I winced as I heard the dagger audibly connect to something metallic.� I could only hope that the sound hadn�t reached the top of the wall, or if it had then the guards were too busy clearing out of Gertrude�s way to notice.��
This time the dagger held.� I wasn�t prepared to trust myself to the rope without testing it first.� I pulled as hard as I could and was glad to find that the rope stayed put.� If it�s worth testing once, it�s worth testing twice.� I wrapped part of the rope around my arm and swung my whole body weight off the ground.
Something up in the darkness gave way and I found myself sprawled on the wet ground with the rope, and more importantly that dagger, heading rapidly towards me.
Hastily, I scrambled out of the danger zone.� I got myself clear just in time, but for a moment I wasn�t sure.� The pain in my ribs kicked up a notch and I fought not to cry out.� I�d been making plenty of noise, but there was no reason to make even more.
I gave the rope a quick check to make sure that it wasn�t damaged and it all seemed serviceable.� Ordinarily, I�d take more time to make certain that everything was in a good state, but here in the drizzle and darkness I had to do the best I could.� Time and Gertrude wait for no man.
My thrown dagger had struck something solid somewhere along the way and now it bent at a gentle angle.� No use for combat, but it was only serving as a weight anyway.
I swung the contraption and threw it upwards with all my strength, ignoring the protestations of my injury.� This time I was more fortunate and something had stuck. Despite my best tugging, the rope remained in place.� I grabbed my backpack and started to climb.