“This is a bad idea, my boy. Forget it. Leave the lion and let’s get out of here”

B

aruch cautiously crept forward, his eyes locked with the lion’s.

“Stay…” Baruch carefully looped a rope around the lion’s neck, sweat dripping down his face. “Calm.”

He tightened the rope and then led the lion to the closed gate.

“Sebastian. Let’s go.”

“This is a bad idea, my boy. Forget it. Leave the lion and let’s get out of here. There will be opportunities down the road.”

“No. There won’t. You know that better than I do. We have our chance, let’s take it.”

“This is madness.” Sebastian opened the gate and stepped back quickly as the lion came out, sniffing the air curiously.

Baruch tugged on the rope.

“This way.”

They crept down the hallway, listening for any sounds of patrolling guards.

They came up to the first guarded entrance, leading to the hallway that would take them to the side door of the east rooms of the palace.

Sebastian nodded at Baruch.

“Do it.”

Baruch loosened the rope and nudged the lion.

“Go!”