Dyna froze.
The door opened and another male elf strode in. His dark hair was held back by a silver circlet on his head. He bore similar features as Altham. It had to be his son. She held her breath, careful not to make a sound with him so near.
Altham pursed his lips. “Well?”
“They’re here, father.”
Her pulse spiked. No. She didn’t have the key yet.
Glee crossed the red king’s face. “Is Garaea ready?”
“I will send for her.”
“She should already be here, Anon. Find her.” Altham slipped the key into his pocket as he stood.
“It may be best to leave that behind,” the prince said indifferently.
“I never leave it off my person.”
“As I am sure the green scat would have predicted. Now that you have revealed the key to that usurper, he will want it for himself. Why risk the chance he could take it from you?”
King Altham paused, narrowing his eyes. “Leif gave me his oath.”
“Rather foolish of us to believe they have not found a way around their oaths as we have.” Anon strode back out into the hall, his red cloak flowing behind him as he took the stairs.
Shutting the door, Altham paused there a moment. Dyna watched, waiting. He returned to the bureau behind his desk, opened a set of small doors, and placed his half of the key inside. With a short incantation and wave of his hand, a glowing gold dome fell over the key. Then the red king swept out of the room. Dyna internally groaned. Crossing the room to the bureau, she opened the set of doors and frowned at the dome. It was some sort of protection spell. But she wasn’t skilled in spell breaking yet, and this was elf magic.
The door jingled behind her. Dyna quickly shut the doors and held still beneath the invisibility spell as another elf came in. A female this time, with a delicate golden crown. She was beautiful. Long dark hair framed her heart-shaped face, eyes like honey and sun-kissed skin. Shewore a sheer white dress with an exposing neckline, a filigree of gold adorning her chest and waist. Elegant yet practical for the heat.
Princess Garaea, Dyna assumed. The pretty elf glanced around before rushing to the bureau. Opening the doors, her face lit up, and so did Dyna’s.
Garaea had snuck in here to steal her father’s key. They came to save Rawn and to intercept Raiden’s engagement, but Dyna couldn’t help but think the princess would have made him a good match.
With a glowing finger, Garaea drew the spell for dissipation on the enchanted dome, along with other runes in a complicated array. She murmured a spell, and the sphere burst. Smiling, she snatched up the key.
“Well done,” Dyna said.
The princess gasped, and her amber eyes snapped right at her.“Alever.”
The revelation spell peeled Dyna’s invisibility away. Dropping, she swept out her foot, knocking Garaea off her feet. She snatched the key. “Thank you, princess.”
Garaea rolled to her feet with a hiss, and two yellow blades of magic appeared in her hands. “I need that.”
“So do I.” Dyna knocked her back with an Essence Blast and bolted for the doors.
“Intruder!” Garaea shouted behind her. Her voice echoed through the keep like a rising tide. “There is an intruder in the Blood Keep. She stole my father’s key!”
CHAPTER 82
Rawn
Torch fire broke through the darkness. Clamoring voices rang through the dungeon as guards ran about in alarm. Rawn crouched within the shadows of his cell, listening. Elon’s one eye flickered to him, conveying the same thought. Something had happened.
Rawn’s pulse quickened, and he prayed that this was the moment they had been waiting for.
Guards rushed into their tunnel and began inspecting each cell. One stopped by theirs, lifting a torch as he briefly peered at them. “The prisoners are still here, warden,” the guard called, moving on.
“Then who is the intruder wandering the keep?” Grod barked. “Find him! Set the Bloodhounds loose.”
