While the star elves around me had the decency to look abashed, Shade continued staring at me, eyes full of emotions I couldn’t decipher. I averted my gaze and found Elaran watching me as well. He gave me a slow nod.
“Right, yes.” Princess Illeasia cleared her throat. “I think everyone has received their food now.” Her slender fingers gripped the glass goblet and hoisted it in the air. “Shall we?”
After a short pause, the rest of the table lifted theirs as well.
“To the beauty and grace of the stars,” the princess said.
After everyone had echoed the phrase, they drank and then began eating. I remained staring at the glass in my hand. Everything had been so much easier when there hadn’t been a choice. What Niadhir said made much more sense than I wanted to admit but I was still reluctant to give it up because the darkness was a part of me.
White wine swished against the edges as I returned the goblet to the decorated table. I didn’t want to make a decision because what if I made the wrong one? At least, after tonight I wouldn’t have to tie my brain in a knot trying to choose because there wouldn’t be a choice left. I pushed all the worry out of my mind.
Tonight would be my last night here so I might as well enjoy the food. Especially this strange cheese dish that I had come to love. The texture was a bit odd but it tasted heavenly. Warm and salty. My mouth watered just at the thought of it so after picking up the correct fork, I stabbed the fried cheese. Cutting off a piece, I lifted it up. A wry smile settled on my lips. They might be a nation of conquerors but they sure knew how to cook.
Elaran, Shade, and I exchanged a glance over our raised forks. One more evening. Then we would all be out of here. Then we would all be free.
24.
The door clicked shut behind me. Shade and Elaran looked up from the stack of papers on the desk and nodded at me before returning to whatever last-minute task they were up to. I strode over to the usually tidy bed now littered with pieces of gleaming white armor and dropped even more stuff on it.
As usual, the banquet hadn’t finished until well into the night and at that point, everyone was so exhausted that they made straight for their rooms. Tonight was no exception. I had already prepared everything before we left for the dinner, so when I returned, I only had to grab my things and then sneak straight over to Elaran’s room. From the looks of it, Shade had done the same.
“Alright, once we get out there, I’ll take care of the horse while you and Storm push the carriage out of the building,” the Master Assassin said and moved his eyes from Elaran to me.
The wood elf nodded while I was trying to untangle everything from my voluminous skirts. We were all still wearing the elaborate clothes from the banquet because we would need every minute of preparation together. Once I’d finally gotten everything I’d been carrying loose and dropped the last of it on the bed, I nodded as well.
“You got any weapons?” I asked.
Shade magicked two knives from the sleeves of his formal jacket and twirled them in his hands while a satisfied smile spread across his lips. Of course he had. Our less shady elven friend, on the other hand, furrowed his brows at me.
“Where would I have gotten weapons?”
I smacked my lips. “Figured as much.”
Moving with trained efficiency, I started producing one knife after the other from various parts of my clothes.
Elaran’s eyebrows shot up as he stared at me. “What did you do? Hide a whole army in there?”
Shrugging, I waved a hand at the pile that had formed on his spotless white covers. “How many do you want?”
The auburn-haired archer blew out an amused breath through his nose and muttered something about sneaky underworlders but approached and picked up two silver knives that had been taken from their home in the banquet hall. When he was done, I met Shade’s eyes and nodded at the pile again.
“Want some more?”
Amusement settled on his face as he sauntered over and grabbed two more blades. He gave me an impressed grin. “Much obliged.”
“Anytime.” I picked up a white breastplate and shifted my gaze to Elaran. “Should we get you into this armor then?”
Shade threw me a skeptical look. “Do you even know how to properly put on armor?”
“Uhm... no?”
“I didn’t think so. I’ll help him with the armor.” The Master of the Assassins’ Guild took the gleaming breastplate from my hands. “You should take your clothes off.”
I jerked back. “What?”
His black eyes glittered as he no doubt saw the heat I could feel on my cheeks. A satisfied smirk spread across his lips. “I’m assuming you’re not escaping in that sparkly thing so if you’re planning on changing into other clothes, you should do that now.”
“Oh.” I cleared my throat.
All I wanted to do was throw a knife at his handsome smirking face but I decided that it would have to wait until after we had escaped. Narrowing my eyes at him, I had to settle for a glare before starting the arduous process of liberating myself from my formal outfit.
Jewelry from my hair and around my neck clinked as I dropped it into a neat pile on the bed. After pulling my hair back in a simple braid, I got to work on the dress. A deep sigh of relief escaped my throat as I finally got it off and placed it on the bed. These dresses weren’t exactly built for breathing in. I threw a glance over my shoulder to see how Elaran and Shade were coming along.
The assassin snapped his head back to the elf in front of him when I found him looking at me. Frowning, I shook my head. What in Nemanan’s name had that been about?
Once I had pulled on the plain dress I had chosen, I went about hiding knives and pieces of jewelry in there. If we were going to get all the way back to Pernula, we’d need money. And I’d bet my currently unavailable fortune that this stuff was worth more than enough for what we’d need.
“Hand me that helmet,” Shade said and pointed at the one next to me on the bed.
“No one ever tell you that you should ask nicely?” I countered but picked up the helmet and walked over to him anyway.
“If you make sure his hair is inside, I’ll put in on,” the presumptuous assassin said as if I hadn’t commented.
I rolled my eyes but did as he ordered regardless. Winding Elaran’s auburn hair around my fingers, I twisted it up and put in on his head while Shade put the helmet in place. We both stepped back to study his handiwork.
“So, how about it?” Elaran demanded.
Shade glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “You think Cadentia is on our side tonight?”
“Lady Luck and I have a complicated relationship.” I cocked my head and flicked my gaze over the wood elf. “But yeah, I think it’s close enough to pass.”
Elaran shifted uncomfortably in the shiny armor. “Good. Then let’s get to it.”
Since I had already finished getting ready, I just plopped down on the bed and waited. Shade had started unbuttoning his shirt but then stopped. He arched an eyebrow at me.
“You just going to sit there and watch me undress?”
I ran my eyes up and down his body before allowing my lips to curl into a smirk. “Yep.”
If the damn assassin was going to deliberately make me blush, I was definitely going to get back at him. A baffled chuckle rose from his chest and he shook his head but he didn’t turn away. Instead, his intense black eyes stared straight at me while he undid the buttons on his white shirt. I held his gaze. When Shade finally pulled off his shirt, I let my eyes roam across his body. Chiseled abs and toned arms flexed as he threw the white garment to the side. I grinned. And besides, it really was a nice view.
While I got my revenge on the Master Assassin, Elaran stomped back and forth across the room, swinging his arms, crouching and twisting to check the range of his movements in the well-fitting armor. He appeared satisfied because he gave the inanimate object a nod.
Looking down at the dress I was wearing, I tried to stave off a tidal wav
e of pain that threatened to sweep me out to sea and drown me in its merciless embrace. I would’ve done anything to get my clothes and, most of all, my knives back before we escaped. Leaving them behind felt like leaving a piece of my soul but there was no other choice. I had searched for them everywhere, hoping to catch just a glimpse of them, ever since I got here but to no avail. They were nowhere to be found.
With an irritated sigh, I scraped together all my inconvenient feelings and shoved them back behind the stone walls around my heart where they belonged. I had already lost so much of who I was so what was one more thing? The loss and heartbreak would have to wait.
“Ready?” Shade asked and moved his gaze between us.
Elaran and I nodded in unison.
“Alright, let’s leave this place forever then.”
I wasn’t sure if Elaran had managed to say goodbye to Princess Illeasia without tipping her off about our escape since his face betrayed nothing as he stalked to the door. Another person who had decided that loss and heartbreak would have to wait. It made mine seem silly in comparison but his suffering did nothing to dull my own pain. Grabbing the coils of rope from the bed, I slammed the walls up around my heart again and followed the elf and the assassin out the door.
The gleaming corridor lay empty around us as we snuck towards the chute. Shade opened it and I fastened the rope to the handle on the inside. Soft thudding came from the square-shaped duct as I let the line fall down into the darkness.
“Okay, remember that the rope doesn’t reach all the way to the bottom,” I said. “So when you’re out, you’ve gotta let go and slide down the rest of the way.”
Elaran elbowed past me. “I’ll go first. If I fall down on top of you in this armor, it won’t end well.”
Seeing as he had a point, I didn’t argue and instead let him climb into the hole first. Shade followed right after. As soon as the assassin had taken up position next to the elf, I joined them. With my back pressed against Shade’s chest, I drew the metal plate shut.
“Alright, you can start climbing now,” I whispered to Elaran in the oppressive darkness.
The rope snapped taut next to me as he began his descent. When Shade’s body heat disappeared from my shoulder blades, I knew he had started downwards as well. I waited another few seconds before following.
Only our strained breathing echoed against the metal walls as we made our way towards the bottom. I spent my time once again imagining running free across the Thieves’ Highway in Keutunan instead of the awfully confined space I was in.
“This is the end of the rope,” Elaran announced somewhere below.
“Alright, let go and then brace yourself for a rough landing.”
Scraping sounds drifted upwards as his armor slid against metal. Rustling clothes followed it as Shade let go of the rope as well. After sending a quick prayer to Nemanan, I did too.
Since the end of the chute was already down, thanks to Elaran, there was nothing to break my speed so I flew right out the opening. Something softer than stones caught me on the other side and let out a cough. I turned my head to find Shade’s body underneath me.
“Sorry,” I mumbled as I disentangled our limbs and scrambled off him.
Dusting ourselves off, the three of us straightened and took in the scene. The courtyard lay deserted in front us, just as we had expected. Without another word, we snuck towards the carriage storage. So far, everything had gone according to plan but I couldn’t prevent my heart from thumping in my chest. The hardest part still remained. Fooling the guards at the gate.
Insects of the night sang in the bushes as I knelt in front of the door and drew out my lockpicks. Once it clicked open, I rose and pushed down the handle.
The door flew up and banged against the wall as it bounced off it. All three of us stumbled back a step as a horde of elves in white armor streamed out and formed a semi-circle in front of us. Their gleaming swords were pointed straight at us. I whipped out two knives just as the row of armed star elves parted to allow one more to pass.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice you stealing a set of armor?” Captain Hadraeth demanded. “What kind of Guard Captain do you think I am?”
Blood pounded in my ears. Godsdamn it. I shifted my weight while gripping the knives tighter. How were we supposed to get out of this?
“Now,” he continued, “put those silly utensils down and let’s go back inside.”
Moonlight glinted off the blades as the guards raised their swords further in warning. I risked a glance at my companions. Both of them gave an almost imperceptible shake of their head. So, we weren’t backing down then. Good. I’d been itching for a fight.
Steel flashed through the air as I threw the knife in my right hand. All hell broke loose around me as the assassin and the wood elf attacked as well. Unfortunately, it quickly became obvious that these knives had been made to eat with and not to throw at armed attackers because the one I’d hurled at the guard sailed hopelessly off course. He batted it away easily with his blade. Drawing another one, I crouched into an attack position.
The star elf guard sprang forward and swung his long sword at me. Fighting in this damn dress was a nightmare. Fabric flapped around me like sails, slowing down my movements and betraying my directions. I twisted out from the sword strike and stabbed at my assailant. He slammed his blade down in defense, making the flimsy piece of cutlery in my hand fly from my grip.
An armored elbow connected with my jaw. My head snapped to the side and for a moment, I was afraid something was broken. Blinking black spots from my vision and trying to ignore the throbbing spreading across my face, I cast a quick look at my friends.
Our ridiculous kitchenware weapons had us at a severe disadvantage. Shade was engaged in a losing battle with two star elves while Elaran looked to be only a few seconds away from being defeated by Captain Hadraeth.
Rage surged through me. After everything we had done, after all the scheming and sneaking and those damn balls I’d endured, it couldn’t end with this miserable failed escape attempt. The darkness screamed in my soul. I wouldn’t let it end this way.
Black clouds exploded from my body. Lightning crackled around me as I flexed my fingers and turned to my friends. The fighting had screeched to a halt as the star elves around us stared at me with apprehension drifting across their faces. I leveled black eyes roaring with fury on Shade and Elaran.
“Run,” I ordered in a voice hard as steel.
I only had time to see them spin around before the whole squad of star elves advanced on me. A laugh laced with madness dripped from my lips. Come try it. I threw my arms to the sides.
A deafening boom echoed across the courtyard as thunder and hurricane winds blasted from my hands. Shards of glass whirled past me as the building behind me cracked. The dark haze pressed in on my vision. Another ear-splitting crash rang out. Screams pierced the fog around me and bodies flew in every direction. The last thing I saw before I lost myself in the darkness was a huge chunk of frosted glass toppling from the wall.
25.
My eyes shot open. I flew up and scrambled away. Heart hammering in my chest, I tried to make sense of my surroundings and piece together a spotty recollection of what had happened before I blacked out.
The smooth white walls of my room betrayed nothing as they stared mutely back at me. What was I doing back in my room? Hadn’t we tried to escape? Memories came flooding back. The squad of star elves. The fight. Me screaming at Shade and Elaran to run. Storm winds and thunder as a building broke apart.
Right. We had tried to escape and I had stayed behind to make sure that Elaran and Shade got out. A contented feeling mixed with the dread in my chest. If my friends had made it out, it would all have been worth it.
I snuck across the floor and pressed an ear to the door. Cold glass cooled the panic that had flushed my cheeks. No sound came from outside. Placing a hand on the handle, I tentatively pushed it down. It opened without issue. Huh. I wasn’t locked in.
>
Captain Hadraeth’s serious face appeared in the crack. The door slammed as I drew it shut again. Damn. If he was standing guard outside the door, there was no point in climbing out the window. Elaran and Shade’s room was most likely also under guard. If they were there. I desperately hoped they weren’t.
Drumming my fingers on my thigh, I paced back and forth across the room while trying to figure out what my next move would be. After a few minutes, the door opened again. I watched with growing dread as Queen Nimlithil swept into the room in a flurry of silver skirts.
The queen met my gaze with sad eyes. “Come with me.”
Suspicion flared up my spine but seeing as I couldn’t exactly refuse, I followed her billowing dress when she turned and strode out the door. My heart thumped in my chest as we neared Elaran’s room. When the silver-haired queen didn’t slow down, I allowed a brief spark of hope into my chest.
As we drew closer, I realized that the door was open. Casting a quick glance inside, I found Elaran’s former room empty. When we passed Shade’s door and I made a similar discovery, relief exploded like fireworks in my chest. They made it out. My mouth drew into a smile. Elaran and Shade were free.
While Queen Nimlithil led me through corridors, down stairs and then up other ones, suspicion crept back into my mind. We had just pulled off a semi-successful escape. Why wasn’t I locked in a dungeon?
“Wait...” I stopped and stared out the window to my right. Another tower stood right outside it. Tilting my head, I squinted at the opposite windows. “Isn’t that the library?”
“It is the floor above it,” the queen replied and waved me forward.
“So, we’re in a different wing.” I frowned at her. “What are we doing here?”
She didn’t reply and instead continued leading me down the hall until we at last stopped in front of a plain white door. “I do not think there is a way to prepare someone for something like this so I will not try.” After one last sad look at me, she pushed down the handle. “This will be hard for you.”
A Storm of Glass and Stars (The Oncoming Storm Book 4) Page 16