“I don’t doubt either one of you,” Elowen assured her.
“Anyway, I’ve advanced a lot more in magic craft than you know,” Sophia said. “Simeon says I have a real aptitude, although of course I know it’s nothing to his.” Her eyes were troubled as they met Elowen’s. “He’s incredible, Elowen. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was capable of the things he’s been accused of, in terms of magical power. But he would simply never do it.”
“I know he wouldn’t,” Elowen said firmly. “We both know he doesn’t belong in the dungeon. The question is, can you get him out?”
“Maybe.” Sophia sounded nervous. “I assume you already know that the cells are reinforced with enchantments that prevent occupants from harnessing magic while inside. And the walls of the cells have extra layers of protection to stop them being broken open with magic. But the guard had keys. If I could buy a few minutes again, get hold of the keys, and just let Simeon out through the door…” She shrugged. “If Simeon got clear of the reinforced cell, I doubt he’d have any trouble getting us out of the dungeons.”
“We won’t delay,” Elowen said, jittery nerves filling her as she made up her mind. “You go and get Simeon, I’ll get three horses. Theo’s carriage was moving slowly. We’ll be able to catch him before dark if we ride hard.”
She half expected her friend to protest, but Sophia hadn’t been exaggerating about finding her courage. The prospect of freeing Simeon had clearly galvanized her.
“You’d better take the vials just in case,” she said practically, handing the bag over. “If I get caught in the dungeons, they might be confiscated.”
Elowen took them, feeling like she was sending her friend to the gallows. “Be careful,” she said anxiously.
After a moment’s debate, they set their meeting point, just outside the castle wall on a road that acted as a thoroughfare to the eastern region of Torrens. It was sure to be crowded enough that they wouldn’t stand out.
“We need to be clear of the capital before Simeon’s absence is discovered,” she said. “Or we won’t have a hope of getting out.”
They parted ways, and Elowen wasted no time in going to the stables. Having Ochre and two other horses saddled for her was no trouble. It wasn’t unusual for her to ride through the city with friends. Finding a way to leave with all three horses and no human companions was harder. But she managed it by playing two grooms off each other so that each thought the other was accompanying her to assist with the horses. She could have used the help, she thought wryly. The castle horses were very well trained, but even so it was no easy feat to lead three at once.
Nevertheless, she made it to the meeting point by the arranged time. She stood beside Ochre, the hood of the traveling cloak she’d donned pulled low as she tried to shield herself from view with the mare’s flank. The capital wasn’t in a state of alert, and she didn’t expect all travelers leaving the city to be closely inspected. But there was still a significant risk of the guards onduty noticing her, and if she was recognized as the princess, it would be the end of her adventure.
She had no warning of Simeon and Sophia’s approach. One moment she was waiting nervously, the next they were at her side.
“How did you do that?” Elowen demanded.
“Simeon’s been cloaking our movements,” Sophia said matter-of-factly. “It’s very clever. He uses the movement of each step to deaden the sound of the next one. It’s fiddly and difficult, and only a few—”
“All right, you can sing his praises later,” Elowen said, her nerves raw from the tension. She looked at the servant. “Are you all right, Simeon?”
His brow was heavy, and Sophia interjected quickly.
“There was no time to explain anything to him, I just told him we were going to save Prince Theodore’s life and he had to trust me.”
“Your Highness, you should never have taken this risk for me.” Simeon’s voice was low and urgent, and his gaze encompassed Sophia, too. “Neither of you should have. I can’t in good conscience agree to such a reckless plan, not for my sake.”
“Then you have no need to worry, because it’s not for your sake,” Elowen said briskly. “Sophia was telling you the truth, we broke you out to save Prince Theodore’s life, and I won’t take no for an answer. We can explain once we’re out of the city.”
His eyes widened slightly, and he said nothing more. But his muscles were still taut with tension as he helped Sophia to mount one of the spare horses, then vaulted lightly onto the other himself. Every second seemed an eternity to Elowen, who knew that their only hope was to get out of the city before the guards had any idea they were looking for an escaped prisoner. To her immense relief, the gate they’d chosen was busy, a thickstream of people moving through it. They joined the crowd, heads lowered as they walked their horses past the gate.
As soon as they could move freely enough, they urged their mounts to a canter, joining the eastward road that led to Carrack. There was no conversation as they pushed to a gallop, thundering over the ground at a speed that still wasn’t fast enough to satisfy Elowen.
Once the capital was far behind them, some of the invisible tension lifted from their group, and they slowed to rest their horses with a brief walk. Elowen listened as Sophia told Simeon why they’d taken such a drastic step.
“So it was poison in the vial?” he murmured, aghast. “I knew he was meddling in some dark things, but I didn’t think he’d go to those lengths.” His face darkened. “He manipulated me skillfully.”
“Manipulated you how?” Elowen demanded. “You have some questions to answer, Simeon. “Why in the Peninsula would you confess to crimes we know you didn’t do?”
His shoulders slumped in weariness. “I shouldn’t have,” he said. “That’s clear to me now. But he told me to.” His lips twisted in a bitter smile. “And I’ve gotten into the habit of doing what I’m told.”
Elowen saw the way his eyes flicked to Sophia, and her frown deepened.
“Explain what you mean.”
Simeon returned his eyes to the road. “It’s always been my job to look out for the viscount and assist him in whatever way he wishes. But it’s only more recently that he started to give me very specific instructions that he would never explain. He would send me away, or order me to stay in a certain place. And often he would then berate me for doing exactly what he’d told me to do, as if I’d done it in disobedience to his instructions.”
“Always in front of witnesses,” Elowen added darkly.
