27. Chapter 26
27
Chapter 2 6
Dacias
Dacias followed Souzie as they approached the wall surrounding the castle’s rear. The night’s eerie darkness sent a prickling sensation down his spine. The silence felt unnatural, and the drumming of his heart was so intense that he thought it might burst from his chest. Then we’d have two hearts at our disposal. Souzie moved with confidence, helping to ease Dacias’s nerves.
Dacias took a deep breath. He couldn’t let his mind spiral. He had to focus on the here and now. Julen needed him to be sharp.
Souzie scaled the wall, stopping at the top to give Dacias a hand. If he grabbed onto her, he’d no doubt pull her right off the wall, even without the isocanther and ten volumes of blood he lugged around in a sack. He climbed up, careful not to make too much noise. He didn’t want the containers to clink together.
He could almost make out Souzie’s nod before she jumped down, landing with a soft thud on the castle grounds. He lowered himself, reaching in the darkness to find her outstretched arms, handed her the equipment, and then jumped down to join her side.
She handed the supplies back to him and spoke in a whisper. “Typically, the idiots who guard the rear of the castle are about as useful as an asshole on an elbow, but every once in a while, there are newer guardians who have something to prove. You never know who is going to be on which shift. We’ll creep through the trees and slink along the back of the stables to stay out of view. Latima should be waiting for us.”
Dacias nodded and repositioned the bags. Souzie motioned for him to follow her, and together, they wove through the brush, making their way behind the stables.
They darted from the foliage’s edge to the back of the stable and crouched beneath a window facing the wooded area of the grounds. Souzie spoke in hushed tones, “All right, from here, we need to—”
The doors of the rear entryway slammed open, smashing against the stone wall, nearly sending Souzie and Dacias running back into the woods. Several guardians bolted into the stables, carrying torches.
Souzie and Dacias froze and listened, trying to decipher the commotion. The cacophony of shouts blended words, forming a continuous clamor. They could hear the guardians harnessing the horses and maneuvering a carriage into the courtyard. “Chains for the assailant!” That was the only complete sentence Dacias could understand. He looked at Souzie, and it was evident from her expression that she heard the same.
“Assailant?” Dacias asked.
Souzie whispered through clenched teeth, “Fuck! Did someone break into the castle? This will ruin everything!”
“Let’s listen. Maybe we can make out more,” Dacias suggested.
Make haste for Vinculux…Horses ready…Make haste for Vinculux…Secure the carriage…
Souzie cussed under her breath. “By the Mother Planet, someone did break into the castle! The timing couldn’t be worse.”
Dacias’s mind spiraled. What if the assailant attacked Julen? He couldn’t hide the edge in his voice as he asked, “Do you think Julen will be trying to signal to us? Can we see into his window from here?”
Souzie crawled to the edge of the stable, motioning Dacias to stay put, and took a peek. “All right. The coast is clear. His room looks out onto the side of the castle facing west. We’ll go into the trees and loop around to his window. ”
Dacias gave a nod. “Let’s do it. He must be trying to signal to us. Has this kind of thing happened before? You don’t think an assailant would attack Julen, do you?”
Souzie shook her head. “It is far more likely that someone tried to attack Haligran, considering what a scum-ridden pig’s ass he is. Get closer. When I tap your leg, we need to bolt to the trees. Follow close behind me.”
Dacias nodded and moved closer to Souzie. She peaked out from the edge of the stable. A quick tap and they were off.
They made it to the trees and paused. Souzie motioned to the direction they were heading. She began creeping along the border where the trees met the courtyard but remained hidden in the shadows. Dacias stayed close behind. They crept through the woods, making their way towards Julen’s bedchamber, but froze at the site of shattered windows and a swarm of people milling about a grand room of the castle.
Dacias’s eyes widened at the scene before him. Dozens of guardians and what appeared to be servants hurried about the room, sweeping up debris. A woman with long dark hair gazed out the window, tears streaming down her face, her gasping breaths echoing in the night. A team of women flitted around her, handing her a drink, damping her forehead with rags, and rubbing her hands soothingly.
“Is that the queen?” Dacias asked, and Souzie nodded in reply.
Behind her, Dacias could see the guardians lifting bureaus, desks, and pieces of furniture. It’s like somebody shot a cannon into the room!
Dacias rested a hand on her shoulder. “Is Haligran in there?”
She whispered, “No. That’s a good sign. He was probably the target. We should look in Julen’s room. He’s most likely there. Don’t worry.”
They continued their journey through the woods, making their way to Julen’s bedchamber. The window was closed, and the room looked dark. Not a good sign.
Dacias whispered, the edge in his voice even stronger now, “Souzie, Julen could have been attacked. They’ve apprehended someone, and it sounds like they’re taking the prisoner to Vinculux.”
Souzie looked about the courtyard. Her breath hitched, and she pointed. “ Latima!”
A young girl stood by the rear castle entrance, wringing her hands.
Souzie continued, “She’s supposed to let us in. Let’s go.”
Souzie rushed along the foliage back to the stables, and Dacias followed. Souzie scanned the area, looked up toward the parapet, and then back at Dacias. “All of the guardians must be dealing with whatever is happening. I don’t see anyone standing guard back here. Let’s go. Stay close.”
She darted across the courtyard, and Dacias trailed close behind, desperately trying to make as little noise as possible.
Latima saw them and rushed to Souzie. Her voice shook with emotion, and she did her best to control it. “You must leave at once. It isn’t safe. I can send a courier messenger to you tomorrow, but if the guardians see you—”
Dacias interrupted, “Please, what has happened? Is Julen hurt? Where is he?”
Souzie clutched Latima’s shoulders, “Latima. Please tell us what happened.”
Latima closed her eyes. “Listen to me closely because you must run once I’m finished.”
They both nodded, and Latima carried on. “The king was…he was abusing the queen. Servants said they heard the sounds of fighting and saw the prince enter their quarters. The servants fetched for guardians and…”
Dacias’s stomach clenched into a knot. No, please don’t tell me he hurt Julen.
Latima gripped Souzie’s wrist. “Souzie, they say the prince was levitating. That he was manipulating wind in ways they’d never seen before, he attacked the king! He almost killed Haligran, but the king’s guardians sh—they shot him with crossbows.”
“What?! Where is he? Does he live?” Dacias was ready to storm the castle and look for Julen himself.
Souzied grabbed his arm and held it tight. “What happened to Julen?” she asked Latima.
“He’s unconscious, but he lives. They’re loading him into a carriage with a guardian escort now. They are taking him to Vinculux.”
Dacias’s legs buckled. The world spun around him, and his hands and feet felt cold.
Souzie braced herself against the wall. “No…no…no…”
Sounds from the front of the castle startled Latima. “I’ve told you all I know. You must leave.”
Souzie heaved against the castle wall. Dacias grabbed her arm and rushed them back to the wooded area, where they paused.
“Souzie, look at me. Please, look at me.” Souzie looked at Dacias. He wasn’t sure if she could hear him. “We have to go back to your place right now.”
Souzie spoke as if she were in a trance. “They’re sending him there. He’s going to that place…”
Dacias clutched her arms. “And I am going to get him out.”