comparison.

* * *

I stared at the monastery as my heart did flips in my chest. I’d be lucky to get out, let alone find Melina. Our plan seemed too simple for this monstrosity. Plus we only had a week at most before Estrid and the bulk of her army returned. Kerrick had sensed her in the forest along with many others just before we crossed Ozero’s border.

After I lectured Flea on staying out of trouble and made him promise to be careful, Flea and Ives said goodbye and slipped away. I met Odd’s questioning gaze.

“It’s not too late to back out,” Odd said.

“No. We’ll stick to the plan. Make sure you don’t lose that container.”

He gave me a tight smile. “Yes, sir.”

“Ready, boys?” I asked the monkeys, holding out my elbows.

Quain grabbed my right arm. “Kicking and screaming?”

Loren latched onto the other. “Dragging your feet? Perhaps dead weight?”

“I’m going to go for the full-out, desperate struggle,” I said.

“Ah, a little bit of everything.” Loren’s tone held approval.

“Nice.” Quain tightened his grip.

As I fought with all my strength but not my magic, they hauled me up to the single entrance. Two lamps burned brightly within a few feet of us. Iron hinges connected the oversize oak doors to the marble walls. A huge oval door knocker was the only thing on this side. No knob. No keyhole. Not even a peephole.

Odd used the door knocker. A heavy clap reverberated through the oak. After a few moments, Odd knocked again. My skin prickled with the feeling of being watched. I glanced up and spotted a couple guards peering over the edge of the roof of the first tier.

They didn’t say anything, but soon the door creaked open. A priest stood in the threshold. I increased my struggles to break free.

He frowned at the monkeys. “Subdue her.”

Quain pulled both my arms behind my back. Loren backhanded me across the cheek. He faked the amount of force so it was a glancing blow. I pretended to be hit harder, spinning to the side and collapsing to my knees with a cry of pain—just like we had practiced.