The passageway was narrow and suffocating and the air was damp and stale. I kept close to Kieran as we moved through the twisting tunnels beneath the palace.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
"Where exactly does this lead?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sound of our hurried footsteps.
"There's an old servants' exit that leads outside the palace walls," Kieran replied without looking back. "It hasn't been used in years, but it'll get us out undetected lf we're lucky."
"Lucky?" I echoed nervously. "That's not exactly reassuring."
He glanced over his shoulder, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "If you wanted reassurances, you picked the wrong path, Angelica."
I bristled at his tone but bit back a retort. Now wasn't the time for bickering. Instead, I focused on the path ahead.
The sound of distant footsteps and muffled voices reached my ears, making my pulse quicken.
"They're still searching for me," I murmured.
"They won't stop," Kieran said flatly. "You're too valuable now. But that also makes you dangerous. They'll hunt you until they're certain you're no longer a threat."
His words sent a shiver down my spine. It wasn't just the council or the guards. The entire palace had turned into a trap, and I was the prey. The realization made my grip tighten on the folded map tucked into my sleeve. The sorcerer in the northern mountains might be my only chance, but reaching them felt like an impossible task.
Kieran suddenly stopped, holding up a hand to silence me. I froze, my heart pounding as I strained to listen. The faint sound of voices echoed through the passageway, growing louder with each passing second.
"They're getting closer," I whispered, panic creeping into my voice.
Kieran nodded, his expression calm but tense. "This way." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me down a side tunnel, the narrow walls forcing us to move single file. The air grew colder, the darkness more oppressive.
We turned another corner, and I saw it—a wooden door at the end of the passage, its edges warped with age. Relief surged through me, but it was short-lived. The sound of footsteps was louder now, accompanied by the clinking of armor. They were right behind us.
"Hurry," Kieran urged, picking up the pace.
We reached the door, and Kieran pushed it open, revealing a staircase that spiraled upward. Without hesitation, he motioned for me to climb. I didn't need to be told twice. I scrambled up the steps, the cold stone biting against my palms as I used my hands to steady myself.
The staircase seemed to go on forever, but finally, I reached the top. Another door stood before me, this one reinforced with iron. I pushed against it, but it wouldn't budge.
"It's stuck!" I hissed, glancing back at Kieran, who was close behind.
He brushed past me, slamming his shoulder against the door. It groaned under the pressure but held firm.
"They've sealed it from the outside," he muttered, his jaw tightening. "Step back."
I did as he said, pressing myself against the wall as Kieran drew a dagger from his belt. With precise movements, he wedged the blade into the door's edge and began working it loose. The sound of splintering wood filled the narrow space, and I flinched, every noise feeling like a beacon for the guards chasing us.
"Hurry," I urged, my voice trembling.
"I'm working on it," Kieran snapped, his usual composure slipping.
The footsteps were deafening now, echoing up the staircase. I could hear voices shouting, orders being barked. They were close—too close.
"Kieran—" I started, but before I could finish, the door gave way with a sharp crack. Kieran shoved it open, revealing the cool night air and the faint glow of the moon.
"Go!" he barked, pulling me through the doorway.
We emerged into the open, the palace looming behind us like a dark sentinel. The exit had brought us out near the stables, the smell of hay and horses filling the air. Kieran didn't give me a chance to catch my breath. He grabbed my arm and dragged me toward a pair of saddled horses waiting in the shadows.
"You planned this," I realized, struggling to keep up.
"Of course I did," he said, throwing me onto one of the horses. "Do you think I came unprepared?"
I didn't have time to respond. Kieran mounted his own horse and took the reins of mine, leading us away from the palace at a gallop. The wind whipped against my face, carrying with it the sound of shouting guards. They had found the broken door, but we were already disappearing into the night.
The city streets were a blur as we raced through them, Kieran navigating the twisting alleys with practiced ease. I clung to the saddle, my heart pounding as the reality of what we were doing sank in. I was leaving the palace—leaving everything behind.
We didn't stop until we were far beyond the city walls, the open countryside stretching out before us. Kieran finally slowed his horse, allowing mine to catch up. I could barely feel my legs, the adrenaline still coursing through me.
"Where are we?" I asked, my voice hoarse.
"Far enough," Kieran replied, his tone unreadable. He dismounted and gestured for me to do the same.
I slid off the horse, my legs nearly giving out beneath me. Kieran caught my arm, steadying me before letting go. He reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a canteen, handing it to me.
"Drink," he said. "You'll need your strength."
I took a small sip, the cool water soothing my parched throat. "What now?" I asked, handing the canteen back.
"Now," Kieran said, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight, "we head for the mountains. And you'd better prepare yourself, Angelica. Because the worst is yet to come."
His words sent a chill down my spine, but before I could respond, a distant howl echoed across the plains. It was unlike anything I had ever heard.....low and guttural, filled with a menace that made my blood run cold.
"What was that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Kieran's expression darkened, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "Trouble."
The howl came again, closer this time. My heart raced as shadows began to move at the edge of the treeline, shapes that were too large to be wolves but far too silent to be human.
"Kieran," I said, my voice trembling. "What are those?"
He drew his sword, the steel gleaming in the moonlight. "Run," he said, his voice cold and steady. "I'll hold them off."