Chapter 79

• I don't remember much after Martha's lifeless body crumpled to the floor. I recall being in a state of shock. Casper grabbed my arm and drew me away from the house. We had fled Challow Street with Jacques by sneaking through a gap in the fence. After that, we did as Martha instructed and snuck out of town through the old docks. Jacques and Casper stayed close to me the entire time, making sure I didn't fall behind, even though keeping up with them wasn't difficult. When being pursued by Henrietta's homicidal guards, fleeing was simple. I kept telling myself that if I stopped, they'd find me and kill me and the baby. So I kept walking, one foot in front of the other, until we were safely outside the city limits and the docklands were nothing more than a spec on the horizon.
• We had fled the city by taking a small coastal path south from the docklands towards the cliffs. We changed direction once we reached the cliff tops, turning away from the path and running east across several fields. I was on the verge of collapsing by the time we stopped to take shelter in an abandoned barn. I was struggling to stay standing because of the emotional stress and the need for blood.
• Casper saw my need and wrapped his arm around my waist to help me. "You did well, little sister," he said as he led me to an upturned wooden crate. "Sit down and relax. The guards will look for us for a few hours before being forced to return to the palace. We'll return to the city at dawn."