“We seem to be attracting attention,” I said under my breath.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the keep.It’s bound to cause a stir.”
“How long has it been?”
“Five years,” Mrs.Crowe said flatly.“Had a bit of a falling out with the king.”
I stared at her in shock.Mrs.Crowe knew the king?And they’d had afalling out?I was frankly surprised she was still alive.“Is that going to be a problem?”
She shrugged.“We’ll see.”
I suddenly got a lot more nervous about our plan.Was Mrs.Crowe a banished alchemist who was going to attract a lot of attention?But we had come to the entrance of the keep.It was too late to turn back now.
Royal Guards were stationed at the start of the long stone bridge that extended toward the keep.They took one look at Mrs.Crowe and snapped to attention as we passed.
The bridge itself was about ten feet across, and only a short lip at the edge prevented someone from falling to their death on the jagged rocks below.
Thornfell Keep rose before us.Its architecture was unique, to say the least.Many might call it garish, with its absurdly tall towers and overwrought design.Every detail was just a little too much, a reflection of a person who had endless wealth and surrounded himself only with sycophants.
As we approached the ornately carved front gates, they swung open seemingly by themselves.Every instinct told me that this place devoured people like me.I took a deep breath as we walked into the belly of the beast.
A crackle of electricity ran along my skin as we crossed the null field barrier.It was deeply disturbing, and I could only wonder what it would’ve felt like without the Embercloak potion.I hoped it hadn’t caused Darion and Elena any pain as they had crossed it.Once inside the barrier, the feeling disappeared.
We entered a massive entry chamber with marble floors and soaring ceilings.A fountain with a statue of a siren spouting water dominated the middle.Impossibly long banners flowed down from the ceiling.Royal Guards in ceremonial outfits lined the room.
The moment we walked in, a young man with platinum-blond hair and a face that was almost too pretty walked up to us.He wore an impeccable outfit made of lavish silk adorned with peacock feathers.
“As I live and breathe, the legendary Elandra Crowe,” he said with a plastered-on smile.“It’s been too long.To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“Brannic Yule,” Mrs.Crowe said.“It hasn’t been long enough.”
Brannic’s smile faltered for only a moment, and then he turned his eyes to me, assessing my entire body with a look that made me squirm.“And who do we have here?”
“This is my apprentice, Fenwick.He’ll be accompanying me.”
“And what business do you have in the keep today?”Brannic asked Mrs.Crowe.
“My business is my own.But I am interested in the location of two ‘guests’ who arrived this morning—a young lady and a man.”
“And why, pray tell, would I give you that information?”Brannic said, his voice still sweet but laced with venom.
“Let’s just say there’s a little detail you may not want the king finding out about, if you understand my meaning,” Mrs.Crowe said.
Brannic’s face blanched, and his smile disappeared.“You’re ready to play that card now?There’s no coming back from that.”
“I am,” Mrs.Crowe said, her voice deadly serious.
Brannic’s eyes were like ice.“Very well.The girl is in the lower alchemy lab holding pen.The man is locked in the high spire.”
Mrs.Crowe grunted and turned away.“Let’s go,” she said to me quietly.
“Oh, and Elandra,” Brannic said in a frigid tone, “it’s fortunate that you’re here.We were about to summon you.Orlik Leonom wishes to see you.Now.”
Chapter forty-six
The Escape
Orlikwashere.Inthis very building.Breathing the same air as me.My skin prickled, and I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms.
