Dot and Garon burst into the hallway, hearts hammering. Residual magic still crackled in the air like dying embers. There, sprawled on the cold stone, was Astrid.
"Let her go!" Garon roared, his voice booming off the walls.
Earlier
In the dim cell beneath the Kingsguard Tower, Sylric leaned against the iron bars, eyes sharp.
"Who sent you?" he asked Garon.
Before Garon could answer, Dot stepped inside, footsteps steady.
"No one sent him," Dot said, meeting Garon's hard gaze. "He's only here for his sister."
Garon's expression turned to ice. "Where is she?"
"She's been taken," Dot replied quietly.
Sylric let out a low chuckle. "Kid, this is supposed to be my interrogation. Feels like you're the one asking the questions."
Heavy boots thudded down the stairs. A Kingsguard soldier appeared, face grim.
"Captain wants to see you," he told Sylric.
Sylric nodded and clapped a firm hand on Dot's shoulder. "Stay put. Don't do anything stupid. We'll find her — I promise."
Garon watched in silence as Sylric climbed the stairs, leaving the two of them alone in the flickering torchlight.
The silence stretched, thick and uneasy. Dot finally broke it. "I'll find her."
Garon's lip curled. "What? You want a thank you? Last I checked, you're the ones who took her in the first place."
Dot said nothing.
Garon's voice dropped colder. "Your words mean nothing to me."
Up on the tower's high platform, fierce wind whipped across the stone as Captain Richard stared out over the capital sprawled below. Sylric approached, boots ringing.
"How much time do we have?" Sylric asked.
Richard didn't turn at first. "You always did have sharp eyes."
He finally faced him, voice heavy. "The unfit prince has been crowned by a corrupt council. They're coming for our heads."
"Not much time, then," Sylric muttered. "We need to start looking for the girl."
"You won't find her in time," Richard said bluntly. "Two choices: run now, or die trying."
Sylric's jaw tightened. "Then the obvious choice is saving her."
Richard stared for a beat, then burst into a deep, genuine laugh. "You really are more like that kid than I thought."
As Sylric turned to leave, Richard stopped him again.
"A letter arrived today. From Sweyn Forkbeard. It was meant for the king… but I don't see a worthy king anymore."
Sylric paused. "What's it say?"
"War is brewing in the north. Someone's claiming kingdoms. Calls himself the Monarch."
Richard handed over the letter. Sylric opened the already broken wax, scanned the words, and fell silent. His fists clenched so tightly the parchment crinkled, knuckles turning white.
Outside, alarm bells suddenly rang. A force of roughly one hundred and fifty knights advanced in tight ranks, armor glinting under the pale sky.
"Surrender your arms, Kingsguard!" their commander bellowed. "Avoid bloodshed. Bring your captain and his conspirators to answer for their crimes against the crown!"
From the battlements, Richard's voice rang out, defiant. "My brothers! Is this not an insult? Lapdogs of a cruel king come to shove us aside? The choice is yours join them or fight alongside me!"
"Go to hell!" the Kingsguard roared back in fierce unity.
The knight commander's face hardened. "So be it. Kill them all. Tear this tower down."
Down in the cell, Dot sat on the cold floor across from Garon's cage. Footsteps pounded down the stairs — Sylric, moving fast.
"We need to move. Now — if we're going to find her."
"What's happening outside?" Dot asked, rising quickly.
"No time to explain. Let's go."
Dot approached the cage instead. Sylric's voice sharpened. "What are you doing? Leave him."
"No," Dot said, a small smile breaking through. "Yiva would kill me if I left her brother behind."
Sylric's expression shifted. So did Garon's — a flicker of surprise cutting through the coldness in his eyes.
Minutes later, the three of them stood on the high platform beside Richard.
"Take the back way," the captain urged.
"Thank you," Dot said earnestly.
Richard nodded. "She's probably in the palace. That advisor's been too close to the prince lately — start with his chambers."
As they prepared to leave, Sylric gripped Richard's arm. "Make it out alive. I still owe you that drink."
The sounds of clashing steel and shouts were already rising from below as the three slipped away, descending into the tower's ancient sewage tunnels. They emerged filthy but free, a mile from the tower in the shadowed underbelly of the capital.
"We have to get her," Dot said, breathing hard.
"Yeah," Garon added, voice low but resolute.
They turned to Sylric, only to find him staring at the letter in his hands.
"You take it from here, Dot," he said quietly.
"What?" Dot asked, surprise flashing across his face.
"I have something urgent to handle. I can't waste any more time." Sylric's gaze stayed fixed downward, shadowed.
Dot's expression steadied. "You've done everything you can. I'll take it from here. I'll rescue Yiva… and we'll meet up later."
Sylric offered a small, genuine smile. "I know you can."
Later, Sylric mounted a horse and rode hard toward the north, leaving Dot and Garon in the city streets.
"Let's go," Dot said to Garon, already breaking into a run toward the palace. "No time to waste."
Now
Dot and Garon burst into the hallway. The air still crackled with fading magic. There was Astrid, sprawled on the cold stone floor.
"What the hell was that?" Dot demanded, eyes wide.
Astrid pushed herself up, wincing as she clutched her throbbing head. Dot moved fast, grabbing her by the collar.
"Hey! Who was that? What did you do?" His voice cracked with raw fury, face twisting with rage.
Astrid gasped, struggling in his grip. "I don't… know…"
Garon knelt nearby, watching the tense exchange in silence.
"Wait—" he started, reaching out.
Before he could finish, the thunder of armored boots filled the corridor. Knights swarmed in from every side, swords drawn.
"Well, well," came a smooth, mocking voice from within the forest of steel. Dorian stepped forward, a cruel smile curling his lips.
Dot released Astrid, his eyes burning with unrestrained rage as he faced the newcomer.
End of Chapter