Agnes was sitting in the barge with her crossbow across her knees when they came out of the tunnel.
She watched Faen climb down. She watched Nathan climb down. Then she watched four women come out of the dark after them, one in heavy armor, one in black, one with red hair and golden eyes, and one very tall with a staff and a tiny pink-and-white rabbit sitting in her hair.
Agnes took the pipe out of her mouth.
"No," she said.
"I'll explain on the water," Nathan said.
"You went in with one elf."
"Agnes. Push off."
She pushed off.
---
They were a hundred yards out when the lanterns came.
Three long boats came around the palace point, low in the water, eight rowers each. The rowers pulled together in perfect time. They were faster than the barge. Much faster.
"They'll catch us before the middle of the lake," Agnes said.
"Hmph." Mirko stood up at the back of the barge. "This Knight was locked in a box for many, many days. This Knight would like to stretch."
