With the current series of events Samantha felt she should be worried but wasn’t. This was not because she believed this was a situation that didn’t deserve worry, she simply couldn’t muster up the feeling. Ever since having her vision of her preordained death she had become incapable of feeling any fear, doubt, worry or anxiety no matter the situation. It was beneficial when going up against a monster or making hard decisions as she knew the potential consequences but didn’t have to worry about ‘what ifs’ especially since she knew she would ultimately survive them to die later. It did not mean she would jump straight into danger; however, her death was assured how she got there and in how many pieces was another matter. Right now, she was experiencing the real downside to her lack of fear; bad decision making. If she had felt even a modicum of panic, as Valerie did, they likely wouldn’t be rolling into the hub of the Gentile aristocracy as uninvited, unwanted, uncouth and unbelievably screwed guests. Even worse they were going to rob them, take something right from under the nose of the most powerful people in the kingdom and then somehow get away. Samantha only now realized she wasn’t exactly sure how old she was when she died and could very well be elderly in her vision. A couple decades in the dungeon would likely age the girl more than she’d like and do most of the work of killing her. She really wanted to avoid that mostly because growing old had to be the most boring way to kick the bucket possibly only being beaten by dying due to illness. She pondered on the least interesting ways to die as the carriage was directed around the back of the palace to a loading bay of sorts, still outrageously regal ofcourse. Anyone else would wonder why such a heavily guarded and exceedingly decorative carriage would be hidden away at the back but Samantha was still caught up on deciding if drowning was more boring than suffocating.
A highly decorated servant approached the carriage driver and three guards enquiring about their missing member only to receive a series of excuses, shoulder shrugging and averted gazes. The unassuming butler verbally tore into the escort calling them all halfwits, Nimrods, incompetent and several more synonyms Samantha couldn’t follow. After the tirade concluded five minutes later, the carriage was rolled up a ramp and secured into a storage area that looked to be occupied by its own spider themed theocracy given the numerous ornate webs dotted around. The servant closed a massive shuttered gate behind the carriage before directing the guards and driver out of the docking bay, his tongue lashing assault on their higher brain functions beginning once again. Samantha remained under the wagon for a minute longer before undoing her makeshift seat belt and loudly crashing against the floor. Luckily it appeared the storage room was more or less soundproof, or so she hoped as no one came to check on the disturbance. Crawling out from under the carriage like a crab, she leaned her back up against the wagon and knocked on the door.
“Val! Come out, there’s no one around.”
She hissed to no response. Knocking again she was met with further silence. Annoyed at being ignored, Samantha gripped the handle and swung the door wide open. What greeted her was a woman in the finest black gown she had ever seen with glittering red blood diamonds sewn into her lace gloves, dark pearls around her neck and a pair of high heels that looked to be made from some dark glass. The figure was also veiled in an onyx black face covering that obscured all her features par the brunette hair that sat loosely around her shoulders.
“Val? What are you wearing?”
Samantha enquired not the least bit shocked at the attire itself. Her question was answered with a hand reaching around the opposite side of figure to push her out of the way.
“Move it! We have to get the heck out of here!”
Valerie announced clambering out of the carriage and forcibly shoving the other passenger out of her way. Samantha fell sprawling against the floor and staring up at the ceiling where she marvelled at the lavishly weaved cobwebs. Leaning on her elbows she looked up to Valerie who struggled to tear something out from the carriage.
“Val? What happened to your dress? And what took you so long to escape?”
The frustrated huntress roughly tore the veil from the other passenger revealing they were not a real person but some kind of mannequin missing a face.
“I’m not wearing a dress! This… doll? Is. Freaked me out when I got into the carriage and then the door shut behind me. There’s no handle on the inside and the walls were warded with some kind of spells, I couldn’t get out until you opened the door. Thanks for taking so long by the way. Now will you help me get this thing out of here already?!”
She spoke hurriedly as she tried to angle a large object from out of the carriages too narrow door. As well as locking her in, the inside of the carriage was also freakishly cold to the point Valerie could see her breath. She was trying not to think why someone would keep a doll refrigerated that like and worked to get the chill out of her bones. Samantha rose back up and slid inside the carriage to try and force the item out from both sides. After some pushing, pulling and shouts to pivot they were no further forward, until Samantha noticed a corner of the object was caught on the dolls foot. She tried reaching to unlatch the shoe and accidentally snapped the leg just below the knee in the process. It did the trick however as Valerie triumphantly tore the item from its confines holding it aloft for all to see. Their target was rectangular at about a meter tall and half a meter wide and was wrapped in fine brown paper with a distinct coat of arms featuring a chimera stamped on the corner. Both girls cheered and their sole onlooker got too excited as the dolls head rolled out of the carriage to land at Valerie’s feet, its blank featureless face staring up at her accusingly. Samantha vacated the carriage and kicked the head underneath before casually closing the door like nothing happened.
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“Some freaks in the capital.”
The huntress shuddered at the thought of what that doll would be used for. Looking around the storage area, Valerie tried to find a suitable exit, unfortunately the only points of egress were a shuttered gate and a pair of tall double doors that likely lead deeper into wherever they were. Turning to her co-conspirator she asked an important question.
“Where the bloody heck are we?”
“In the palace.”
Samantha answered while facing away and fidgeting with something. Valerie froze, her eyes growing wide and panic beginning to set in. She stared at her friend hoping beyond hope she was joking and that they were just in some hoity toity rich guys mansion. Unfortunately, the shadow user made no such jest.
“Oh Bollocks.”
She remarked, completely understanding the seriousness of the situation. This was not good, the huntress thought, stealing from a rich guy was pretty bad but not the end of the world. If they were discovered or found out later they could always flee the city and migrate to another country. They would lose their adventurer status and all the friends they made but in the grand scheme of things it was better than life imprisonment. Stealing from the Gentile Royalty however that was death, she was absolutely sure there would be no other options, likely not even a public execution just killed on the spot. The huntress failed to consider any alternative where the two teenagers were simply caught red handed and made to work off their mistake through community service or a hefty fine. Although that would be a miracle of an outcome as she was entirely correct in how the Gentile upper crust would handle the situation, perhaps even understating the severe consequences the two would face.
Valerie marched back and forth trying to think of a solution while Samantha waited patiently turning the doll’s broken leg over in her hands.
“There has to be a way out, there HAS to be.”
“Hey Val.”
“Not now Samantha, I’m thinking.”
“But Val-“
“We could hide in the carriage and jam the door open. No, no, there’s no space and someone will come for that doll eventually.”
“Val, there’s-“
“Or what if we disguised ourselves as servants? With what? There’s nothing in here to mask ourselves with and SOMEBODY would do something stupid to get us caught.”
She levied a harsh glare at her friend and held up a hand before allowing them the chance to speak.
“Not now! I’m trying to find a way out.”
“But what about the people at the door?”
Samantha got out, breaking the huntress’s contemplation. She had been so caught up in her panicked plans for escape she never realized there was a noise from the other side of the double doors. The handle shook while keys jangled in the lock and multiple voices all spoke over one another.
“Oh bollocks, Samantha why didn’t you say something!”
Without another word, the two thieves hid themselves as best they could, Samantha clinging to the ceiling while Valerie moved to the wall next to where the doors would swing open. She propped the package up in front of herself and crouched low hoping if someone glanced her way they wouldn’t question anything. She finally hit a lucky streak as both doors swung open at the same time blocking her from sights. The door frame ground against the floor to stop a hairs breadth from hitting the package in Valerie’s hands.
Although she couldn’t see them, she could hear a procession of people enter into the storage room, their hushed whispers filling her heart with dread. Meanwhile, Samantha did have a good vantage point to look down on the flock of palace residents as she concentrated on keeping her aspect under wraps. The gathered assortment consisted of several servants, guards and one very regal looking official. He was a tall human man with a porcelain white face and a frame so lean and skinny he could hide entirely behind a lamppost, that is if it wasn’t for his extended olfactory unit. The man’s nose was long, curved and could sniff out a poisoned dish before the man himself ever entered the dining room. His brunette hair was expertly combed back with the edges flaring out to give him an upside triangle shaped silhouette. Combined with the snozz of all snozzes it gave him the appearance of a rat, although he shared no kin with any beast men. Given the disdainful look he gave everyone and everything, he would sooner cut off his entire family from the neck down than be associated with vermin. If one couldn’t tell from his demeanour, you could certainly tell by the rich frock and coat of arms across his back that this was the Duke of Moir. Neither Valerie nor Samantha were well versed in the comings and goings of Royalty but everyone knew of the Duke as the acting ruling head for the entire Gentile Kingdom and many blamed him for the country’s current moral decline.
Valerie leaned slightly out from behind the door to catch sight of the Duke who was inspecting the carriage and listening absently to a report on the missing guards immediate dismissal. He waved the concern away and approached the cart, his hand reaching out to the door as Valerie stared in horror. Then the Duke hesitated and snapped his fingers causing a servant to approach while presenting their handkerchief to the Duke. Looking derisively at the immaculate cloth, the Duke cautiously picked it up, dropped it on the ground and stamped on it with his beautifully polished shoes.
“Remove this urchin and have him replaced immediately.”
He stated in a holier than thou tone while continuing to grind the mans handkerchief into the floor. The servant was carried off by a pair of royal guards protesting all the way and begging for another chance. The Duke ignored the desperate pleas and snapped his fingers for another servant to bring a clean cloth. With an exact replica of the first handkerchief in hand, the Duke covered his gloved hand and made to open the door to the carriage once again. As his hand rested upon the handle and began to turn, Samantha made a daring move. All at once the procession of royal attendees including the Duke himself froze in place, an all-encompassing fear stabbing at their hearts. From above Samantha dropped onto a guard at the back causing the man to fall over while she swiped a set of keys from his belt. Rolling off the disorientated man, she charged through the double doors catching one and slamming it in place. Confused but following her lead, Valerie emerged from behind the second door also closing it from the other side. Samantha fumbled through the various keys and eventually found one marked ‘storage’ shoving it into the keyhole to lock the befuddled group in place. For good measure, Valerie snapped the key still in the lock and turned to her friend about to ask what she was thinking. Before she could say a word however, Samantha held up her hand and announced in a loud, husky, male sounding voice.
“You’ve been had by Iron Link the Swift and his compatriot V!”
Lowering her voice back to a whisper, Samantha suggested.
“Okay, let’s run.”
And took off down a random hallway. Valerie stared after her retreating friend and for the first time in a long while wondered if it was better to have stayed at the cabin with her uncle. Shaking off the thought, she hoisted the package under her arm and pocketed the bundle of keys before sprinting down the same hall.