Luna sat alone on the damp stone floor wondering if this might be the end for her. It was just her luck, all her plans had worked out surprisingly well, and yet so close to the finish line everything fell apart. She would have finally been able to change the lives of everyone in the Undercity. No more squalor. No more gang wars. She could build a massive and modern school. The children of the Undercity could receive a top-notch education. She could build farms and graineries, ensuring reasonably priced food for everyone. No more Topsiders overcharging for the necessities they needed to survive.

She was so close, and yet, destiny had clipped her wings yet again. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried, lady fate was always lurking around the corner to remind Luna that she was and would always be a street rat. This is why I always try so hard not to get my hopes up. That way it’s harder for the world to hurt me.

Just then, Cassian crept in through the prison cell door, anxious and out of breath. His eyes glowed purple and beside him walked a suit of armor. She looked up at him confused. “Getting ready for war?” She asked with a hint of nervous laughter.

He pulled out a key ring and unlocked Luna’s chains before he looked at her and smirked. “This plan might just be crazy enough to work. If not, well I’ll likely end up chained up here next to you in the dungeons. Now quickly, put this armor and helm on.”

Luna gave him a look of disbelief and considered questioning him. Given her hopeless situation she decided against it. Shifting side to side on her toes, she began hastily putting on the suit of heavy plate armor. Once she finished donning the sturdy armor, she looked around apprehensively. “Okay, what now?”

“Now for the crazy part. Just follow me and don’t speak a word no matter what.”

She raised two gauntleted hands up to her head. “Please don’t make me regret this.”

“Did you have a better idea? Because this is the best chance we’ve got. Her goes nothing.”

Prince Cassian opened the door to the prison cell and stepped out into the hallway with Luna at his side before closing the door and locking it behind them. They walked down the dimly lit hallway in silence, the sound of metal clanking rhythmically against the stones echoed. As they approached a royal guard he stood at attention and saluted the prince. Cassian noticed that quite reasonably, he looked confused to see the prince practicing his amethite usage down in the dungeons. Luna held her breath as they walked past the guard, sweat was beginning to run down her forehead as she fought a losing battle against her nerves.

They walked past two more guards on their way through the dungeons and both times they received bewildered stares. Eventually they passed unhindered. Cassian focused on looking as inconspicuous as possible and they reached the top of the stairwell where Carlisle stood guarding the entrance to the dungeons. Prince Cassian felt worry smothering him as they approached the royal guard, but they continued, attempting to walk straight past him. The level of tension between Luna and Cassian was at an all-time high as they walked in front of Carlisle.

Carlisle stood at attention, saluting and the pair walked a few steps past him when he cleared his throat and spoke up. “A moment if you please, your highness.”

Cassian stopped and turned to face the royal guard, Luna froze. She tried to hold her breath, but she was beginning to hyperventilate in the heavy suit of armor. Beads of sweat ran down her horrified face. “What is it Carlisle?” Cassian asked, doing his best to remain calm and inconspicuous.

“If you don’t mind me asking, why are you practicing your amethite skills at this hour of the night, your highness?” Carlisle asked.

Cassian searched his thoughts quickly for the right answer. “Well, you see, I talked with Eldan about how upset I was, and he recommended that I practice my amethite to take my mind off things. Alas, here I am, going for a late-night stroll.”

Carlisle seemed to consider the answer for an uncomfortably long time. Meanwhile, Luna was doing her best to not breathe too heavily. She felt like a jewel thief locked in a bank vault. A drop of sweat fell from her brow out of the bottom of the helm and splattered on the checkered marble floor of the palace. Cassian had a moment of panic wash over him as time seemed to freeze, but Carlisle didn’t seem to notice the sweat fall from the armor. “Very well, Eldan is probably right, best be on your way, your highness.”

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“Indeed.” Spoke Cassian walking away with Luna and letting out a big sigh as they made their way down the hallway and into the library. Upon reaching the library Cassian eyed the library quickly and found that it was empty at this hour of the night. Luna and Cassian quickly made their way to the secret passage behind the bookshelf.

“Not so fast, young lord…and lady?,” Said Eldan standing behind the pair and running his wrinkled fingers through his long beard.

Cassian jumped in surprise and Luna winced inside the helm. “It’s not what it looks like, I swear.” He said nervously.

Eldan raised a bushy eyebrow and took a puff of his corn cob pipe. “Is that so?”

“I suspect there’s been foul play. I was with Luna today, I know she didn’t murder mother. Now I need to help her escape before tempers flare and decisions are made too hastily.” Cassian said, Luna exhaled before removing the helm and looking the gray bearded man in the eyes.

“Do not fret young lord. I believe you. I suspected all was not as it seemed. Forces are at work that seek to disrupt the proper balance of things.”

Cassian and Luna breathed out in relief, “Please, what am I to do?” asked the prince with a sad tone of desperation.

The old magi took a puff from his pipe, pondering the question, “I know not all of the questions and so I have not all the answers. But I suspect this must all be connected to what Lord Magister Njal intended to show your father. I need you to seek out the Lord Magister at the Blue Tower. If my intuition is correct, he will know what the next step is.”

“Aye, I will do that. I will find my mother’s killer and ensure they are punished.”

“And one more thing, be careful who you trust, young lord. I fear the forces behind this are well connected. Step lightly, as if they have eyes everywhere. For they just may.”

“Thank you, my lord. You are a good man.” Luna said, looking up at Eldan.

“Yes, truly thank you. You’ve been more than an ally to me and my family.” said Cassian.

Eldan smiled, “It’s been my honor to instruct you, your highness. You’ve grown into quite the man since we first met. Now make haste. Leave the city as fast as possible, it will not be safe for you. That goes doubly for you, my lady.”

Cassian nodded with deep appreciation before he and Luna entered the tunnel. He pulled the bookshelf back behind him and they hastily made their way through the passageway.

They rushed away from the castle in silence, both still on edge from the nearly botched escape. Finally, Luna broke the silence. “Well, that couldn’t have possibly been any closer. Maker…Next time maybe I’ll come up with the plan.”

Cassian laughed, still in awe that his plan had actually worked. “I thought we were sunk when Carlisle stopped us! Could your sweat glands have possibly been any more...umm...propagative?” He asked with a teasing cadence, trying to calm the situation with humor. She just shot him a wicked glare in response.

They stopped in the passageway just long enough for Luna to take off the heavy plate armor. “Maker, it feels nice to be out of that stuffy plate! I don’t know how soldiers can wear that stuff for hours at a time. I’ll be happy to be out of this tattered prisoner's garb as well.”

Cassian looked back over his shoulder in the dark corridor, listening intently for pursuers. “We need to get out of the city quickly before they notice you’re gone but going out the city gates would be much too dangerous. You know the Undercity far better than me, do you have any ideas?”

“I know of an abandoned mining tunnel system that can take us from the Undercity out into the mountains. We can get supplies for the trip from my gang's hideout on our way out of town.”

“We need to hurry. That’s the first place they’ll check when they find out you’ve escaped.”