They rode through the forest, leaving the sound of fighting behind them.

Nox’s wrists were still bound, a precaution for Ireela and the others, but Nox didn’t mind. After what the king had told him, he would want to keep himself powerless as well.

He glanced to his left. Ireela’s face was still concealed by her hood, but there was no mistaking it: she was his Squire. She was here, breaking him out of imprisonment, even though she should be at the Academy.

She was here committing treasonry against the kingdom.

Guilt bubbled in his throat. Why was she here? She had a family back in her village; by helping him, their lives, and hers, were already forfeit. And that man, the Earth Wielding riding just in front of him. Nox had a feeling he knew who it was.

“Sir Aldros.” He spoke calmly, yet his voice trembled with a low growl. A warning and a plea.

The man glanced at him briefly, his face shadowed. But Nox could tell his lips were curled in amusement. “We’ll explain everything later. The hideout isn’t that far.”

Hideout? Nox’s brow creased. How long had they been planning this?

There were so many questions whirling in his mind, but asking them now wouldn’t yield a satisfying result. They needed a safe place to rest. And then, Nox would get his answers, even if he had to force it out of Aldros’s mouth.

They passed a rushing creek to their left, then rode along a winding trail that led to the base of a small hill, surrounded by birches and elms. A small pond to the side glittered with the afternoon that pierced the forest canopy.

Along one side, hitching posts were erected, with a long water trough for the horses. After a quick search to ensure they weren’t followed, Aldros dismounted to tie their horses. Nox was about to leapt to the ground when Ireela hurried over to him.

“Wear these, Master,” she said, holding a pair of worn leather shoes.

Nox glanced at his bare feet, then at the ground. Twigs and bramble littered the forest floor. “Thank you,” he said, putting on a boot while Ireela laced the other.

“Come.” Aldros beckoned to him from a thin path snaking toward a log cabin nestled in the center of four towering oaks. Nox followed.

It was cozy inside, and he found himself collapsing on the plush leather couch. Ireela went to the small kitchen to prepare something to eat, while Aldros took a chair and sat by the window, gazing outside.

“What are we waiting?” Nox asked.

“The others,” Aldros answered without taking his eyes off the window.

The others. Was Estella among them? Who else were part of the ambush? Those silver eyes flashed in his mind again. It was Estella, Nox was certain. But why would she commit treason? It couldn’t be just for him.

He clasped his hands to prevent them from shaking. The price of treason was death, and the second princess had just willing betrayed her nation. For whom? A monster.

Ireela approached with a tray of steaming soup and a slab of meat. “Here’s your food, Master.” She set it down on the table and took a seat on the opposite chair.

Nox stared at the food, real food. It felt as if it had been a lifetime, even though he had only been imprisoned for days. Or had it been just days?

“Ireela?”

“Yes, Master?”

He looked at her. She had already lowered her hood, allowing him to see the nervousness in her eyes. Her fingers fidgeted on her lap. “How… How long has it been?” It couldn’t be that long, he knew. When he touched his face before they escorted him away, the skin was still smooth and hairless. And his Squire’s faced looked just as he remembered.

“A month, Master,” she said, meeting his gaze. “You were in a coma.”

Nox’s eyes widened. A month? It took that long for his body to recover? He curled his fingers, then uncurled them. He didn’t feel any different.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“What happened after…?”

Ireela shook her head. “You will know later. For now, you have to eat and recover your strength.”

The hesitant tone in her voice was not lost on him, but Nox nodded and grabbed a wooden spoon. If even Ireela was not forthcoming with information, he just had to wait until they were ready to tell him anything.

He had just finished a third of the meat when Aldros rose from his chair. “They’re back.”

He went outside to meet them, his cloak swishing. Ireela glanced at Nox in silent question, and he nodded. She followed Aldros, leaving him alone in the cottage.

Soon he heard the clip-clop of hooves and the neighing of horses, along with a multitude of voices. It seemed a rather large group. Was the entire class involved?

He swallowed the bile rising in his throat and focused on listening, only snatching a word out of every three.

“safe…. Need… Soon… Nightfall…”

The voices grew distinct. As the door opened, Nox stiffened.

Estella immediately removed her helmet upon her entrance, letting her silver hair spill free, catching the light from the setting sun. Their eyes met. Slowly, she took a seat next to him and grabbed his hand, pressing a palm against her warm cheek.

“Did they hurt you?” she asked softly.

“I… I don’t know,” he answered. He wanted to wrap his arms around her waist, pull her toward his chest and never let go. But her armor and his shackles were in the way.

“I tried to, but they wouldn’t let me see you.” She pulled away but kept a firm hold of his hand, placing it on her lap.

“It was better that way.”

“No, it’s not.” She glanced at the others. Only then did Nox notice who had come to save him.

Erian gave him a brief nod, and behind him Reina smiled. Polima waved cheerily next to them.

“Matias is watching over the trail,” Esmeir said, towering from the back. “But we have to go. We can’t stay here.”

“You roped them into this?” Nox looked at Estella with disbelief. His friends, his Squire—all of them would be killed! “Ella, this is—“

“Not treason.” His lover smiled at his confusion. “I will explain later to you, love. But first we need to leave and get to safety.”

Nox’s mind was still whirling by the time they were back on the trail, heading east. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, so many things he wanted to know, but he knew now was not the time.

They rode hard and fast along the East King’s Road, never stopping to rest or eat, even when evening arrived and the only light guiding them came from the moon.

It was not long before light bobbed in the distance. They hadn’t encountered anyone else on the road, but Nox pulled a hood over his head as they approached the barred gates.

“Halt!” the guard captain asked, eyeing their group warily. It was too dark to see, but Nox still kept his bound hands wrapped in a roll of blanket.

“I’m Princess Estella Faven,” Estella said. The guards immediately snapped to attention.

“My lady,” the captain bowed. “We heard you were attacked! Are you hurt?”

Estella smiled. “No, Captain. But we are tracking the prisoner.” She paused. “We need a place to rest. Is there an inn available?”

The man bobbed his head. “Crow’s Nest, four blocks from here.”

“‘Crow’s Nest’,” Matias muttered. “What a charming name for an inn.”

The gates soon opened, and they rode inside. Nox bowed his head as they passed by the guards’ watchful gaze. Only when they were two blocks away did he lift his head and looked around.

It was a small city, with the houses and establishments rarely reaching two floors. The road was sparsely populated, but murmurs drifted from behind closed doors and windows. A pair of mounted patrols trotted by, so focused on their debate that they barely gave a glance.

The Crow’s Nest was one of the only buildings that rose three floors. After tying the horses to the posts, they dismounted and entered.

Nox was immediately struck by the smell of food and boisterous conversations. The tavern was nearly packed to the wall and… His heart skipped. In the center was a wide table where eight watchmen sat, drinking and laughing merrily.

“Keep your hands inside your cloak,” Estella whispered. She looked at Aldroos. “Find an empty seat. I’ll get us rooms.”

She strode forward, her hood keeping her face hidden. While the people of Faven respected the Royal Family, this was still a rowdy tavern filled with rowdy people.

They sat at a table near the corner. Nox kept his hands under the table, wishing he had a knife. He didn’t like some of the stares that were being sent their way.

Estella returned a moment later with a pair of keys. They followed her to the stairs, and Nox was glad to be out of sight of those men. He could feel their gazes on his back as they climbed.

After leading them through a corridor on the second floor, Estella stopped in front of a door and unlocked it. “I rented two rooms,” she said while they entered. “This is the larger one.”

Nox sat on the edge of a bed as the others removed their cloaks. Estella was still wearing her armor, and he could see scorch marks on the leather buckles—the result of the ambush.

“What happened to the other guards?” he asked.

Estella hung her cloak to the wall hook. “I sent them away. They are probably back in the capital by now.”

“So they don’t know about this?”

“No, love. The only people who does are those inside this room… and the Royal Family.”

Nox’s eyes widened. “Your father sanctioned this?”

Aldros grunted, his heavy weight making the bed opposite Nox creak. “How do you think Estella got to be the leader? We wouldn’t even know you were being transferred if not for the king.”

It was a bizarre thought that he would receive help from King Esaros. But why? He looked at Estella again. “Are you going to tell me now what is happening?”

She smiled, taking a seat next to him. “Of course. But you have to promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You will remain calm.”

Nox frowned. What other news could shake him so badly? It was not as if he already slaughtered people. Besides, he was still shackled, and it would be better if it stayed that way for now. “All right.”

Estella took a deep breath and met his gaze.

“We are going to kill Headmaster Alzeron.”