I cut through the crowd, pulling my hat down low so that people didn’t notice me. Fortunately, most people on this street were too busy going about their business to pay attention. We reached a quieter side street and cut down the cobblestone lane, reaching the darkened alley at the back. On either side of us, stone walls rose three meters tall, concealing the gardens on either side.
“Why do they have these alleys back here? They’re awful,” Carrow said.
I had to agree. It smelled faintly of sewage, and I pointed to the drains that led to the sewer system below the city. “This is how Guild City dealt with waste. Magic can handle a small amount of it, but a city this size needs the help of engineering that hasn’t been invented yet. So this is the solution. The maids in each house will come back here to dispose of household refuse.”
“That’s quite impressive, considering it’s 1642.”
“It’s far more advanced than the system in human London, and magic is used to keep it flowing at a reasonable rate and stench. Still, it’s disgusting.”
As if to highlight my point, a few rats darted out of the sewer.
“How do you know which garden is his?” Carrow asked.
“If I remember Rasla at all, it will be fairly ostentatious.” I inspected each of the heavy wooden doors as I passed. Finally, I spotted one with a brass crest and pointed to it. “That’s it.”
Carrow looked at it. “It’s just like his seal.”
I nodded, hovering my hand over the door. Magic pricked against my palm. “There’s a charm. Moderate strength.”
“I’m sure I’ve got something for that.” She reached into the bag at her side, rummaging around until she found what she was looking for. A moment later, she held up a glowing blue vial of potion. “This should break the charm.”
She worked quickly, uncorking the vial and pouring the liquid on the iron door handle. Magic sparked and popped, then faded. With a grin, she pushed open the door.
I gripped her shoulder gently to stall her and slipped through first, watching warily for attack. The garden was unremarkable, rectangular and surrounded on all sides by walls. Neatly laid out paths and benches and hedges created a space to enjoy the outdoors, but no one was there.
Magic still sparked on the air, however, and I doubted we were in the clear. I turned back to Carrow. “It’s safe presently, but we’re probably not past the worst of it.”
She nodded and followed me in. A path cut down the center of the garden, leading directly to the back of the tall, narrow house.
Together, we approached the house, our senses alert. We’d just crossed the midway point when a vine shot out from the wall and wrapped around my leg. I stumbled, nearly going to my knees. Another vine lashed out, wrapping around my arm. They burned, some type of magic that made my skin feel as if it were on fire.
I drew a blade from the ether and severed the vine at my arm, then the one at my leg.
Beside me, a thick vine wrapped around Carrow’s waist. She hissed with pain and called on her own blade. I swung around to cut the vine from her, but two more wrapped around my arm before I could.
I thrashed, my muscles burning, and broke through the vines. Two more wrapped around my legs, and I sliced them off. Carrow cut the one around her waist, but two more grabbed her. They were so damned fast that she didn’t stand a chance. I could barely keep up, and only because of my enhanced speed.
More and more vines lashed out from the walls, and I sliced at them as quickly as I could, taking them out one by one. There were too many, though. Three wrapped around me, and Carrow was covered in far more.
She sagged to the ground, her eyes closing. Fear pierced me. “Hang on, Carrow!”
My heart thundered with fear as I fought the vines, desperate to get to her. I was fast enough to keep them off myself, but not fast enough to reach her. More and more vines wrapped around her, so many that she was disappearing.
Her magic filled the air, the scent of lavender strong.
She was using her power.
Her eyes snapped open and met mine. “Kill the base of the plant by the wall.”
Hope flared, and I hacked at the vines that trapped my legs, the pain of their burn making my skin chill. I couldn’t imagine what Carrow felt with so many vines around her. Fear for her drove me, making me quicker and stronger. I fought off the vines and sprinted toward the wall, seeking the base of the plant.
It grew from the edge of the garden, and I lunged for it, slicing at the base, hacking at the thick growth with all of my strength.
Finally, I cut through the last of it. The vines withered, turning thin and brown. I raced back to Carrow, finding her limp against the ground, the vines dying around her.
I yanked them off, my heart pounding.
“Carrow.” Fear echoed in my voice as I shook her gently. “Wake up. You’re fine. You’re fine.”