It took less than a minute to reach The Mermaid at warlord speed. Black smoke billowed out of the roof and flames shot from broken windows on the third floor. All around the burning building locals were gathering. People came running up the street with buckets. They’d have a bucket brigade going soon. The fire hadn’t spread too far yet. They might save some of the building. More likely they’d just try to keep it from spreading to the neighboring businesses.

Jen took a moment to orient herself. Unless she was badly mistaken the flames came from the capital suite. What were the odds of someone attacking the secret crown listening post and Jen’s squad on the same morning?

“Talon, Rhys, fan out and look for the servant girl. Alec and Edward, with me.” She accelerated to the burning inn, her subordinates right behind her.

They rushed past the gaping crowds so fast she doubted they even registered their presence. A quick glance showed the common room was empty, all patrons having sense enough to flee. Jen heightened her hearing, but the only sounds were shouting outside and the crackle of flame above them.

She pointed toward the kitchen and Alec raced to check it out. She and Edward sprinted up the steps. At the second-floor landing she pointed again, leaving Edward to clear the floor. Jen continued up to the third floor and down the hall to the crown suite.

Smoke filled the hall and the heat resembled an over-fired oven. She strengthened her lungs and ran on.

The door to the suite was smashed. Judging by the damage someone had broken it in. Flames filled the doorway.

Jen crouched down, trying to see into the suite. Even with enhanced vision the smoke and flames obscured too much. She needed to make sure.

She drew power and slammed her palms together. The blast of wind blew the flames back from the doorway for an instant and she ducked through the gap.

Flames seared her skin, forcing her to put more power into her defenses or get roasted. Even strengthened by soul force she needed to hurry. The common room held nothing valuable, just burning furniture. The first bedroom was empty and she began to fear she’d wasted her time.

Jen kicked down the door to the last bedroom. A woman lay on the floor, her skin blistered and her clothes reduced to charred scraps.

She scooped the woman up and fled the burning room as fast as her soul-force-enhanced legs would carry her. She reached the second floor a moment later. Away from the flames, Jen sent healing energy to soothe her seared skin. Edward joined her a moment later. He took one look and left again.

He returned a second later with a pink fur-lined robe which he slung around her shoulders. Apparently her clothes hadn’t stood up to the flames as well as her skin. “Thanks. Take her.”

Jen passed the unconscious woman to Edward and adjusted the robe so it covered her better. Pity he couldn’t have found anything a little less garish.

“She’s alive,” Edward said.

“Let’s collect the others and get out of here.”

Ten minutes later found them in Jen’s room at their inn. They’d collected a fair share of stares when they rushed through the common room. Despite the guys’ best efforts you could only do so much to hide one burned woman and another in a pink robe. Rhys examined the woman while Jen changed into her spare outfit.

“How is she?” Jen asked.

“Alive. Don’t ask me how given all these burns. She needs a healer. The sooner the better.”

Jen nodded. The only healer she knew was at watch headquarters, but if she brought the woman there it might lead to some uncomfortable questions. She needed more information and she needed it now.

“Can you wake her?”

“Maybe, but it won’t be a kindness.”

“We don’t have the luxury of kindness. Do it.”

Rhys nodded and dug a bottle out of his satchel. He passed it under the woman’s ruined nose. She choked, gasped, and tried to sit up.

“Easy, you’re safe now.” Jen sat beside her on the bed. “Is there somewhere we can take you? The only place I can think of is the healer at watch headquarters.”

The woman gave a vehement shake of her head. “Secret,” she gasped.

“I understand. Master Shen told us about your work. Can we take you to him?”

Another shake of her head. “Missing.”

“Shit! Can we take you somewhere else?”

“Underbridge. Secret place. Emergency…” She passed out again.

Jen stood up and paced. What should she do?

“Any of that make sense to you?” Talon asked.

She stopped. “Not much. There’s no Underbridge district. There is a bridge across Cold River. Maybe they’ve got a bolt hole there. That’s all I can think of.”

“Whatever we’re going to do, we need to do it quick. She won’t last long with those burns,” Rhys said.

“Let’s go for it. Rhys, you carry her. Edward, you’re with me. Talon, take Alec and watch our back trail. I don’t want to be followed.”

Edward went to his room to retrieve his maul and this time Jen didn’t object.