She took Sydna’s body and dragged it out of the cell. Rhay did the same with Mylner. Amira could feel sweat glistening on her forehead and the back of her blouse was damp. Shortly after they left the cell, Sydna opened her eyes. The young fae immediately tried to escape Amira’s grip.
“Let me go,” she faintly said.
“We’re trying to help you,” Amira said as Rhay finally dragged Mylner’s body out and away from the cell. She could see that her friend was suffering from the excessive use of his powers mixed with the almandine’s influence.
“Are you okay?” she mouthed to him. He nodded slowly, a paleness taking over his usually glowing brown skin.
Sydna stood up with difficulty. “You weren’t really helpful this morning,” she spat. Amira noticed that she had two deep cuts on her hand that were not healing. Amira’s vision blurred at the sight of the unclean wounds.
“We’re saving you from execution, so cool it with the guilt trip,” Rhay replied.
“How? By killing us yourselves?” Sydna laughed hoarsely.
Rhay met the fae’s gaze. “Of course not. We’re helping you escape, can’t you see?” He gestured to the guard still fast asleep on the ground.
“Is he dead?” Mylner asked with difficulty as he opened his eyes.
“By Caelo, I hope not,” Rhay said with a concerned glance at the guard’s body which was now agitated by heavy snores.
“Let’s go, we don’t have much time.” Amira was worried the guard would wake up too quickly. Rhay didn’t have practice with putting people to sleep and they needed to be back here before the guard woke up to pretend to have been knocked out too.
She put her arm around Sydna’s frail body and Rhay did the same with the much heavier Mylner. Amira let Rhay take the lead since he was the one familiar with the tunnels. They escaped through another long, pitch dark corridor. Using their hands, they made sure not to stray away from the walls. The path led them through winded corridors. As they walked away from the cells, Amira felt Sydna growing stronger.
“Thank you,” the young woman whispered to her. “You had no reason to help us after my brother’s brutish behaviour.” Amira tried to catch her gaze in the low light. She gave her a meaningful look. “And after I stupidly involved myself, of course,” Sydna added.
“You made a mistake,” Amira said. “I want you to learn from it, not die from it. And I saw your nephews, I wouldn’t wish for them to be left alone.”
Sydna’s serious eyes sought out Amira’s. “You have a good heart, princess. A reckless one, but good intentions still. I know I could learn from you.”
Amira smiled faintly. Eventually, the dark passage led them to an opening. The hallway was dimly lit by spelled torches. Amira and Sydna looked around, confused by the multiple doors.
“This way,” Rhay said while gesturing to a small stone archway.
Just as they were about to leave, one of the doors opened on a confused guard. Amira remembered him from the riot during Falea Night. Layken, that was his name.
“What in Caleo’s name is going on here?” Layken said. His lazuli eyes drifted from Amira to Rhay, and finally to the two prisoners.
The four runaways froze. Amira was completely panicked. They needed to stop the guard before he could call for backup. But one look at Rhay and she knew he was drained and the two siblings were looking worse for wear. That only left her to act quickly.
“It’s not what it seems,” she said. A really great start to attract even more suspicion. Amira had to stop herself from hitting her face.Useless.
Layken crossed his arms. “Really? Because it seems to me the king’s fiancée and his best friend are helping two dangerous criminals escape.” They really were in so much trouble.
Layken moved in Amira’s direction, but before he could lay a hand on Sydna’s shoulder, Mylner jumped in and punched the guard’s face. Amira saw his brow bone split open. They all looked utterly shocked at Mylner and the guard collapsed to the ground.
“Run,” Mylner shouted.
“Sorry, Layken,” Rhay said, an awkward smile directed at the knocked-out guard.
Following Rhay, they hurried down the new passage, scratching their bodies against the sharp stone walls. Amira had to almost drag Sydna behind her as the young woman was out of stamina. Mylner stopped running to put his arm around his sister.
“Keep running. I’ve got her,” he said to Amira.
Suddenly, Amira felt a gush of fresh air. She rushed to the door Rhay had opened right ahead of her. For the first time since the beginning of the day, she took a deep breath.
They looked at the dark woods looming before them. “Did we really do it?” she softly asked him, doubt creeping into her voice.
Rhay’s lips stretched into a grin as he nodded. “They’ll have to go on without us now.” His smile slipped. “And get to the kids as soon as possible before Karwyn sends guards after them.”
