East - Page 36/172

"You will come with me?"

"Yes. Mahmood thought that was wise, and I agree. Don't you?"

She nodded.

Something stirred from the direction of the room outside which we were perched. I pressed a finger to my lips to quiet her, and we both crept forward to see what was going on below us.

The room was being searched and tossed while fighting raged on in the corridor outside it.

The men left, and the door stayed open.

Easing back, the princess and I huddled together and watched her city burn. The fighting stopped in the corridor not too long after. We didn't leave our safe place, though, for fear of being caught. She hugged me, and I pulled her into my lap, leaning against the sloped eave behind me.

This is a nightmare.

I couldn't begin to figure out how to get out of this mess. Mahmood could have been right or approaching the Mongols could get us both killed. I really had no idea, and I was terrified of being cut to pieces by a sword.