There’s no way they will not see my satchel the moment they open the wardrobe doors, and their loyalty lies with Llyr, which means theywillreport my actions.
Void. Seizing the dagger from my thigh, I lunge forward and strike them hard on the temple with the hilt. They collapse like a sack of grain.
I stare down at their limp body. Now what?
Cracking the door open, I peek outside. The hallway is empty.
Grabbing Vy under their arms, I drag them down the hall and leave them inside an empty room. Why do unconscious people have to be so darn heavy? I drop them behind the canopy bed, then snatch the room key from the bedside table and lock the room from the outside. They’ll survive.
Back in my own quarters, I race across the room and retrieve my cloak and satchel, praying Vy stays unconscious for a long time. Flinging open the closet doors, I grab my bag. One last glance across the room reveals something atop my bedspread. A sketchbook and pencils. I frown. Were those there earlier? Opening the pencil box, I gasp at the vibrant array of colors—unlike anything I’ve ever seen. And there’s ink and a quill... The soft leather-bound sketchbook contains hundreds of blank pages. Lifting it to my nose, I inhale its scent, a sigh escaping my lips. As I set it down, a small note flutters out.
May you find your fairy-tale ending.
Tears prick my eyes, blurring my vision. It must be from Vilder.
Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I tuck the gift into my bag and hurry out the door.
Heart pounding, I screech to a halt at the sight of Llyr down the hall. I’m just about to turn when he calls my name.
I swear under my breath.Nowhe wants to interact?
He strides toward me, taking in my wool cape and satchel. His gaze stops at my sturdy knee-high boots. He raises his bushy brows. “Going somewhere, Laïna?”
“I . . . am going for a ride.”
He tilts his head. “It is a bit early in the year for wool.”
“You know what, you are probably right. I’ll leave this in my room.” Clutching my satchel, I turn in the direction of my chambers, staying far from his reach. One touch and I’ll forget Anam'gate entirely.
“Laïna?”
A surge of tension tightens my muscles. Perhaps I’m destined to never escape. Destined to die. Folding my features into a neutral expression, I glance over my shoulder. “Yes?”
“Every day I told myself it was for the greater good, but every day you made it harder. But Rea... the Void...”
I lift my chin. “Maybe I have decided that I am worth saving too.”
He closes his eyes, and for a fraction of a moment, his mask slips, revealing the agony beneath. “I will not stop you, but I cannot help you either.”
I blink. He’s not going to stop me?
“Take care, Laïna.” With that, he turns and walks away down the long corridor.
I stare at his back in bewilderment, then decide I had better not waste the opportunity he’s given me.
“Blend in, blend in, blend in,” I chant to myself as I creep down the stairs toward the stables. I’m fully aware of the peril that accompanies my decision to bring Maeve along, but the urgency of reaching my destination before Mi’Awal leaves me with little choice.
Maeve greets me in her usual way as I enter, and I’m relieved to have slipped in unnoticed. The fewer people who see me, the better. I smile at her. In Bronich, she was outstanding, just like a Rean amongst humans, but here, she blends in easily with theother Rean horses. Inhaling the scent of hay and horse, I let out an audible exhale. I can do this.
With practiced ease, I saddle Maeve, and though my hands shake, I try to maintain the illusion of composure. Should I have waited until nightfall? No, I decide. It’s a lot less suspicious leaving with Maeve for a ride in the middle of the day.
My fingers brush the crescent moon hanging around my neck. It’s not the most practical item to wear, but it’s too beautiful to leave behind. I’ve never owned anything so valuable before. Besides, it will be the only memory I have left of my time here. I might not call Reü a friend, but he showed up every day to teach me, and despite his self-centeredness, I enjoyed the dancing. He, on the other hand, is probably relived we’re finally done so he can have nothing more to do with a human. I doubt he will miss me.
I pat Maeve on her muzzle. “We’re going on a little adventure, girl.”
Blend in, blend in, blend in.I continue my quiet incantation as I lead Maeve out of the stable, and maybe it works, because the guards don’t even glance in my direction as I pass. Keeping a leisurely pace proves challenging as I guide Maeve to the last of the five gateways. I want to run. Still, I force myself to relax. I stop in front of the twisting archway. I’ve never been through this one before—it’s the least used of the five gates—but if I’m not mistaken, it should leave us on the western side of Caelen. Staring at its twisted edges leaves me with the same unsettling effect as always, so I keep my focus on the opening as I walk toward it, Maeve in tow. By now, my heart is beating so hard in my chest that I’m surprised the guards can’t hear it, but they don’t even glance my way.
I blow out a breath of relief as we arrive safely at the other side of the gate, pleased to see that I was right in regard to where it ends up: on a small hill on the western side of Caelen. What pleases me even more is that it has left me even farther out of the city than I expected.I can see the floating island of the Arc and the city of Caelen in the distance, but it must be at least fifty miles.
