Grym burst through the door, closing it behind him and pressing against the slab as if holding back an enemy force. The dwarf’s eyes were wide as he hissed.

  “They’re at the base of the stairs – hurry!”

  His two companions glanced up from the desk they were ransacking. Lunish, a female gnome, worked the lower drawers while the wizard Glynfir hurriedly flipped through paperwork on the surface.

  “I think this is it!” he whispered excitedly, smoothing the folds of an official-looking document across the desktop. Lunish craned her neck to see past his larger form, finally hip-checking him to the side to get a look. Grym started across the room towards them, but before he could reach the desk, there was a loud click, and a section of the bookcase across the room flew open, spilling five soldiers into the space.

  They were in the commander’s office at the top of a three-story tower in the heart of the garrison town of Chagrothlond. As a cell of an intelligence-gathering network called the Radiant Guardians, they were tasked with confirming a change to the beneficiary within Commander Duval’s will and, oddly, the name of the barrister that had signed it. Breaking into military offices, however, was not their wheelhouse. Most assignments involved gathering information more organically from less formidable adversaries.

  “Take them!” barked the first soldier that entered – clearly in charge. He stepped aside, allowing the others to move towards the startled occupants.

  “Shit! Shit! Shit!” was all Lunish could muster taking a step back, putting Glynfir between her and the guards. She felt her heart begin to race as panic rose in her chest.

  “Of course, there’s a secret door!” she heard Grym mutter, seeing his hand instinctively move towards the axe on his belt. The dwarf rolled his eyes and shook his head, disappointed in himself.

  “What kind of military leader wouldn’t have another way out of his own office? Especially when it’s at the top of a Gonddamn tower!”

  “Let’s worry about it later – we’ve got to go!” Glynfir snipped. “You both know the plan - rally at the south gate!” He spoke this last part louder, ensuring the guards could hear him.

  The wizard’s left hand began to draw patterns in the air as he reached into his satchel with the other, extracting a small block of resin encasing an eyelash. Lunish immediately regained her senses and summoned her magical essence. With a flash, she shifted form into a mouse and scrambled up the back of Glynfir’s robe and into his satchel.

  Muttering the words of the incantation, the wizard shunted his reluctant dwarven companion towards their only available exit – the door he had just entered. Pulling it closed behind them to disrupt their pursuers’ line of sight, he touched Grym’s shoulder and released the spell. The two of them disappeared in a purple flash.

  The sound of multiple footsteps and the rustle of metal armor echoed up the open stairwell below them. Time was short. Grym hustled down the first half flight of stairs towards the oncoming guards, one hand quieting his chain shirt, the other his axe. As the dwarf reached the landing, six uniforms turned the corner from the level below. Like a well-armed caterpillar, they ascended in a synchronized march, single file, hugging the interior railing.

  The office door burst open, slamming against the stone wall before vomiting their shouting pursuers from the room above. From the courtyard, two iron bells began to peal in alarm, slightly off-beat, with frantic urgency. It was clear from the acoustic chaos – the entire fort knew they were here. Grym’s eyes frantically scanned the surroundings for any option of escape. Trapped. His heart rate accelerated, and his shoulders tensed as he tightened his grip on the axe. Better make the first shot count while I’m still invisible.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Glynfir knew combat was a losing proposition. He also knew his dwarven friend would see it as the only option. Grym impulsively defaulted to violence before considering other possibilities. The wizard silently rolled his eyes. He’s so black and white about these things. In this case, that choice would be disastrous. It was two against ten, and they were outflanked. Invisibility was their only advantage.

  The tower’s split staircase landings were wide, designed to accommodate the flow of larger numbers. Maybe they’re wide enough? Acting quickly, the wizard stretched one arm around his friend’s shoulders, covering his mouth with the other hand. From right behind Grym’s ear, he exhaled a whispered shushing sound and pulled the dwarf back towards him. The two retreated as far into the corner of the landing as the space would allow. He felt Lunish moving around in his satchel as they pressed themselves against the exterior wall and collectively held their breath.

  The rising guards stayed tight to the interior railing, crossing the landing oblivious to the invisible trio. The caterpillar’s head stopped three stairs up, and the others spread out around him as the two groups angrily discussed the situation. Worried they could hear his racing heartbeat, the half-elven wizard clung tightly to his dwarven friend. Silently, they watched and waited, desperately hoping for an opportunity to flee.

  “Did you see them? It’s that halfie caster who took our silver playing dice last night.”

  “No one came past us… You mean that prick with the mustache?”

  “Yeah! He was with a dwarf and a grubby little boy.”

  While the confused soldiers traded questions and accusations regarding the whereabouts of the intruders, the pair seized the moment. Releasing Grym’s shoulders, Glynfir gave him a nudge towards the now-vacant descending staircase. The two tiptoed several feet across the landing and bolted down the stairs towards the open courtyard two and a half floors below. Abandoning any further attempt at stealth, the dwarf’s rattling chain shirt announced their position with every footfall. The race was on. The pair flew down the stone stairs with eleven shouting pursuers in tow. The bells in the courtyard continued to ring out in warning.

  The guards firing at sounds sent a bolt from a hand crossbow zipping past Grym’s ear, ricocheting off the nearby wall. The sound of a crate of cutlery hitting the ground told Glynfir the invisible dwarf had tumbled down the last few stairs. I hope he’s not hurt! A muted groan followed.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah…” Grym’s hesitant tone suggested he was more embarrassed than injured.

  “Are you hit?”

  “No, I just tripped,” the dwarf admitted

  “Okay. We need to split up. You know where to meet. Be careful!”

  With that, Glynfir rounded the corner to his left, running headlong into unexpected chaos.

  The normally sedate courtyard was in complete disarray. Bells rang, and groups of soldiers rushed in multiple directions. All the shops and stalls on the south side of the quad were either shuttered or in the process of hurriedly packing up. Throwing himself flat against the tower wall, he drew a deep breath and froze.

  Eight guards poured into the courtyard behind him, searching for any hint of their whereabouts. Several raced towards the South Gate – the town’s fortified main entrance. He watched as foot soldiers began forming a phalanx in front of the closed metal and wooden barrier while six wizards cast various spells on the ground between his current position and the exit. So, they know we’re invisible. Word travels fast! Despite what he had said upstairs, the South Gate was not part of their escape plan. It had been a deliberate piece of disinformation. Though inexperienced in this level of espionage, only a fool wouldn’t have another way out in case the original plan went sideways. Recalling his druid friend in mouse form, the wizard checked in.

  “Can you hear me, Lulu? Give me a wiggle,” he whispered

  He felt movement against his hip from within the bag. After pausing to allow another group of guards to vacate his proximity, he continued in the same hushed tone.

  “Troops everywhere, but it looks like we’re still good. They are all gathering by the south gate. Stay in form a while longer. I’ll pull you out when we’re clear.”

  Feeling another confirming wiggle, Glynfir shifted his gaze. On the north side of the courtyard, a series of catapults stood ready to defend the mountain pass known as Stonebreach. That was their way out.