She stands again.

"Tell him I'm on my way," Ash replied.

"Wait here," he told her. "It should be safe. Lock the door and try to get some rest." He opened the door, revealing a leering goblin on the other side, and closed it softly behind him.

She locks the door, then lays down and falls asleep almost instantly.

She was soon being shaken.

She wakes up.

Someone had put a black cloth over the caged light and the room was swathed in shadow. Ash sat on the edge of the mattress, silver eyes bright in the gloom, holding her gently by the shoulders. "Isiea," he murmured, "wake up. It's time."

She stands, a bit groggy.

He moved off the bed. "Sweetfinger and I made a deal. He'll get us out of the city through the goblin tunnels that run beneath it. We'll need to hurry--Rowan's Thornguards are still scouring the streets for us."

She nods and quietly takes his hand. Which makes sense, because her eyesight is much worse than before now.

Right. And that was the only reason why she would hold his hand. At least, that was what he was telling himself. A goblin waited for them at the foot of the stairs, his mouth pulled into a toothy grin that showed missing fangs and gold teeth. He was decked out in jewelry: rings, ear studs, necklaces, even a gold nose ring. A milky glass eye sparkled as he turned to them, rubbing his claws and grinning like a gleeful shark.