It was only a matter of time before they found him. Jonny Linn carried a bucket filled with rubble away from a damaged meat market. He’d worked his way ten blocks southwest, helping for a minute here, five minutes there, trying to blend in. Plenty of other people filled the streets after the quake and the meager early morning light didn’t hurt his chances of escape. He’d lose that particular advantage in less than an hour.

Once the sun was up and those sorcerers put the word out about him Jonny was doomed. He’d been certain he could talk his way past Fat Garrik and his squad, but they were determined to follow orders. Straight-arrow pricks. He figured the last of his poison would do the trick that pretty words hadn’t, but those stupid legionnaires had showed up before it kicked in. Now he was well and truly screwed.

Stupid walls and guards! He knew people just ten miles south that could help him vanish. They wanted this…whatever it was in the satchel. If Jonny reached them he was set.

“Hey! Give us a hand here.” Two stout workers were trying to wrestle a timber off a groaning man’s leg and losing.

Jonny shrugged and adjusted his sword so the hilt was out of his way. Between the three of them they shifted the timber enough so the trapped man could drag himself clear. The man that had shouted gave Jonny’s hand a firm shake.

“Much obliged, pal. Wasn’t sure if we were going to move that beam or not.”

Jonny slipped into his hale-fellow-well-met routine. “Glad to help. What happened to you gents anyway?”

“Same thing that happens every day of my life: bad luck. We were on our way home from the carter’s shop near the south wall when we decided to stop for a drink. Wouldn’t you know, ten minutes later the thrice-damned tavern fell on us. Took hours to dig free. We were almost out when some timbers shifted and pinned Dad’s leg. Lucky you came by when you did, Guardsman.”

“Always glad to be of service. I’m on patrol, trying to make sure there aren’t any ways out of the capital. You know the king ordered the city sealed?”

“Really? Why?”

“I heard a prisoner escaped during the quake and they’re trying to keep him from getting away. You don’t know of any ways out of the city, do you?”

“Nope, can’t say as I do.”

The older man on the ground yanked his pant leg. Jonny looked down. “Yes, sir?”

“You might want to check some of the businesses bordering the wall. If they collapsed your man might climb the rubble to freedom.”

What an idiot! Jonny hadn’t even thought about going through one of the businesses near the wall. Most of them weren’t high enough, but several were three stories. If he could climb up on one of their roofs he might be able to jump it. It was certainly better than waiting around to get caught.

“I hadn’t considered that, sir. I’ll be certain to let my superiors know. And thank you for the suggestion.”

The old man puffed himself up. “Not at all. Always glad to help the guard.”