Although the clusterfuck we are about to face, had only three goals in mind.
1. Get me and Helena out of here.
2. Find a way out of Malp.
3. Live
Admittedly, I did not have any sort of recollection of even a plan, but I was amenable to changes.
I gathered her into my chest, still clutching it, letting her head rest against my bicep. I backed away from the crowd screeching and creating more chaos than I could ever hope for.
The doors were still closed, but the palace had a tunnel and many trap doors.
I started knocking on each of the panels of the side of the right wall if I could just remember which of the pictures had the fake knob.
Click. That was it.
It was a life-size pen painting of the king, and the small chest on his right side sitting in the background of the painting had a slight pop into it as if the painting was incomplete. I gave it another knock.
Click.
I look for the fake knob, I latched on to the slight bump that I felt. I turned it, and there it was.
It needed a push at first. I didn't think it would open, but after collecting some power from myself, I pushed harder and it opened. I whispered into her ear, "I'm getting you out of it all right?"
Rearranging her against my chest I took the first step against the door, ready to close it behind me, but a small voice was behind me. It was a young lady with a little boy. "Can we go with you?"
I had only a second to weigh in on the decision. It would be dangerous to take anyone else with us, but to let her stay here would be death. I nodded, not before grimacing over everyone else that I'm leaving behind.
I had no time, no one had time. Now I closed the door shut after the four of us were now embedded in the soft darkness. A bit of light admitted from the woman's palm.
My eyes were lit with curiosity. She is an inferno. They were special breeds that were very rare. It was said that their kind descended from hell not that long ago, but they were hunted for their existence.
She gave me a shy sort of shrug, "The king has his favorites."
Her shoulders slumped, remembering that he's dead now. The movement seems more than it actually is. I motioned her to follow me.
I cast a lazy look on her, making it not as interested as I am. Her clothes are a lot fancier than a common lord's wife or just a merchant. She's probably one of the king's lovers.
She's young, about me and Helena's age. Maybe a year or two older, but she has that air of youth about her. She probably struggled amongst the harem for the older, more experienced lovers for his majesty. They tend to be tougher on the young ones, afraid that they will be cast aside for them.
I peer at the little boy she was talking away under her arm. Is he a bastard like me, of the king?
I looked at the girl in my arms, wondering if the boy walking with us was her little brother.
She cleared her throat, making me realize that we've been silent for a while now, walking in the darkness. I whipped my head towards her, quirking an eyebrow. Her cheeks were flushed. "I'm sorry about what happened to you and the princess."
"It's a sorry story." I waved off her comfort as easily as I could.
She looked at her with more sympathy than I could muster for my own. Then gave me a pitying glance that I did not appreciate, but I nodded just the same.
A small amount of light was admitted from the end of the tunnel. I squinted my eyes, sure I'm not seeing correctly.
Now that I'm squinting my eyes, I see it's not light it was fire.
It was fire because the castle was burning.