I reached the top of the parapet, I used all the strength in my arms to keep my body at a distance from the wall as I slowly pushed myself up. At last, I was able to hook my leg over the edge of the crenellation. Wind tearing at my hair, I carefully climbed over onto a walkway.
As soon as I had both feet on solid ground, I took a moment to catch my breath, to try to compose myself. My body was buzzing, electrified with nerves. I was desperate to get the bloody briefcase off, but it wasn’t time yet. Not until I was inside the castle itself. Most of the outer walls were connected by a parapet, so I could move along here until I got to the tower closest to the armory window.
Keeping close to the wall, head down, I started moving fast over the parapet. Luckily, there were no soldiers up here. I had only the sound of the whistling wind to accompany me.
Once I moved closer to the river, I'd be able to take a stairwell down to the ground. Then I’d have the shortest route across to the castle itself. I was a little awkward with the briefcase strapped to my chest, but I could still move fast enough, gliding along high above the ground.
But as I made my way south, movement below turned my head—soldiers. Five of them, in the gap between the two walls. Their weapons glinted in the darkness.
Bollocks. I’d have to be very careful to go unnoticed.
At last, I reached one of the towers closer to the river, not far from the Tower of Bones. Quietly, I crossed inside and pressed my ear to the stone. I listened for sounds of movement, but it felt abandoned in here, still as a grave. With the angels here, the castle and its surroundings felt only half alive, instead of the vibrant palace it had once been.
I heard nothing, no vibrations through the stone, so I started making my descent. As I moved down the stairs, I peered through narrow windows, spying out onto the walkway carved between the two towering walls.
Still more movement than I wanted out there, but it wasn’t exactly going to get easier if I waited longer.
It was now or never.
43
Lila
I rushed the rest of the way down the stairs, trying to formulate a plan. Scaling the wall below the armory window would not be easy to do unnoticed, with all these people patrolling.
Before I got to the very bottom, I peered through one of the windows. From here, I could see the soldiers had a sort of order to how they were patrolling. In groups of five, they moved between the two towering walls. Through one of the archways in the interior wall, I could just about see into the courtyard, and the castle itself, nestled on the hill.
More movement there. Soldiers moving around the inner wall. They gripped rifles, occasionally moving them from one shoulder to another in unison. The dark army of the angels, and I was sure they were on the hunt for me.
Bollocks. There were too many of them. I turned, peering out an arrow slit that gave a view of the city outside. And there was a line of soldiers marching out the front gate. My throat went dry. Some of them seemed to be heading for East Dovren.
Samael was unleashing the entire army to search for me. Just because of a dream, he was going to tear the city apart.
To my horror, I heard the sound of footfalls on the walkway above. They were going to search the towers—including this one. My blood went cold. Voices were coming from above.
I took the last few steps down to the ground floor. I’d need to get out into the courtyard at exactly the right time, blend into the shadows. That was my skill—going unnoticed. And I’d better hope tonight of all nights I was particularly amazing at it.
At the bottom of the stairwell, I peered out into the walkway between the walls. Fuck. There was a patrol of five moving around the corner right now, and they’d see me if I came out. I slid back into the doorway, waiting for them to pass. I listened closely for the sound of voices moving closer from above.
My heart was beating so hard I thought it could set off the bomb.
Calm down, Lila.
Panic wasn’t going to get me through this.
Mentally, I tried to form a plan.