Kiva suddenly understood why Ashlyn-as-Brynn had fled to the bathing chamber when Serafine had entered the room earlier — she hadn’t been hiding in fear of the princess, but because, unlike Navok, the newly returned Sera would have cared enough to look at Ashlyn, and therefore, would have easily recognized her.
“I’ve pulled some favors, and I have a way for us to get out of the castle, but after that, we’re on our own,” the princess went on. “There are supplies waiting for us in the city, but once we’ve collected them, we’ll have to steal some horses and put as much distance between us and Zadria as possible before Navok realizes you’re gone. It’s going to be a long night — do you think you can manage?”
Kiva nodded slowly, her mind whirling. “If you were here to spy, don’t you need to stay?” she asked. “I should be able to make it on my own once you help me out of the castle.”
Now that she knew who Ashlyn was, and that the other girl had a verifiable escape plan, Kiva much preferred the idea of remaining in her company. But not at the risk of damaging the princess’s chances of gathering whatever information she was there to steal.
Ashlyn, however, shook her head. “As I said, I was planning to leave weeks ago. It’s a good thing I didn’t, given everything I’ve heard since you arrived. But now I need to get back to Stoneforge and share what I’ve learned before it’s too late.”
That sounded concerning, but Kiva had enough to worry about without dwelling on why Ashlyn needed to get to Evalon’s northernmost military base, so she repressed her fears and followed the princess to the door.
“Remember, don’t make eye contact with anyone,” Ashlyn said. “And stay close.”
It was only as they stepped into the hallway that Kiva remembered there was still one more thing she needed to do that day. She swore loud enough for Ashlyn to whip around, ready to berate her, but Kiva got in first and said, “We need to go to the dungeons. There’s someone I have to speak with before I can leave.”
Unsurprisingly, Ashlyn wasn’t pleased to hear about Galdric, nor was she pleased to discover that a high-priority prisoner had been residing at Blackmount without her knowledge. But she agreed that the information Galdric had regarding Tilda and the rebels was worth the risk of venturing beneath the castle. She, however, decided that they wouldn’t just be speaking with Galdric — they’d be taking him with them.
Kiva was unsure how they would free him from his cell while avoiding the notice of the Gray Guards, but she cast aside her worries and followed Ashlyn along the black-and-red hallways. Even though they were moving swiftly, none of the servants or guards gave them a second glance, offering proof that their outfits made them all but invisible.
Finally, they reached the entrance to the dungeons, the air growing chilly and damp as they headed deeper beneath the castle.
Ashlyn’s steps slowed as she took in the numerous labyrinthine pathways. “Which way?” she whispered.
When Kiva pointed left and started leading in that direction, the princess held her back and said, “Me first.”
Her reasoning became clear when they turned the next corner and found a trio of Gray Guards walking toward them, all visibly jolting as they saw two maids wandering in a place they had no excuse to be.
Kiva was about to offer a quick lie about being lost, but before she could, all three men cried out and clutched their heads, then dropped to the ground, unconscious.
When Kiva turned woodenly to Ashlyn, the other girl just shrugged and said, “Pressurized air straight into their eardrums. They’ll be out for a while.”
Kiva winced, having felt a similar magical attack from Mirryn the night of the masquerade. She almost pitied the guards, before realizing they would have done something much worse to her and Ashlyn.
“We need to hurry,” the princess urged.
They continued through the maze of corridors, with Kiva straining her memory for the right pathways. Finally, she was able to say, “It’s just beyond the next bend.”
No sooner had the words left her than two guards appeared from around the corner, so close that they almost collided with each other.
Ashlyn didn’t hesitate to launch herself at them, attacking not with her magic this time, but with her fists and feet, until both were on the ground, as unconscious as the first three.
It happened so fast that Kiva was left gaping.
“Never waste magic when mundane methods work just as well,” Ashlyn said, barely even panting.
Kiva nodded mutely, before pointing a finger further down the darkened stone corridor. “That one. At the end.”
They hurried over and found Galdric already on his feet, having heard the scuffle with the guards even if the angle of his cell meant he wouldn’t have been able to see anything. His brown eyes widened comically when he saw Kiva approach, and they rounded even more when he noticed Ashlyn.
“Your Highness,” he rasped, bending at the waist.
Ashlyn snorted. “Please. We both know there’s only one person here who you want to bow to.”
Kiva shifted uncomfortably, having forgotten that, as the ex-leader of the rebels, Galdric had been determined to see a Corentine on Evalon’s throne.
“But we can discuss that later,” Ashlyn continued, before adding in a hard voice, “at length.”
Galdric’s weathered features were solemn and, if anything, accepting of his fate.
“Now, step back,” Ashlyn ordered. “And be ready to run.”
Kiva wasn’t sure if Galdric would be capable of running. Physically, he appeared fit, and despite the gray streaks in his hair and beard, he was only in his mid to late forties, but he’d also been imprisoned for half a year. On top of that, his face was still bruised enough that Kiva had to repress her instinct to try and heal him, aware that if she managed to summon her magic — something she wasn’t confident about, given the events of that morning — then it would light the dungeons like a beacon.
Noting her concern, Galdric backed away from the iron bars on steady feet, quietly assuring her, “I’ll be fine.”
Ashlyn ignored their exchange and said, “You too,” to Kiva, who hesitated only a second before taking three large steps backwards.
The princess then waved a hand at the bars, prompting them to shake and buckle, whether from her earth or wind magic, Kiva didn’t know. A gods-awful screeching sound echoed down the stone corridor, but the iron finally shifted to the side, creating a gap large enough for Galdric to squeeze through.
“We’d better hope there are no more guards down here, or they will have heard that,” Ashlyn murmured, rubbing her ears. She turned fierce eyes on Galdric and said, “Injured or not, if you can’t keep up, we’ll leave you behind. And if you try anything — and I mean anything — I’ll rip all the air from your lungs and bury you so far beneath the earth that you’ll wish you’d remained in that cell. Understood?”
Galdric nodded, his expression just as solemn as before. Kiva didn’t offer him any reassurance — she still wasn’t sure where she stood with the man who had been her mother’s closest adviser, and she wouldn’t know until they had a chance to talk. For now, they needed to prioritize escaping.
Their return trip out of the dungeons was quick and quiet, with Kiva breathing a sigh of relief when she saw the opulent black-and-red décor peeking over the top of the final stone staircase. But then Ashlyn came to a jarring stop halfway up the stairs, a hissed curse leaving her mouth. Kiva looked past her to see —