Adam began to move more quickly, and the rest of them followed.
“We can’t be far now,” Avery whispered as they reached the fourth crossroads of tunnels. Suddenly a faint sound came to them down the tunnels from the north. Shots, a cry, then silence.
“Oh God,” Letty breathed. “It’s started. Should we go and—?”
“We can’t stop,” Avery said. “We must trust in the others. They are on their own for a time. We must ensure that Thistlewood’s men are stopped at our corner.”
The eerie sounds of distant fighting began again. They continued through the dark tunnel, like a bad dream. After another minute, light appeared ahead from a distant lantern. Avery set his lantern down so that they might creep up on whoever was lurking in the dark.
“Are you ready?” Avery asked Adam so quietly that Letty alm
