Page 68 of The City of Zirdai
Son of a sand demon. Her memory wipe must have not lasted on that thick-headed man or else someone had tipped him off that she was here. She glanced at the sand clock—angle sixty-five and too close to the danger zone for her to leave the monastery through one of the escape tunnels. “I can hide in the First Room—”
“Yates has permission to search the Rooms of Knowledge.” Easan’s voice was strident with outrage. “Allof them.”
“The Water Prince doesn’t have that kind of power.”
“No he doesn’t, but the King of Koraha does.”
“The King gave the Water Prince permission?”
“Yes.”
Shocked, she stared at her childhood friend. “Wait. How did the prince manage that? Qulsary is over seventy sun jumps away. Unless the King isn’t in the capital?”
“He’s there. The prince has a special dispensation from the King. It’s to be used one time only for an emergency.”
“I’m considered an emergency?” She didn’t know whether to be flattered or terrified.
“Apparently. Aren’t you special.” He gave her a tight-lipped smile.
It was bad, but it still wasn’t dire.
“Also the guards have formed into six eight-person units for the search.”
Now it was dire.
Eleven
Seven hells. An eight-person unit was too many for Shyla to influence right now. If she’d had more sleep, then maybe. She still couldn’t believe the King of Koraha had given the prince permission to enter all the Rooms of Knowledge. She wondered how close the prince and King were. He had to have impressed the King at some point to win that dispensation. Had the prince sent a message to the King about Shyla? Did she have to worry about his men coming to Zirdai? Perhaps she should concentrate on surviving the problem at hand.
“Is there any place to hide down past level twelve?” Having grown up in the monastery, she knew there weren’t any hiding places in the upper levels. Not ones that Hanif or one of the other monks hadn’t found her in pretty quick.
“No. There’s nothing. Sorry,” Easan said.
“Do you have any rooms with loose sand?”
“Not below level one. But if you need sand…” He pointed to the sand clock. “We’ve a bunch of those.”
Not enough for her to hide under. Plus it would look suspicious—a mound of sand right in the middle of an otherwise clean room. She sorted through her childhood memories. Perhaps something would trigger a brilliant plan. No luck. “How long have they been here?”
“About five angles. They’ve already searched the top six levels. Good thing I checked your room first.”
“Any gaps between units that I can slip through?”
“They’re being rather thorough. What do you want to do?”
Only one thing to do. “I’ll find a way to stay hidden until they leave.”
“Where?”
“It’s better you don’t know.” Shyla grabbed her pack and headed to the First Room of Knowledge. Hopefully being able to go between there and the map room would allow her to remain undetected. She had enough energy to hide the shortcut from one or even two, three if she was desperate. Although she doubted that many would find the hiding spot under the table. The maze of shelves and sudden dead ends should be confusing to the guards. Overall, not the best plan, but it was all she had.
At least she didn’t have to guess when the unit entered. Their boisterous voices echoed off the stone walls and their irreverent and smug comments grated on her sensibilities. They didn’t belong here and they knew it. Hanif must be beside himself over being forced to allow the guards into the Rooms of Knowledge.
Then a voice that sent a knife of fear straight to her heart said, “Fan out, and don’t trust your eyes. Search with your hands. I’ll wait here in case you flush the sun- kissed out.”
She shouldn’t have been surprised. Of course Yates would be with this unit. He wouldn’t be able to resist going into a place that was normally off-limits to him. Not waiting any longer, she hurried to the map room. Once inside, Shyla crouched to the side of the opening and just out of sight. If she sensed anyone nearby, she’d project a solid wall.
As she waited, she counted her heartbeats, which seemed to echo loudly in the room. It didn’t take long for the sounds of boots and voices to reach her. Two, maybe three guards approached the table.
