35. Lirion #3
Fortunately, because Lirion didn’t respond, Fenric wasn’t able to send any more messages. Lirion had to engage the spell for a response to come through, after all. It was just as well. If Fenric had been capable, he would be yelling right now. A lot. He’d be yelling a lot.
Lirion lingered at the top of the stairs, watching his sister run as fast as she could down the hall.
Here and there, she would stop and quietly knock on a door.
A head would poke out and she’d whisper quickly to them before moving to the next room.
They were lucky there were no other guards on this floor.
Of course, that probably would be something of a mood killer for the clients.
An uncomfortable reminder that people like his sister weren’t here of their own volition.
Then again, what did it matter if the captives snuck out of their rooms?
There were guards all along the first floor and around every foot of the villa grounds. How could they possibly hope to escape?
Well, he knew a group of villains who were more than happy to create some chaos that would allow all the captives to escape.
As Aria drew near to the end of the hall, Lirion started back down the stairs and headed down the main corridor to the expansive central entertainment room.
It had likely been meant to be a ballroom, because of the stage to one side, but it wasn’t set up for much dancing.
A few people were doing so, closer to the stage, but most were at the tables or splayed out on divans with all forms of alcohol, drugs, and other vices being carried out.
Lirion tried to catch the girls’ and guys’ attention as he walked through, meeting their eyes and sending the same message repeatedly.
When he could get close enough, he whispered the same message. “Walk out the side door. There’s someone waiting to show you to a ship. Escape. Don’t hesitate. Don’t look back. Just go.”
A few hesitated, looking at him askance, a mix of confusion, fear, and doubt flashing through their eyes.
These were workers who’d either come willingly or had long ago given up hope of ever leaving.
Their desperation wasn’t as fresh as Aria’s, nor was their ability to believe they could ever have a life outside these walls.
Still, some wiggled free of a patron’s grasp and headed for the door, acting as if they were going to “fetch something” and would “be right back.” Smart, yes, don’t raise the alarm.
Guards lined the far walls of the giant room.
Even as Lirion took the long way to the stage, he could only talk to a few of the workers.
Too many had no idea what was happening and there was nothing he could do.
He could only hope they’d figure out the truth before it was too late.
The stage performers finished up their set, spied Lirion coming toward them, and waved him in closer. The leader of the string quartet leaned in to whisper, “We’d dearly love an intermission. Can you manage solo for fifteen minutes?”
“I can, yes.”
And that would be perfect, having the stage to himself and giving them time to get out of range.
Musicians set their instruments aside, and Lirion made a show of propping himself on a stool and then setting the lyre in his lap, drawing some attention. Others were ignoring the stage altogether.
He gave a strum, ensuring the instrument was indeed in tune, even though he had just checked it this morning and fine-tuned it. He needed to buy Aria and the others as much time as he possibly could to escape. With any luck, Fenric had located his sister by now and was showing her out of the villa.
Smiling at the assembled people lounging and drinking in front of him, Lirion played a bawdy tune that was popular every time he’d play it in a tavern and pub.
Nearly everyone knew the words and they usually joined in, belting out the chorus.
It was the perfect way to get everyone paying attention to him—even the guards.
As soon as the song was finished and the applause died down, Lirion absently strummed the strings while gathering up his powers. With one exhale, he steadied his nerves and started playing Hymn of Sleep.
Now, normally, when he started playing this song, almost everyone around him drooped a bar in, and by the second stanza, they were dead asleep against whatever surface could prop them up.
Instead, another spell engaged, and all sound from his instrument was abruptly silenced. Lirion paused mid-stroke, looking about in alarm, especially since there was a hazy red light wrapping around the stage.
Oh, that wasn’t good.
They had a fail-safe spell on this stage to prevent any magical shenanigans.
He didn’t even have time to hop off the stool before guards started rushing forward, shouting at him to put the lyre down.
There was no escape. The fail-safe spell would have blocked any magic initiated on the stage, including his fun little walking-through-wall ability.
“I,” Lirion muttered to himself, “am fucked.”