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When he arrived at the kitchen, athe sa crates off the wagon

"Take your ti into a shadow and following Reema She led him to an equipment shed, where he pulled off the coverall

"How uards, nine street rats and one cat"

"I’ rat, but I thought you’d be offended"

"I’o would have survived" Valek handed her the darts "Be careful They’re loaded with poison"

Aghast, she held theonna kill them!"

"I hope not It’s diluted My Love and should just render the potion, as they’re now ih ti the My Love had taken hier than he’d expected as it was The crior was very skittish because the city was under martial law

She nodded and disappeared He waited for a fewtoward the stockade He trusted Reeuards No need to waste energy worrying about so he couldn’t control

When he spotted four rats crouched just out of sight of the stockade’s main entrance, he drew in a breath "Hey!" he shouted

They sprinted, with Valek a few steps behind theuards stared in their direction

"Stop therabbed the rats’ arms and shoulders There was a bit of a scuffle, and two of the soldiers yelped in pain while the other two grunted

By the tiround, unconscious None of the hidden watchers sounded an alar had done their part Good

Valek swiped the keys and unlocked the main door The theory was that only the locks to the cells would be warded with ic If not Valek didn’t have time for doubts The rats helped him carry the men inside, and the kids pulled off their outer clothes, exposing guard uniforms

Valek scanned them If anyone took a close look, their cover would be blown "Stand tall and try to er," he said as they hurried outside

He crossed the guard roo those doors, Valek braced as four figures rushed hi and stabbed a dart into one of the In the selint of steel and blocked the strike, but the blade sliced his skin Fire raced up his arnored it

A thud sounded, followed by another as the two guards succumbed to the poison The third thrust his knife at Valek’s throat Not wanting to harm the man, Valek sidestepped the strike and sent a dart into the man’s neck The fourth advanced with a sword already ith Valek’s blood Lovely Valek backed up and tripped over one of the guys on the floor As he hit the ground, he yanked another dart fro the blade at his shoulder Throwing the dart, he hoped it pierced skin as he rolled away fro his back He kept rolling until he hit the wall The attacker advanced, and Valek palmed his knife, but thewith a loud thump

Valek didn’t have time to celebrate or worry if the noise drew any unwanted attention He hopped to his feet and checked the cells