Page 142 of Zenith Tower

“According to the order, I very much will.”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

Green-gold tightened between us. He looked away first.

Hale placed both hands on the table. “If we leave, it has to be tonight. The first bell changes command. It will also change the watches, the locks, and any arrangement made under the administrator’s seal.”

“Can we get out?” Delphine asked.

Caspian answered with care. “The opening we discussed still exists. We would not be alone once we reached the other side.”

He did not mention the concealed passage, the delivery cart, or the man who had carried Lior’s message beneath a false crate bottom.

“All five of us?” she asked.

“That is the only version I’ve considered.”

“You should consider the other versions,” Hale said. “Kieran cannot run far. Astra’s hands are compromised. Delphine was in the infirmary less than an hour ago. Five people make more noise than two.”

“You’re recommending we split up?”

“I’m telling you what the route will demand. I haven’t recommended anything yet.”

Kieran leaned back, one hand resting over the black ribbon on his folio. “How much distance can you buy if someone notices before we reach the opening?”

“Not enough.”

“Then there’s no useful version where I come with you.”

“No,” I said.

His gaze returned to me. “You can’t carry me through the whole mountain.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m not volunteering to be noble. I’m pointing out that I’m the part of this plan most likely to fail on a staircase.”

“And I’m pointing out that we have already carried you up one.”

“That went beautifully.”

The edge in his voice made the words hurt more than the joke deserved. Hale’s eyes moved between us.

“No one is staying behind to improve the odds for the rest,” he said. “That decision would not survive the first landing anyway. Astra would turn around. So would I.”

Kieran pressed his mouth shut.

“If we leave,” Hale continued, “we leave together and accept what that costs. If we stay, we decide what remaining in the Tower is meant to accomplish. Waiting for Walkin is not a plan.”

Delphine lifted her marked hand. Water-light passed over the repaired lines and flashed silver at the edges.

“This is a plan.”

Caspian looked at her. “Walkin will call it an unauthorized alteration and use it to justify taking control of Astra.”

“Then they can say that while I’m there to answer.” Delphine’s voice remained level. “I asked Astra to do it, and I consented. The Mark belongs to me. The administrator witnessed everything.”

I turned toward her. “You don’t owe them testimony because I touched you.”