Aery gasped at the message getting into her head. "R-rowan... I-i... I've got to g-go... Celaena is l-l-looking for me." Her trembling hands tied her tunic laces... When had it even come unlaced to start with?
She checked her appearance in the mirror, and winced. Flushed cheeks, swollen lips. Hmm. oh well, nothing to be done about that.
She pulled her boots back on, checked their lacing and the presence of the daggers in them. Then she stumbled down the stairs so that she could whistle up one of the urchins. It was Axel, bleary-eyed and wearing only a shirt for sleep.
"Axel, sorry to wake you, buddy, but... Celaena would like me to send a message. Can you get someone else to do it? It's all the way to Adarlan and it's a very dangerous thing..."
Axel yawned. E-S-M-Y CAN-DO. I'LL GO-TO FIND HER.
Aery forced a smile. "Thanks, Axel. Tell Esmy to find any assassins she can in Adarlan, and tell them, I quote directly: "The White Eagle circles overhead." Then have her go buy a black mask and a black catsuit and put her hair up. No, don't laugh, that's important. She should go find a man named Charles. He's very dangerous, hence the disguise. Have her tell him that, again I quote directly: "Celaena is coming for you and you will answer to justice." Then tell her to flee, make absolutely certain that she is not followed. And then, and then, have her change into peasant girl clothes and put her hair down and go find some of her city friends. Tell her to make absolutely certain that she is never alone until someone comes and tells her that the White Eagle has landed." She frowned. "Actually, why don't you go with her? A black outfit for you too." She pressed some gold coins into his hand. "That should cover food and the clothes."
Axel nodded sleepily, saluted with a hand clutching a dagger. He stumbled off to go get dressed and splash himself with ice water. In moments she heard his slightly raised voice to wake up Esmy, and then two horses bearing small riders went galloping out of the inn's courtyard.
Then Aery stumbled back inside, barely able to keep her own eyes open. Well, no wonder! Aside from her torture-induced unconsciousness she'd not slept at all in four days! "Celaena, I'm here!" she said, having seen Celaena's boots, along with Silly's and Ame's, outside one of the rooms. She knocked on the door and caught herself on the frame to keep from falling over. Soo... Sleeepy... She forced her eyes open. Just fifteen minutes, see what Celaena wants, and then you can go to sleep for a few hours at least, Aery. And you can tie yourself into the saddle tomorrow and sleep then.