"Damn it!"
Clang!
Mira swore under her breath, slamming the iron rod against the lock with everything she had.
She'd been at it for nearly twenty seconds now—striking over and over since the moment she found the cell. Inside were Rusk, Fen, and Halven—alive, thank the stars. Halven was awake and alert, but Fen and Rusk were in bad shape, their bodies battered and bloodied from the earlier battle.
It was a miracle they'd even survived this long.
Clang!
Thud!
Click—!
The metal finally gave way with a satisfying snap, and the lock shattered. Mira didn't waste a second. She yanked the cell door open with a sharp creak.
"I got you," she breathed, stepping inside.
Halven looked up weakly. "Took you long enough," he muttered with a faint, crooked smile.
Mira dropped to one knee beside Fen first, checking his pulse, then moved to Rusk.
"Still breathing," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
