Chapter 3

"Mr. Sterling," I said into the darkness, "are you really just a scholar?"

His laugh echoed through the narrow passage. "Ms. White, no, Mrs. Frost, everyone in Southiks has their secrets. Maybe one day you'll learn mine."

The passage opened into a small room. Charles pulled a set of rough cotton clothes from a cabinet and handed them to me. "Put these on. I'll get you out of the city."

I took the clothes. "Does the warrant have my real name on it?"

Charles shook his head. "It just says runaway slave. Not a word about your name." He gave…