Arya noticed the signs of new activity; fresh tire marks on the lane and the unlocked gate that had been left partially open. No guards stood at the perimeter. Clearly, Archan was not expecting any trouble. “How many men does he have?” Maya said. “I saw six, excluding Archan himself,” Arya replied, his keen eyes taking in the appearance of the abandoned building. Somewhere in its depth were the old researcher and his kidnappers. “He brought two wizards with him, and the other four are foot soldiers, useful in a hand combat.” What horrors were they inflicting on Issac? And how long would he endure before giving them Maya’s name? The mere thought of Archan getting his hands on her sent a chill of fear down Arya’s spine. No. he would lay down his life to see that such a thing never happened. Maya drove off, away from the warehouse. “There is a small grove of trees nearby. We’ll leave the car there. It’s near enough to reach when we make a getaway. You’ll come with me, and take Isaac away while I make a diversion and occupy them,”
