Marques could almost feel Danica's eyes on his back and was glad there were no knives near, as his expectation based on her face would be a quick stabbing. And then there was Ilina, silent, who did not even look up.

But he was now outside, in the hall. He could hear voices on the left, from the stairwell, and saw the door of the northerners on the other side of the hall - but as the hallway curved, he could not see where it ended.

Outside, the rain seemed to take a break - he felt a faint draft, but did not hear the drumming of the rain. Maybe it was safe to venture outside, for a moment.

On the other side of the stairwell he saw another door - maybe that one lead to one of the walkways above the courtyard. Maybe not.