Chapter Twenty-Five
Nola stayed off the path as she made her way to the willow tree. Night had fallen, and it was easy to slip unseen through the darkness.
“It’s me.” Nola stepped around the bushes to the open patch of grass behind the willow tree. The tiny space was crowded with four people crouching in it.
“Took you long enough,” Raina said.
“We thought you might have been caught.” Catlyn gave Nola’s hand a squeeze.
“We all could be if we stay here,” Beauford said.
“You’ll be grateful I took my time when you have something to eat in the morning.” Nola knelt with the others. “Could you get the pane out?”
“Mostly,” Raina said, lifting a thin metal bar in her hand, “but it didn’t seem right to pull it the rest of the way free without you.”
“Where did you get that?” Nola asked.
The
