Songbird Read Online Free PDF Page B

into action. First, she pulled the sheet down from the dowel, then stuffed it, along with a blanket, under the bedcover. She stepped back to admire her handiwork and a wave of relief that she hadn’t gone through with her plans washed over her. What a mistake that would have been.
    Next, she rummaged through her wardrobe and found her black traveling trousers and the black silky blouse that went with them. Her boots and belt stood in the corner and she grabbed them too, then pulled her closet door partway shut for some privacy to change. She completed the ensemble with a black jacket that would help keep her warm in the cool night air.
    He waited at the window. The two bars from the center of the window now lay at his feet, leaving enough space for them to squeeze through. “Come quickly,” he urged, “and step into this.”
    He bent down, holding a belt with loops that would go around her legs and cinch up at the waist. She stepped into it, placing her hands on his shoulders for balance. As he drew it up her legs to her waist, he stood close enough that her pulse leapt at his touch. It was all she could do to stand still while he pulled the belt tight around her waist. Once he attached the long rope, she stepped away and caught her breath. 
    “I’ll lower you down. There’s someone waiting at the bottom. If you can, try to stay facing the wall. Don’t hold onto the rope. Use your hands and feet for leverage. Understand?”
    She swallowed, more afraid than she cared to admit. “Yes, but how are you getting out?”
    “I’ll follow after you.” She hesitated, so he continued. “I won’t drop you. But we need to hurry.”
    Teya took a deep breath and moved to the window. A few minutes ago she would have willingly jumped out the window, so what was there to be afraid of now?
    “Feet first,” he said.
    She nodded and took a deep breath. Then put one leg over the windowsill. Holding the bars tightly, she followed with the other. He firmly held her weight, but it took all of her courage to let go of the bars. When she did, she automatically grabbed for the rope. As he lowered her down, she started to twist and turn. Realizing she could hit her head or shoulders against the wall, she finally released her grip the rope and used her arms and legs the way he’d told her.
    She glanced down to see how much further it was to the ground and her heart picked up speed. What if there wasn’t enough rope? What if he lost his grip? Panicking, she clenched her eyes shut, knowing she had to trust that the ambassador knew what he was doing.
    Enduring a long moment of dread, she opened her eyes again. This time it wasn’t so bad. She caught sight of a man standing just below her. Soon his hands reached for her feet, and guided her safely to the ground.
    “I’ve got you,” his rough voice said. “Now, let’s get that harness off you.” She unbuckled the belt and slipped it off her feet. He took it, and smiled to reassure her, but all she could see were his white teeth in the darkness. “Take cover in those bushes until Bran gets here.”
    He pulled the rope toward him taking the extra slack, and then steadied it. Teya moved back toward the bushes and crouched down to watch the ambassador step out of the window.
    He seemed to have a little trouble squeezing his broad shoulders and head through the bars, but he finally made it out, and soon worked his way down the side of the building. Once he hit the ground, he quickly untied the rope, and his companion pulled it free of the bars.
    With no time to lose, Bran reached for Teya’s hand and led them through the outer gardens to a small building at the back of the grounds. Teya knew this was the gardener’s shed. At Bran’s tap, the door opened and a slight figure in black stepped out.
    “Any trouble?” Bran asked.
    “No. Everything went as planned. Hello Teya.”
    “Clare?”
    “Yes. Sorry about the way I spoke to you, but I had to convince the guards and the