Escape From Riddler's Pass by Amy Green Page A

began.
    But Silas had already paced away to the edge of the grove of trees.
    â€œLeave it,” Rae advised, retreating to one of the tents. “He’s clearly made up his mind.”
    But, try as he might, Jesse could not just leave it. Slowly, leaning on his staff and ignoring the twinge of pain, he stood and limped over to Silas. “I said I would take first watch,” Silas said, hearing him approach.
    â€œIt’s not that. I….” Jesse paused, trying to think of what to say. “You don’t seem yourself lately.” Silence. “Well, not lately, really, just…just when you talk about the Rebellion.”
    â€œI have my reasons,” Silas said.
    Jesse could see Silas’ face clearly in the moonlight, and, without thinking, he shivered. Something was terribly wrong. Oh, the pale blond hair hadn’t changed. Neither had the sharp nose and strong chin. It was his eyes. Pale gray in the moonlight, they stared into the darkness with a look of pure hatred Jesse had never seen before, and certainly hadn’t seen in Silas before.
    â€œOh,” Jesse said at last. He couldn’t think of anything to say. There’s no use in talking to him now .
    â€œGoodnight, then,” he said, limping back to the tent. Although he had a nagging feeling he had given up too soon, it was easier than trying to talk to someone who didn’t want to listen. Maybe in the morning he would try again. Jesse yawned and closed his eyes. Yes. In the morning.
    Jesse awoke to a hand clamped firmly over his mouth. He drew a breath to cry out for help, when he heard Silas whisper. “Not a word, Jesse.”
    What’s happening? It couldn’t be time for them to break camp; it was still dark.
    Then another voice, a distant one Jesse didn’t recognize. “He’s cocky, that’s what he is. Bossy too. Comes in from District Four, orders us to follow him, and now he keeps us trapped in the mountains. Who does he think he is, anyway? That’s what I want to know.”
    â€œJust be quiet and look around,” another voice replied.
    As Jesse’s eyes adjusted to the dark, his tired mind realized what was happening. Captain Demetri’s Patrol—they’re still here! And just beyond the trees.
    Silas removed his hand, satisfied Jesse wouldn’t betray their presence with a shout. Rae was behind Silas, and both stared past the trees toward the mountain, tensed and ready to flee at any moment.
    â€œThey couldn’t possibly have lived through the cave-in,” the first one continued, in a whining, nasal voice. “We barely got out alive. Even if they didn’t get crushed right away, they’ll be trapped.”
    Jesse shivered, picturing the slow end he could have met, pinned under a boulder, starving but unable to die.
    â€œThe captain says to check the perimeter once every watch,” the other replied patiently. “We do it. At least, we pretend to. An easy assignment—we’ll be back home in a few days once the captain is satisfied.”
    His eyes wide, Jesse tried not to breathe. Will they see us in the trees?
    â€œLook at this,” the nasal Patrol member said, laughing. “Not a rock out of place. Those children are as good as gone. Don’t know what all the fuss is about anyhow. Come on, let’s get back to the western side. Likely the others will have eaten all the rations without us.”
    Two sets of footsteps, one of them sounding like they were kicking small stones, clunked into the night. For the first time in his life, Jesse was glad the lazy and dishonest often filled the ranks of the king’s Patrol.
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” he whispered, after he was sure the Patrol members were gone.
    â€œWe will leave. Tonight,” Silas said grimly. “That is, if you can walk, Jesse.”
    â€œWhy?” Jesse asked. “They don’t know we’re here.”
    â€œThey could find