ABOVE HIM,
Confused by the sudden change in consciousness, he snapped his eyes open and stared into a dim gray space. Shadows shifted, cloth rustled, and finally Yudi appeared. The usually affable man looked unusually pale—except for the dark circles beneath his eyes. Lev wasn't the only one who'd slept fitfully ... if at all.
"Good morning," Yudi said softly. With an upward sweep of his hand, he signaled for Lev to climb out of his hiding place. "Sorry to wake you, Lad. It's still early—not even dawn yet—but it's the best time to leave. The streets will be empty, and the sun will be up by the time we reach the gate."
Lev nodded, grasped the edges of the hidden niche, and pulled himself out. Once on his feet, he scanned his surroundings, assessing the heartless damage the Tolian guards had wreaked on Yudi's quaint workshop. Dried herbs and flowers had been ripped from the ceiling and trampled. Jars of scented oils were shattered and strewn across the floor. And an overpowering mixture of opposing aromas filled the small space, turning the shop's usually pleasant scent into something foul.
Eyes wide with dismay, Lev shook his head. Why would anyone do this to Yudi and Nish? The angry thought triggered a new concern, and Lev spun to Yudi. "Where's Nish? Still sleeping? I know he can't come with us, but I want to say goodbye at least."
Yudi looked away. "No."
The terse response surprised and confused Lev. He narrowed his eyes and pressed for a better answer. "No, as in he's awake? Or no, I can't say goodbye? I mean, it will only take a minute."
Still facing away from Lev, Yudi sucked in an audible breath. But then he turned back with glistening eyes. He paused to clear his throat, took another shoulder-shaking breath, and said, "Nish isn't here."
Lev blinked. Not here? Where could Nish be at this time of day? Unless ... Lev bit his lip, not wanting to know the truth, but knowing he had to ask. "The Tolians last night ... Sicarius ... did they take Nish?"
Yudi closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes."
Lev's throat tightened, and his knees wobbled. "Is Nish ... is ... is he okay?"
At first, Yudi tucked his head into his heaving chest. After a minute of worrisome silence, though, he forced out an answer. "I ... I think so. But he looked ... unconscious. They had him tied up and gagged, too. They wouldn't have bothered with all that if he was—"
"No, definitely not," Lev said. "He's alive, Yudi. He must be. But ..."
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Yudi opened his eyes. "But what?"
Tears gathered along Lev's eyelids. "Why didn't you turn me over to them if they had Nish? They were here because of me. They had to be. So why did—"
Before Lev could finish his question, Yudi closed the distance between them. He wrapped Lev in a tight embrace. "Shush, Lad. Shush. I would never do such a thing. It would only double my woes. Besides, the Tolians' visit had nothing to do with. Everyone knows that your father and I were close friends. And that after you, I'd be the person most hurt and angered by what they'd done to your family. The sort of anger that inspires a man to start trouble. So they took my son for one simple reason—to make sure I behave. That I'm to our wretched oppressors. Fortunately, I don't have the same fierce reputation as your father. No one thinks the little soap maker is a warrior or a leader. If that weren't the case, Nish and I would have been killed last night, and you would still be trapped beneath that counter. So you see, they weren't here for . And turning you over to them certainly wouldn't have stopped them. Just the opposite. They would have killed us all on the spot—or worse, they would have made a public spectacle of our torture and death."
Lev shook his head, disagreeing. "No. No. You lost Nish because of ."
Yudi pushed Lev back to arms' length and stared into his eyes. "I promise, Lev. You did nothing wrong. And I will do all I can to make sure you get to safety."
Then he paused and gently cupped Lev's cheeks in his hands. "You knew nothing about what your father or I were doing. You've been a sweet boy who thought he was going to be a baker. You're no more guilty of being a rebel than your mother, sister, and brother were. As Nish is. So, say it to me. Tell me you did nothing wrong."
Lev closed his eyes, and whispered, "I did nothing ... wrong." The words felt hollow, a lie, but as he said them aloud, Yudi withdrew his hands.
"That's a start. Soon, if all goes as planned, you'll be on your own in this cruel world. An outsider in a strange land. That's a tough way to live for any young man. But you have your father's blood in you. You're stronger than you know. And I want you to say those words every morning after you wake and every evening before you sleep. Tell yourself you did nothing wrong until you believe it. And instead of blaming yourself for another man's evil, turn your anger, your hatred, your need for vengeance toward Totoro and these horrid Tolians. Please, Lev, swear you will do that. Please ... for me, for Nish, for your family."
Lev had never heard Yudi speak so passionately. And somehow, the diminutive man's words sparked a flame of anger beneath Lev's suffocating despair. He nodded. "I swear it. Totoro. The Tolians. Sicarius, especially. I will make them pay. Blood for blood!"
Yudi pursed his lips and nodded. "That's the spirit. That's what I would expect from the son of Arto Datevar. But one thing at a time. And first, I need to grab something."
Stepping around Lev, Yudi bent over, reached into the niche, and retrieved the blanket. Then he gestured for Lev to help, and together they locked the counter back into place, hiding the treasure trove of swords.
Lev rubbed the back of his neck and stared at the counter's base, reconsidering the secret cache. It wasn't a . More like a cursed stash that had killed his family and gotten Nish abducted.
His thoughts were soon interrupted by a tug on his tunic. "You okay, Lad?" Yudi asked.
Lev blinked. "Yes ... and ... no."
Yudi nodded. "Understood. So, use that 'yes' for motivation. To block out the pain and get to safety. But also hold onto that 'no.' Let it fuel your vengeful return. Now, let's go."
With that, Yudi spun on his heel and scurried toward the rear of his house. "This way," he called over his shoulder.
Quickly and quietly, they weaved their way through the kitchen and past the bedrooms. But when they reached the house's back door, Yudi stopped and placed a hand on Lev's chest.
"I've already been to the stables," Yudi said, "so my mule and wagon are in the alley, only a few steps away. You just need to climb into the bed, which is covered by a tarp. Crawl all the way to the front of the wagon, and you'll find another hiding spot ... a cubbyhole beneath the bench where I'll be sitting. I've already packed it with some supplies that should help you reach safety. Once you're inside the compartment, pull up the wooden panel and lock it into place between you and the wagon bed."
Yudi tipped his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Got it?"
"Uh huh," Lev said.
"Wonderful," Yudi said, patting Lev's chest before handing over the blanket. "Now hide yourself beneath this and get into the wagon as quick as a lick. No dawdling. Even at this hour, you never know who's watching."
Lev bit his lower lip and draped the blanket over his head and shoulders.
"Ready?" Yudi asked.
As soon as Lev bobbed his head, Yudi popped the door open and whispered, "The wagon is to your left. Go, go, go!"
