41 #2
Maeve and I walk quickly to the door, trying to be quiet when our boots land on the stone beneath our feet.
We make it all the way to the door before Maeve stops us, causing me to slam into her back. I curse under my breath as I reach out to steady her.
Maeve pulls us to the wall next to the door, pressing her back against it and leading me to stand in front of her.
She’s waiting I realise, not wanting the door to be seen opening by itself. Judging by the casual demeanour in which the guards stand, they’re not here for her, yet.
But if a door opens by itself, well she’d be your first guess.
I haven’t heard of any other fae with her powers, although I’m sure they’d be out there, there’s certainly none as known as her.
We wait next to the door, with Maeve still against the wall and me standing in front of her, holding her hand.
I look to the side, one of the soldiers makes a move for the table behind us. I press my body against the wall, as tight as I can. Trying not to squish Maeve in the process.
I feel her body tense against my chest and try not to think about the fact that this is the closest we have ever been.
Maeve’s breathing quickens and I put my free hand over her mouth to keep her quiet, knowing that’ll probably earn me a swift punch to my gut later.
Even though I can’t see Maeve, I can sense where she is.
Regardless of whether she’s touching me or not, I can tell where she is.
It’s been that way ever since our first session on the mat, where I had challenged her to a fight.
I still don’t know why but it is incredibly helpful.
I was even able to sense where she was when she helped us save the people in Erador, after Hidale’s attack.
It’s how I knew she was safe and how I knew the houses were covered.
Leaving Cole and I could direct our soldiers elsewhere.
The soldier finally moves behind me and I’m able to take a step back from Maeve and drop my hand from her mouth.
I’m not afraid to admit that I hate the distance already, even with my hand still in hers.
We stay like that for a few moments, waiting for someone to leave or walk into the tavern so we can slip out. I count down the minutes, knowing that Maeve only has twenty before she reveals us anyway.
We’re at two minutes left. I squeeze Maeve’s hand, her squeeze back tells me she knows. I knew she would anyway, chances are she’s already thought of another way out of here. Or realised that there isn’t.
I count down the seconds, thirty to go before we’re caught.
I feel Maeve pull me, edging closer towards the door, ready to go at a moment's notice.
Finally, the door swings open, I chuck my foot in front of it. Holding it open for just a second as it hinges towards the outside. It gives Maeve and I enough time to slip through, without being too obvious.
Once we’re outside I pull Maeve through the street, heading towards an alleyway. Our time is up but she hasn’t lost her hold yet. It’s not until we’re in the darkness of the alleyway that she releases my hand and we become visible.
Maeve stumbles over slightly and rests her hands on her knees, her soft brown braid flicking over her shoulder.
I brush her hair back. “Are you okay, love?”
Maeve nods but doesn’t say a word, still catching her breath.
“That was longer than twenty minutes.”
“Well aware.” She breathes, regaining herself and standing up straight.
“Your training with Cole paid off it seems.”
“Or maybe it’s just extra strength pulled from desperate times.” She notes.
I shrug, crossing my arms before my gaze falls to the dagger in her hand. Maeve catches my gaze at once.
“Precautions.” She says bluntly.
“It’s not that.” I reply, looking at the dagger.
The blade looks familiar, there’s something about it. I feel like I’ve seen it before. Especially with the familiar ruby on the hilt, glistening from the light of the stars.
“Where did you get that?” I murmur.
“It’s mine.”
I scoff at her. “Don’t lie to me love, I know you didn’t have that on your person when we first collected you.” I say, for lack of better words. “And I know we don’t have that in our armoury.”
Maeve shrugs. “I’m not lying, it’s mine.”
She looks away from me before adding. “I had just lost it— until recently.”
I feel my eyes flare in recognition, just now realising where I had seen the weapon before. “You stole it in Wendil, from Jenson’s collection.”
“Technically he stole it first, I retrieved it.”
“Semantics.” I seethe at her.
“You’re mad that I took it back, seriously?” Maeve replies bluntly.
“Yes love, I’m mad!” I snap, throwing my hands up. “I specifically told you that he cannot know it’s me, that he can’t know it was people from Erador that took the artifact.”
“Well this will have him looking in the wrong direction, he’ll look for me in Hidale before Erador.” She says defensively.
“Maybe that would have been true if it weren’t for your violent display in Bretton.” The town where Maeve had sliced that soldier's arm. The one who now is in Faystra, for reasons I’ve yet to figure out.
Maeve glares at me and I realise she probably thinks I was judging her. I open my mouth to tell her I wasn’t but she cuts me off.
“I think we have bigger problems anyway, like figuring out why those soldiers are here.”
I let out a breath. “They can’t know you’re in Faystra, we travelled by the transporter and Castor wouldn’t tell Hidale, not without a reason.”
Maeve looks back to the light pouring in from the street next to the dark alley way.
“Either way, we should go.” She says motioning towards the street and taking a step towards it.
I grab her shoulders from behind, stopping her in her tracks, which earns me yet another glare shot over her shoulder.
“Not that way.” I say bluntly, “there might be more of them. Even if they’re not here for you, I don’t doubt they’ll attack on sight.”
“So which way?” She asks with a sigh.
I look up towards the rooftops by way of answering her.
Maeve smiles at me, the tension leaving her body.
“Sounds fun.”
I smirk at her, forgetting all the reasons I was mad at her.
“After you?” I say gesturing to the wall behind me.
She scoffs. “Try to keep up, your highness.”
I watch Maeve as she climbs up one of the downpipes from the sandstone house next to us. Amazement crosses my features as I watch her. She’s been so skillfully trained that she hardly makes a noise and climbs with ease.
I climb up after her, I’m still good at climbing, having trained as well. But I doubt I look nearly as graceful as Maeve.
“Look.” Maeve says when I meet her on the roof.
She’s crouched down by the edge, looking at the streets below. I make it over to her and crouch down as well.
“You were right, there are more.” She whispers.
I look down and watch a sea of red unfold below, from a group of Hidale’s soldiers.
“What are they doing? Why are they here?” Maeve asks, voice so carefully quiet.
“I don’t know.”