“It hurts that you think the worst of me, Lia.” Gabriel sighed. “Brian taught me before our last battle in Vel’mi’. And yes,” he turned to Simon. “I still remember how to.”
Impossible. My stomach turned upside down as I leaned against the wall. My lungs ached with every breath I took.
“It’s quite easy,” Gabriel started. “But I still need—” he trailed off, looking over everyone before continuing, “—the golden flint kept in a hidden room behind the Royal forge.”
I glanced down at my mother’s ring that sat heavy on my ring finger. The symbol of my parents’ nonexistent love now decorated my hand deep crimson. The symbol that we took from the grave of my resting mother was now useless.
We disturbed the dead for nothing.
I was going to be sick.
“So we must go to the palace either way.” Simon sighed.
“Where is this hidden room you speak of?” I held my breath, already having a great idea where that was. Brian had mentioned the mysterious flint once after scolding me and Sandra for playing hide and seek deep in the dungeons, near the forge.
“Neither of you are allowed here, and you know it!”He’d yelled at us.“You are lucky I was the one to catch you here, and not our King.”
I swallowed when Gabriel met my gaze. “There is a door behind the chimney.”
I nodded as a set of new problems arose: the rooms underneath the palace did not have hidden passages—the only way in and out was through the Royal corridors, and—now guarded—doors.
“Did you tell Caleb?” Francis narrowed his eyes on Gabriel.
“What? No.” Gabriel shook his head. “I would never share a secret like that.”
“I am glad you can at least keep something to yourself,” I mumbled, trying to remember the best path to the forge—I remembered none.
Gabriel sighed. “Here, these are for you.” He passed me a small casket decorated with crimson ravens trapped in a black widow’s web.
I opened the casket, revealing dozens of letters carefully arranged in order. I closed it in an instant when I saw the name of the sender.Brian.
“It is decided then.” Francis glanced at the casket in my hands before meeting the eyes of our company. “We are going to the forge with the sunset.” He got up from the couch, everyone else followed.
“I am coming with you.” Gabriel nodded along, getting up from the stairs.
“You are a human.” Francis shook his head. “Breaking into a palace full of Wurdulacs isn’t such a great idea as a human.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s a great idea for anyone,” Gabriel countered. “But I can take care of myself. And I am the only one who's made Royal steel before. You need me.”
Francis sighed, looking over at me; when I offered him a shrug, he relented. “Fine. You will come back with us to Faris, but you are staying to watch over our horses at the palace. It’s final,” he said.
Gabriel rolled his eyes, but didn’t argue.
“Tomorrow is promising to be long.” Simon sighed, taking a sip of whatever it was in his canteen.
The dark green curtains of the small room hid me, Francis, and Roxanne from the sunlight.
The room downstairs didn’t carry any beds, leaving us to the woolen blankets on the floor. Simon and Gabriel disappeared upstairs to a similar arrangement.
The house seemed rather empty, despite Gabriel claiming he had lived here for the last five years. The walls held wooden shelves that carried anything from articles of clothing to jars of seeds to plant in the spring.
“You can never leave her, Francis,” Roxanne’s voice traveled through the darkness of the room as all of us lay on the floor by the walls across from each other: Francis and I by one side, Roxanne by the other. “Or she will find and murder you, and I’m afraid I will be far too entertained to stop her.”
“I am right here, Roxanne.” I rolled my eyes, staring at the ceiling of the tiny room. The corners of the ceiling were covered in spider webs and darkened spots from leaks.
“I know,” Roxanne said, I could hear the smirk on her face. “My point still stands.”
“I wasn’t planning on leaving.” Francis’ hands pulled me closer in his embrace, fixing the blanket around us. “Now go to sleep, both of you,” he said as my eyes closed against his warmth.
