Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,76

“Let’s go before they come back. I wouldn’t want you to be mad at me for killing sexual torturers.”

Definitely something to keep quiet…

Xavier pulled open the door and peered outside. Twilight had fallen, tricking the eyes with half-light as shadows started blending into the night. Not a soul walked on the street, not even a Graygual.

“Must be a curfew,” Leilius whispered.

Xavier nodded before stooping and jogging out along the wall. Why he stooped was a mystery, since it made him stand out even more for the oddity of it, but Leilius followed silently, trying to get a clear look at the street and all possible hiding places. They quietly ran until they hit an alleyway, and stepped inside out of plain sight. Leilius ripped out his map and checked their location.

A thought occurred to him. He looked up. No one ever remembered to look up. “I have an idea.”

A hasty climb and a skinned knee later, they hoisted themselves onto the nearest rooftop. Shallowly pitched or completely flat, these roofs were perfect for getting around. With a last glance over the edge, he started jogging in the direction of the gate.

“I do not care for heights,” Xavier said behind him.

Leilius didn’t roll his eyes for fear of tripping and rolling off the edge, but he really wanted to. Instead, he kept moving until they reached a gap between buildings.

“Now what?” Xavier leaned forward, trying to see the street below.

“Well…we could jump…” Leilius gauged the distance to be eight feet. “Although…we might not make it.” He started moving along the edge until a small bridge of stone connected the buildings. It was one of the brick walls that had been erected to keep people from moving through the walkway. “How are you at walking in a straight line?”

“Shit. Isn’t there another way?”

“Yeah. The street. But that would be way worse than falling on your head in privacy, I bet. The Graygual aren’t as forgiving as the street.”

“Fine. Go.”

Leilius turned and crouched down to his hands and knees. He crawled backward down the slope and then dangled over the edge until his swinging toe touched brick. Lowering himself from the edge, he waited until he had his balance before letting go. The chilled breeze licked his outstretched fingers. The darkness mostly masked the small area to step.

“This should be interesting.” Hoping for the best, not daring to look down, Leilius quickly crossed the top of the brick wall. Only once did his foot hit the corner, making him swing his arms dramatically to keep balance. At the far side, he let out a sigh of relief before looking back for Xavier.

The larger man had his arms stretched out to the sides. Every once in a while his head would turn just a bit, indicating he glanced at the ground. His arms would dip to one side, or windmill, as his body swayed.

“Don’t look down!” Leilius said in a stage whisper. “It’s throwing you off balance.”

Xavier stilled, and then edged himself along, too slow for comfort. Leilius opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. He was making it. Slowly, but surely, he crossed the narrow bridge, until finally, Xavier braced a hand on Leilius’ shoulder and issued the same sigh Leilius had.

“Did it. Okay.” Leilius looked up at the ledge. “This is going to be tricky. Give me a boost.”

Stepping on Xavier’s threaded hands, Leilius hoisted himself up, then scrabbled at the straight edge of the building, not finding much purchase. With his fingers digging into the roof tiles, he finally clawed himself to the top. He then sat and dangled his legs over.

“What are you doing?” Xavier whispered up.

“Use my feet like a rope. I don’t know how else to do it.”

“I’ll jump. Grab my shirt and help me get up.”

“That might be a terrible idea,” Leilius muttered before glancing down at the dark ground far below. Stepping aside and mentally preparing for this friend to slide down the side and break something, he readied himself with legs bent and hands out. Xavier’s head bobbed up a moment later. His big hands slapped the roof as he tried to find purchase, but almost immediately he started slipping.

“Crap,” Leilius grunted, grabbing his shirt and straining everything in his body to keep Xavier from sliding. His feet slipped again and Xavier started to slide again, and this time, Leilius was going with him. “Do something!”

Xavier pushed himself up somehow, his big shoulders bunching under Leilius’ arms. A knee came over