A few moments before

The torchlight flickered, casting distorted shadows on the dank cell walls. I shivered, goosebumps prickling my skin in the clammy air. Darwin, you fool. What have you done with the princess? My jaw clenched. No. Focus, Lucas. The book's what matters now.

As I lay on the straw bed, I pondered whether I should speak up to save Erlinda, but memories of the chilling aura emitted by Prince Adrian flashed through my mind. "They'll slit my throat even if I talk," I whispered, a grim smile twisting my lips. At least they didn't find the ruby in my boot. It was astonishing how life could change in an instant—from waking up in search of a missing girl to becoming entangled with the royal family and now facing a death sentence, all within a single day.

Suddenly, a sound brought me out of my thinking. A guard was standing there, a sneer on his face. "You and your gang of bandits will make quite the spectacle at the gallows tomorrow," he taunted. My eyes narrowed, a mischievous grin playing on my lips. "Is that so?" I retorted. Arrogant bastard.

The guard's lips twisted. He glared, bushy brows lowering. "Naught to sort with worthless scum like you." Looking at the guard for a moment, I bend over on the filthy floor, my hand clutching my stomach. I crumpled to the grimy stones, clutching my gut. "Ohhh... I don't feel so good..." I groaned.

The guard blinked in surprise only for his scowl to reappear. “Quit playing around,” he snarled. Moaning loudly and crawling on the floor I begin coughing "Wat-water,” croaked between coughs. "Please, I need water."

The guard regarded me, then a smirk played on his lips as he produced a water pouch hanging at his waist. "Beg for it." Convulsing with coughs, I sobbed, "Water, I beg you, please..."

"...Fine. But try anything and you're a dead man." Still eyeing me warily, the guard fumbled for his keys.

The guard slowly approached me, one hand holding the water pouch while the other rested on the hilt of his sword. I continued coughing and wheezing pitifully on the floor, too weak to even lift my head.

"Stay down, scum." Looming over me, the guard seized a fistful of my hair and wrenched my head up making me yelp. "Drink." He jammed the spout against my lips. I sipped, relishing the cool trickle down my raw throat. The guard started to pull back when I clamped onto his hand with both of mine. The guard swore, struggling to escape while I sprang to my feet putting him in a headlock. Before he could react, I hit him on the back of his neck, knocking him unconscious.

I grabbed the keys and the guard's sword, the hilt rough against my palm. Grunting, I hauled the unconscious guard onto the straw bed. I scattered straw and dirt over his prone form, concealing him as best I could. Should buy me a little time, at least.

Heart pounding, I crept to the cell door, the iron cold beneath my fingers as I eased it shut with a soft click. The key rasped in the lock, the sound jarringly loud in the quiet. I froze, breath caught in my throat, straining to hear any signs of alarm.

Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I turned, facing the dimly lit corridor stretching before me. No telling where the other guards are stationed. Have to stay alert. Sword gripped tight, I started forward, my footsteps echoing softly on the damp stone. The ruby in my boot pressed against my ankle with each step, hurting my foot a little. This is distracting but I don’t think I should take it out. Wait, can I even use magic with it in my boot. Stopping, I reached with my mana to the stone hoping that I could use it and was rewarded with the familiar fire and heat. Good so I can use magic. I want my father’s sword back, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Moving forward, I kept close to the wall, darting glances left and right, ears pricked for any sound. The air hung heavy with dank moisture and a faint, acrid tang. Mold and piss. Lovely.

Rounding a corner, I caught a flicker of movement ahead. I wedged myself into a cramped crevice, holding my breath and willing my racing heart to slow. Muffled footsteps approached, accompanied by a low voice. "...heard the prince is in a right fury. That prisoner better pray they find the whatever that’s missing, or it'll be the rack for 'im."

So, they don’t know it’s Erlinda yet. I shrank back as a guard came into view, his face half-illuminated by torchlight. He passed by, oblivious to my presence, and disappeared down the corridor. I waited, heart thudding against my ribs, until his footsteps faded.

I followed the guards at a safe distance, careful not to draw attention as I trailed behind them through the dimly lit corridors. Their hushed voices echoed off the damp stone walls, and I strained to catch any snippets of their conversation. Darwin's name keeps coming up.

As we moved deeper into the bowels of the castle, the guards' words became clearer. "...spotted near Northwind Tunnel," one of them murmured, his tone laced with concern. "The captain wants extra patrols sent out, in case he tries to hole up there."

Northwind Tunnel? The name sent a jolt through me. That's almost a day's ride from here, at the Northern Tivermar Peaks. Confusion swirled in my mind as I tried to make sense of it. Why would Darwin go there, of all places? How did he even manage to reach it from here?”

I halted, letting the guards move on without me, and doubled back to the door they'd come from. Pressing close, I peered through the crack. Inside, a soldier in polished armor stood directing the others, his posture rigid with authority. "She couldn't be far," he snapped, voice sharp with anger. "His highness wants her found by nightfall, or it'll be our hides."

The door swung shut with a soft thud, cutting off the rest of his words and plunging me into semi-darkness. Not much time. My pulse pounded in my ears as I scanned the corridor, eyes straining for an escape route. Have to get out, get to Erlinda before they do.

A flicker of light caught my eye, bobbing closer from the far end of the hall. Damn. More guards. I slipped away in the opposite direction, footsteps near silent on the damp stone.

The corridor twisted and turned, a labyrinth of dank stone and flickering shadows. My heart raced as I navigated the maze, every distant footfall or guttural voice sending jolts of adrenaline surging through my veins. Just need to find a way out. There has to be one somewhere.

Rounding yet another corner, I stumbled to a halt. There, set into the wall, was a small opening. Crude and jagged, it looked as if it had been hewn in haste, the edges still rough with rubble. A tunnel?

I hesitated, glancing back the way I'd come. Distant shouts echoed off the walls, drawing closer. No choice.

I squeezed into the opening, the rock scraping against my skin as I wiggled through. The passage was narrow and low, forcing me to crawl on my hands and knees. The damp earth reeked of mold and something else, a coppery tang that set my teeth on edge. Blood.

The tunnel ended abruptly, opening into a small chamber. I clambered out, blinking in the sudden light. Torch sconces lined the walls, casting a wavering glow over the room.

The room was a far cry from the spartan corridors outside. Paperwork teetered in precarious stacks on every surface, the air thick with the musty scent of old parchment and stale ink. Keys glinted dully in the dim light, scattered haphazardly across a battered desk. Looks like some kind of guard post or records room.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Two bodies lay crumpled amidst the clutter, their armor marking them as guards. One stared sightlessly at the ceiling, his throat a gaping red ruin. The other lay face-down, a dark, glistening stain spreading across his back. God damn. Sword wounds, by the look of it.

I edged closer, glass crunching beneath my boots. What the hell happened here? Unease prickled up my spine as I scanned the room, looking for clues.

A scrap of parchment caught my eye, pinned beneath one of the corpses. I tugged it free, my breath catching as I saw the words blazoned across it. "WANTED: DARWIN MERRICK, FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE CROWN." Darwin's face stared up at me, a sketchy likeness capturing his rakish grin and the distinctive twin blades.

The reward made me whistle. 100 silvers for you. Damn, you really stepped in it this time. I crumpled the paper, mind racing. This is going from bad to worst. But first. I glanced at the bodies. Someone else got here before me.

Holding my breath, I pressed my ear to the door. Silence, so I moved the bodies slowly and wincing as the hinges creaked open. Seeing no one I crept out and moved down the hallway.

The minutes ticked by as I wound through the corridors, every corner a potential chance to run into a guard. "Am I heading in the right way?" I thought as I moved around. "I've been in here for hours, and I haven't found the way out."

I continued down the dark corridor until I reached a familiar room, guards milling about, a door I'd seen before on the far side. "No way," I muttered, disbelief warring with frustration. "I've just gone in a damn circle." I leaned back, thudding my head softly against the wall. "So, I guess they found the bodies. Okay, let's go back and try another corridor."

Before I could go back the way I came, four guards ran out of the room, swords in hand. "Damn," I said as I moved away, pressing myself against the wall. "I'm going to fight my way out, aren't I?" I breathed. I began to edge back the way I came, melting into the darkness, when a flicker of torchlight illuminated my face.

Shit.

One of the guards pointed towards me and shouted, "You there! Stop!"

Another guard called out, "Check the other prisoners, make sure they're all accounted for, and sound the alarm!"

Three more guards emerged from another path. "Sir, what should we do about the bodies?" one of them asked.

The first guard glanced back at the room. "Move them out of sight and alert the captain immediately. With the prince visiting, we can't afford any mistakes."

The lead guard, a burly figure with a scar etched across his cheek, stepped forward, a grim smile playing on his lips. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the leather-wrapped grip worn smooth from use.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered, his voice dripping with both amusement and menace. Cold gray eyes narrowed as he looked me over. "Looks like we have an elusive prisoner who thought he could get away. I straightened myself, a smirk curling my lips despite the hammering of my heart. "Oh, you know," I retorted, feigning nonchalance with a wave of my hand. "Just out for a little stroll. Thought I'd stretch my legs, get some fresh air.

The lead guard's jaw clenched, a vein pulsing at his temple. Metal clinked as he drew his sword a few inches from the scabbard. "You've got a smart mouth, prisoner. Perhaps we should put it to better use. The captain's boots could use a good licking."

"As much as I appreciate the offer, I'll have to decline." I took a slow step back, my gaze flicking to the surrounding guards. Five of them, hands on their swords, watching me like hungry wolves. One of the guards moved a little forward, “The captain didn’t say we can’t touch you, only that you are valuable. After what you did to our people, he’s not going to care if you are missing something.” The guard's scarred face twisted into a sneer. "Seize him!"

As I moved backwards, I whispered an incantation, staring at the grinning guards as he moved forward. Feeling the heat in my boot growing hot as the spell finished. With a sly grin, I retorted, "Well, I'm afraid you're going to disappoint your captain."

As I drew my sword, I cast the spell "Power Surge." Flames erupted around me, swirling and dancing with an intense fiery energy. The flames then wrapped around the sword, causing the blade to become a blazing inferno of magical might. The air shimmered with heat as I held the enchanted weapon aloft, its fiery light casting an eerie glow on the faces of the startled guards.

I swung my flaming blade at the lead guard, a fierce arc of fire tracing the air and searing scorch marks into the stone floor. The guard's eyes widened in shock as the fiery blade sliced through the air towards him. He barely managed to raise his sword, meeting my attack with a desperate clang of steel.

Realizing the imminent danger, the other guards swiftly joined forces, chanting in unison to cast "Stone Bane." The ground beneath them trembled as if alive, and with a low, ominous rumble, massive boulders materialized from thin air. With synchronized precision, they heaved the colossal stones at me, the air humming with the force of their assault.

I leaped past one boulder, my blade cleaved another in half. The heat of my flames caused the severed rock to melt and sizzle, dripping molten stone onto the floor. Rolling with the momentum, I narrowly avoided the next barrage, the boulders crashing into the stone walls, causing debris to scatter across the corridor.

Looking back, I knew if other guards didn't hear anything before, they definitely heard it now. Time to go. I sidestepped a swing from a guard on my right, the whoosh of his blade stirring the air near my ear. In the same motion, I blocked a strike from my left with a clash of metal, the heat from my sword causing the guard to shriek in pain. The acrid scent of singed hair and burning flesh filled the air as I lunged forward, driving my sword into his stomach with a sickening squelch.

With a deft spin, I redirected my flaming blade towards another assailant, the searing arc of fire illuminating the narrow corridor. The guard stumbled back, eyes wide with fear, his sword raised in a desperate attempt to ward me off. I pressed the advantage, raining down a series of blistering strikes that forced him further back.

From the corner of my eye, I saw guards finishing their spells, arcane energy crackling around their emeralds. Damn, they're going to hurl more stones. I disengaged from my current opponent with a sharp kick to his chest, sending him sprawling. The first boulder hurtled towards me, whistling through the air like a cannonball. I sidestepped, feeling the wind of its passage as it crashed into the wall behind me, showering me with dust and debris.

I charged forward, weaving through the barrage of boulders, my sword flashing in a fiery blur. One stone grazed my shoulder, spinning me half around, but I used the momentum to slash at another, cleaving it in two. The halves tumbled away, glowing with the heat of my blade. Need to find an exit. Looking around, I decided to make my way back to the room with the bodies and crawl back through there. It's a tight squeeze, but it might be my only chance.

As I moved in that direction, I sliced through a boulder that was near me, the impact sending a shockwave up my arm. I leaped past another, the rough stone scraping against my leg as I narrowly avoided its crushing weight.

Just as I was about to make my escape, the lead guard slammed his hand on the ground, his fingers splayed in a complex sigil. A massive boulder materialized, blocking my path with a resounding thud.

"No escape for you," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Move into position and capture him." The other two guards started moving around, their steps measured and deliberate, looking like they were going to flank me. They're trying to box me in.

"Well, shit," I mumbled under my breath, tightening my grip on my sword. "This is going badly fast." Adrenaline surged through my veins as I scanned my surroundings, searching for an escape route. Spotting a nearby boulder, I made a split-second decision and sprinted towards it. The guards, caught off guard by my sudden movement, fumbled with their weapons as they tried to react. I used the boulder as a springboard, launching myself over it with a powerful leap. As I landed on the other side, I tucked my body into a roll, minimizing the impact and quickly regaining my footing.

The guards scrambled to navigate around the obstacle, their curses filling the air. The lead guard, faster than the others, managed to close the distance and lashed out with his sword. Shit, he's quick. Parrying, his strike with my own blade, the heat emanating from it searing his arm. He let out a pained yelp and recoiled, his skin blistering from the scorching touch.

As he leaped back, a boulder suddenly materialized in the place of the guard, and it moved towards me. I swung my sword to cut though the boulder, but the massive thing pushed me off my feet and shot towards the wall. I tried to stop it but couldn’t, so I jumped to the side letting it pass. A second later the boulder crashed into the wall knocking out all the torches on the wall and plunging everyone into darkness. Only the light from my flames flickered in the pitch-black chamber, casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls. “

As shadows danced on the walls, I could see the guards moving, their faces illuminated by the orange light. “They circling me”. I moved back hoping that the wall was behind me before a powerful gust of wind swept through the chamber. The blast moved in a circle, and it took all my strength to prevent me from flying, but the guards was not lucky. They were flung away, their bodies crashing against the stone walls with bone-jarring impacts, scattering them like leaves in a storm. In the center stood a familiar figure, her cloak whipped by the storm she made. The air around her crackled with energy and I had to put my arm in front of my face to prevent dust from entering my eyes. After a moment the wind died, and Erlinda turn to smile at me. "Hell of an entrance, Lindy," I said, smiling back at her. "Thanks, I try," she replied with a smirk, glancing at the scattered guards. "Let's get out of here before they recover."