I take the frozen silence as time to make my way to the secret exit on the other side of the meeting room, and use it as my entrance. By the time I get there, the Matriarch is barking orders at three subordinates. Something about slowing down the guards. Faladel ambushes me before I can get a better read on things though.
“Briareth, what are you doing out of bed?! Nevermind, we need to hurry. We can’t be caught here.”
“You most certainly cannot!” The Matriarch tosses over her shoulder. “Use the back exit and circle around to get back into the city. Sir Chronicler–” Mattias bows, “Doctor Alen, you go with them. We don’t want any suspicion falling on you. I’ve instructed the family members to keep everything underwraps, but if one of them has betrayed me, I can’t guarantee your safety.” The two nod, and Faladel begins to tow me out of the room. “Prince Faladel!” The Matriarch calls after us, and we both turn. “Keep my son safe.” She says, and there is a desperate plea in her voice. “He might not care for his family, but we– I –still still care for him.”
“I will do my utmost.” Faladel replies, seriously. I blink. He doesn’t often make promises like that, probably because he takes them too seriously. He and the Matriarch must have connected when he was trying to convince her to let us stay. I am literally jerked out of my thoughts however as he pulls me out the door and into the side tunnels. “I’m honestly not sure why I’m surprised that you couldn’t stay put in your room.” He begins, “But it’s better that you snuck out. It means I don’t have to explain things. Get back there, grab your things, and meet me by the back exit in five minutes. I’ll go wake Fin, and grab my own pack.”
“Alright, your majesty!” I tease cheerily, as I start off down the hallway back towards my room. I can hear his long suffering sigh as he heads the opposite direction to his own. It doesn’t take long for me to pack, I didn’t really unpack much while I was here, and I’m soon at the required spot. Silv’s already there, foot tapping impatiently, along with Doctor Alen and Mattias. Faladel joins us, and then, Elen and FIn. Fin’s not in great shape, his eyes look slightly bleary, his face is unnaturally red, and he’s lost most of his voice. I don’t envy him when Elen give him one of her herbal concoctions to drink. We abandon the boat, it would be too easily visible in the skies above the treeline, and instead make our way out through the forest, taking a large loop to stay away from the road to and from the manor. We’re not going fast, we have to cover our tracks after all. That fact saves us. Mattias, and I are at the front, Faladel covering our tracks in the back, when I hear it. A snap. A branch, breaking. I freeze, dropping into a crouch, and holding up my hand for everyone to follow suit. I hear Mattias drop beside me, and can only hope the others follow his lead. It could be nothing, a deer perhaps, or just time maybe. But I don’t want to risk it.
The smell of the moist ground and fress leaves permeates the air. I can hear Fin’s loud, laboured breathing, the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat. The forest itself though is quiet. No steady hum of bugs, no bird calls. Something has frightened them to silence. I steady myself, remembering my training, waiting for my opponent to make a mistake. It comes quickly. Another crack resounds, sounding louder to me than one of the pistols Fin uses. A voice echos “Quiet you fool!” In a soft hiss. “He said they’ll flee through the forest, we can’t risk letting them escape!”
A whispered apology. I lean forward, parting the branches of the bushes ahead of me ever so slightly. Already short Zytherlings are doubled over, their clothes blending in with the woods around them as they make their way along an old game trail towards the manor. We don’t move until they are far out of sight. Slowly, I bring us across the game trail, and continue our path towards the western outskirts of The Light.
I don’t breathe easy until we can see the city walls, where my confidence quickly subsides. “Where to now?” I ask, turning to look at the group. I hadn’t thought this out, but how are we going to get in the city?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“To the Citadel of Travelers of course.” Mattias says, blinking at me lazily. “Where did you think we were off to? The council hall to turn you all in?”
“Please,” I gesture for him to pass me. “Lead the way!” His lips thin as he pulls them into a wide grin, and steps forward to take the head of the line. His quick confident strides lead us slightly deeper into the forest, around the north side of the city. Within the hour we can see a shining tower far ahead rising above the trees. Thirty more minutes, and we can see quite a few other spires in the distance. Another fifteen, and we are right on its doorstep, Mattias leading us inside, and nobody questioning his actions. There aren’t even any guards around, but our bedraggled group gets more than a few curious looks from a small class of Kashan, Tadhiel, and Zytherlings sitting outside around campfires, even though the sun is still high in the sky. Their instructor firmly directs their attention back to their stewpots however, and one of the kids nearly gets scalded when his overflows!
“The Citadel is almost always empty.” Mattias explains as we head inside. “So pick any room you like on the upper two levels. This can only be temporary however, so don’t get too comfortable, and keep your bags packed. We Chroniclers aren’t known for holding our tongues after all.”
The inside of the citadel of travelers is much more ornate than the simple stone outside would suggest. Firelight from the large hearth casts a warm yellow glow over the giant entry room. A thick rug welcomes our feet, and when Mattias discards his shoes by the door, I follow suit, wiggling my toes on the soft fabric. Tapestries dyed and embroidered in jewled tones hang from the tall ceiling, showcasing what must be heroes and heroines of classic tales. A Tadhiel holding up a lamp, while members of all the races follow him down a path. Twin armies of Kashan fighting each other, one led by a lady Kashan with brilliant white wings. A Zytherling architect, setting sail for the horizon on a flying boat. Along both edges of the wall, staircases spiral upwards towards the next floor. Beneath them, lies the entrance to another room filled with the noises and smells of people cooking. Between the great hearth fire and the door rows and rows of tables have been placed, ready for tonight's meal. Fur skins line the benches, creating a soft place to sit for any who enter. Mattias doesn’t even hesitate in the entryway, immediately heading up the left staircase. Everyone follows.
“The second floor,” he announces, as we pass a platform that leads off into a path that follows the circle of the Citadel’s wall, “holds our magnificent library. It is by far the largest of any of the Citadels, and by all accounts the largest ever. New tomes are always being added to it. We borrow tomes from other Citadels to copy, we travel far and wide to hear more stories, and of course, we have one or two people stationed here in The Light to collect stories brought in by sailors, warriors, and explorers returning to port. Even the first volume of your story,” He turns and gestures at us, so he’s walking up the stairs backwards, “has been added to our store of knowledge. And I hope to add many more volumes.” With a quick wink, he turns back around just in time to not run into a wall. I narrow my eyes, that move reminded me of someone, but I can’t quite put my finger on who.
It bugs me all the way through his elaborate description of the classrooms on the third floor, and I still find myself wondering about it as I start setting up my room with newly laundered sheets that someone handed to me.
Suddenly it hits me like a ton of bricks. Not the answer I was was looking for, but a very pertinent reminder nonetheless. “Faladel!” I shout bursting into his room. He freezes, mid floofing the blanket.
“Briareth? What’s going on?”
“Where’s your pack?!” I exclaim, looking around the room frantically.
“My pack?” Faladel is completely befuddled, which gives me hope. At first I don’t see it, but then I notice a dark green strap peeking out from under the wooden bed frame. I dive for it, ripping it open.
“Briareth?” Faladel asks, again, as I groan in desperation. Anostia didn’t get it back in time. We left the Scales at the Manor! Of all the things we could have left behind, this is the worst!
Well, excluding one of our friends. That would have been worse. But still–!