Forest After Rain

KAZ

My fingers flash angrily.

You said there was two!

River peers over the corner again, looking at the four guards that are chatting to each other in front of the only entrance. He turns back with a mischievous half-smile.

Sorry. I don't know what those other two dimwits are doing over there.

Go distract them. I'll slip in.

I can't, He signs back. One of the guards is the Captain Guard. He's going to know that I'm up to something— he'll never leave the post even if I tell him there's a fire at the King's Chambers.

Usually I'd think more calmly for a solution.

But the image of Rinei's sorrowful face fills my mind, and I can't find myself thinking of anything else. I had to get that flower.

But how? Even if River and I could knock all of them unconscious, there was too high of a chance that one of them would recognize us.

And the Captain Guard was a good fighter. He was also loyal to my father, and would report me the moment he woke up.