“Exactly.” Gareth’s voice had lost some of its syrupy quality, and Erich guessed the king might no longer be putting on a show. “I knew you saw things differently than your father.”
Erich followed Gareth through the open doorway and into the room where he had last seen Aizel.
“My lord, I do not think I...” Erich stopped himself. He wanted to make it out of this alive, but more than that, he wanted Aizel to survive as well. Perhaps, if he bit his tongue, he could pretend to oversee this execution but still save her. “I don’t think that should be a problem,” he finished with confidence.
“Excellent.” Gareth grinned as he sat down on the only chair in the small room.
Erich thought it a little excessive he had a special throne even in his personal meeting room.
“Your Majesty!” A guard ran into the room, bowing low before his king.
Gareth sat up. Concern was written all over his face. “What is it?”
“She’s gone!” the guard said.
Erich’s chest swelled with hope.
Gareth’s face darkened. “Who is gone?”
“The Majis sorceress. She took Peter with her.” The guard was still bent over and Erich could feel the fear radiating off him. “She left this.” He held up a white ribbon weighted down with a gem.
Gareth relaxed back on his throne and waved his hand in dismissal. “That’s not an issue. We can execute the younger one instead. She’s still here, right?”
“Yes! Yes, Your Majesty. It was wise of you to remove her from the west dungeon.”
“Bring her in,” Gareth said. “Keep her here until the execution so there are no other possible mishaps.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guard stood, relief covering his face. “I’ve sent out a search party, Your Majesty. We should have the older one located as soon as possible.”
Gareth waved dismissively again. “She’s an untrained Majis. There’s not much she can do. Bring her to me when you find her.”
The guard bowed once more and left the room.
Erich pinched his lips closed to keep the grin from his face. All he had to do now was escape and locate Aizel.
Chapter 40
Getting out of the palace in the dead of night was surprisingly easy.
“You seem to know this place quite well for having been stuck in its dungeon,” Aizel whispered as they slipped through a dark, empty corridor.
“I was a frequent visitor here in another life,” Peter replied. “The only thing I don’t know is where the back entrances are. Those should be easier to leave through undetected I would think.”
“This feels more like the servant’s quarters than anything else,” Aizel responded.
“I smell yeast.” Peter lifted his nose. “I think the kitchens might be this way.”
Aizel followed him down another twist in the hallway. Sure enough, it opened into an enormous kitchen.
Peter held her back in the shadows of the hall. “I can see at least two scullery maids still working.”
“At this hour?” Aizel was surprised.
“The kitchen never sleeps.” Peter turned back to her. His face was shadowed, but she could hear the smile in his voice. “Unless a Majis melody makes them drowsy?”
“That it does.” Closing her eyes, Aziel slowly hummed the sleeping song. It was so quiet, she could barely hear it herself.
She wanted the magic to work its effects before she had to sing louder and alert the kitchen staff of their presence.
