9.

  Spook

  The cold stone of the temple pressed against my spine like a verdict. Its chill biting through my cloak as the weight in my chest pressed down heavier than the pack on my back. My eyes burned, but I swallowed the tears like I’d been taught.

  Her eyes lingered in my thoughts. A silent plea to stay with her that tugged at my resolve. That look, desperate yet resilient, had nearly unravelled the last thread of my restraint. When I closed my eyes, she flared in the darkness behind them.

  Her face was etched into my mind as if carved there. Her delicate features, honed by grief and endurance. And her smile… gods, that smile. A smile meant for someone she trusted. Someone she believed wouldn’t leave her alone on her quest.

  And I had broken that trust. I knew that pain. The pain of being left all alone. I wanted to turn back, to erase the sorrow from her gaze, to hold her one last time. To let her know she wasn’t alone. That I wasn’t as indifferent and cold as I pretended to be.

  But the Basilisk’s mark seared beneath my collar like a brand pressed onto my soul. I made an oath. A promise. A chain I had clasped on my own wrists. And there was no room for deviation.

  Not even for her.

  Not even for myself.

  Regardless of how much I wanted to leave.

  I lifted my gaze to the sky as dusk bled into deep, sombre blue. My jaw ached as I clenched it, and in the silence of the temple courtyard, I made a promise to myself.

  One day, I will break the chains and find my way back to you, little Fox. Even if it meant defying everything I had sworn to uphold.

  ? ? ?

  The moon hung low above Westray, casting an ethereal glow over the streets as I made my way back from the Temple of Herdus. One of the ancient gods that had created human kind.

  My journey back into the city should’ve been a short walk, but doubts slowed every step to a crawl. The world felt heavier, my thoughts all jumbled together. Each heartbeat reminded me of the distance I put between us.

  The city swallowed me before long. Its heartbeat thrumming through the night air; merchants haggling, the scent of baked bread mixed with the tang brine from the harbour, and the ever-present whispers of intrigue in the shadows.

  Sticking to the edges of the alleys, I navigated through the streets until I reached the discreet entrance to the underground tunnels, leading to Armenelos. The ancient city of the elves, buried underneath Westray. Westray’s pulse fell away the deeper I went into the tunnels.

  The transition was stark: the vibrant chaos of Westray gave way to dark, damp silence. The tunnels were ancient, the walls slick with moss and etched with the familiar runes long faded by time. A cold draft whispered through the passages, carrying an unnatural chill that set my nerves on edge.

  With my hand on the hidden blades, I slipped through every bend with a predator’s caution. Faelwen would have lit these shadows with her magic. The thought struck with painful clarity. Even though I hadn’t known her for long, I’d grown fond of her. I shook my head to clear my mind and focus back on the present.

  With every corner I passed, I paused, straining to hear beyond the sound of my own heartbeat. But tonight, the tunnels were mercifully empty of demons. How they had crawled their way up from the Underworld remained a mystery. But one thing I knew for sure… something was wrong.

  I emerged into Armenelos intact, stepping into the forgotten beauty of the elven city. Moonlight filtered through gaps in the roof, illuminating moss-covered stone arches and overgrown pathways.

  As I made my way toward the castle, faces turned in recognition. Nods were exchanged, a subtle acknowledgement of camaraderie in the shadows. I belonged here. Yet I felt detached from the guild, as if my heart was being pulled elsewhere.

  Slipping past the watchful eyes of the city, I reached the castle gates where two sentries of the Black Hawk guild materialized from the darkness.

  “He’s expecting you,” one murmured.

  I followed them as they escorted me through narrow corridors to the Basilisk’s private quarters.

  The room was a contradiction to the cold and ancient stone work from the castle; warm tapestries and a roaring fireplace, yet utterly devoid of splendour. No valuables adorned the shelves. Probably an intentional choice. Even in a guild of thieves, trust only extended so far.

  The Basilisk stood with his back to me, a shadow against the window, his gaze fixed on the cityscape.

  “I’ve come to report,” I said when the guards left us alone. “The girl has been taken safely out of the city.”

  “Good,” he replied, his voice as cold and sharp as a dagger. “Now, we move to the next phase of our plan.”

  Unease coiled in my gut.

  “You still intend to take king Edmund’s child?”

  He turned slowly, his face a grim mask. His cold, merciless eyes pinned me like an insect.

  “We mussst,” he said, his tone resolute. “To control thisss city, to unite it with Orion’s forces. To make those brothers ssstop fighting each other and make them fight together against the forces of the Underworld, we need leverage. This child isss that leverage.”

  My fists curled so tight my palms stung. Fear and frustration warred within me, but I dared not argue further. The Basilisk smirked, sensing my unease.

  “You’ve proven yourself useful, Ssspook. I have one more task for you.” He stepped closer, his imposing presence suffocating. “You, along with Henry and Josh, are the most trussstworthy members I have at my disposal. You will retrieve the boy. Do this, and I’ll forget your previousss mistakesss.”

  This was my moment. My only chance to get out. I steadied myself and forced the words out.

  “I want to join Faelwen’s quest. That’s the reward I ask for.”

  His jaw tightened, his expression darkening as my request sank in.

  “That would mean leaving the city and my ssservice to find her again. You would be a great loss to my guild.”

  “I know where she’s headed,” I replied quickly, thinking of the maps I had taken from her backpack, my voice trembling. “I can find her and return if needed.”

  A silence stretched between us, the crackle of the fire the only sound in the room.

  “Fine,” he hissed at last. “But complete this mission first.”

  Relief flooded me, and I bowed my head. “Thank you, master.”

  “Report to Henry and Josh,” he commanded, his tone icy. “They’ll accompany you.”

  I left the castle with fire in my veins and renewed hope. A grin I couldn’t hold back bloomed on my face. I had done it. And after this mission, I would be on my way to find her. And I would have my freedom.

  I followed the narrow path down into Armenelos.

  Outside the castle, Armenelos seemed strangely alive despite the lateness of the hour. Lanterns swayed in the wind and voices drifted from open windows.

  Henry and Josh could be anywhere in this sprawling city, but instinct tugged me toward the training ground. The one place I knew Henry was most of the time.

  Not far from the castle, the training grounds appeared surrounded by houses and shops. The grounds bustled with activity; members honing their skills on straw dummies, the rhythmic clang of the smith’s hammer, and the low hum of voices.

  I spotted Henry first. He was talking to the smith. His small posture was dressed in black leather armour. A hand crossbow strapped to his back. His black hair tied back in a ponytail.

  Henry was an esteemed member of the guild and my former trainer. His keen senses heard me before I introduced myself and his sharp eyes turned to me, a silver earring catching the firelight.

  “Look who it is! My favourite student,” he greeted me, a grin widening across his weathered face. His dark-blue eyes scanned me with a familiarity that made my chest tighten.

  “I can never surprise you, can I?” I chuckled, though the sound felt thin. He noticed it immediately. The shift in me, the shadow behind my smile.

  “Henry, I need you for a mission. Have you seen Josh?” I asked, keeping my tone steady despite the weight of the task ahead. Henry studied me for a moment. His grin faded into a frown.

  “You look worried, kid. What’s going on?”

  “I’ll explain later when we find Josh,” I replied grimly. He nodded.

  “I’ll see you around Bertie.” Henry waved at the smith and followed me to a small alley.

  “Last I heard of Josh, he planned to rob some rich noble man’s house. That was two days ago, I assume he’s back in his den now,” Henry said.

  We walked in silence through the streets, until the houses thinned and we arrived at a small terrace home marked with carved stone ornaments. It was a simple house, built for a small family.

  Henry stepped onto the veranda and knocked twice. Laughter spilled from inside when Josh opened the door. His blond curls were hidden beneath a thick woolen hat, and exhaustion sat heavy beneath his ocean-bright eyes.

  “Henry? Can I help you with anything?” He asked cautiously. His brows knitted together when he noticed me. I knew Josh and Henry often worked together, but we had never met in our lives.

  Henry clapped a hand on my shoulder.

  “The Basilisk came up with a brilliant mission and sent young Spook here to inform us about it.”

  Josh’s gaze lingered on me a beat too long, assessing, weighing. Then he stepped aside. Inside, the home was sparse but lived in. All the necessary furniture was there, but barely any decoration besides some kids' drawings.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “I’m upstairs honey,” he called out to his wife before leading us upstairs to the backroom.

  The room was just big enough for the three of us. It was mostly empty except for a few trunks. The faint flicker of a single lantern illuminated the space. There were no chairs, but in the middle of the room stood a table with the map of Westray displayed.

  “Spook is it?” he asked as he spread a hand across the map to straighten it.

  “Yes.”

  “What is this ‘brilliant mission’ of the Basilisk? I assume you’re part of it.”

  I swallowed, my lips suddenly very dry.

  “He wants us to take the king's son and bring him here.”

  A silence fell. Josh was the first to speak, incredulous.

  “That is madness.” He shook his head. “The king will kill us if we’re caught.”

  Henry’s voice cut through the tension.

  “What is he planning to do with the kid?”

  “The Basilisk thinks that he can gain control over the king, make a deal with his brother Orion and fight together against the demons. He wants the king to stop the war with Orion,” I responded, clenching and unclenching my fists. Josh’s expression hardened.

  “Too late for that. Orion’s army is approaching Westray and the king has ordered the gates closed.”

  The air thickened. And still I pushed forward. This was my chance to get away and help Faelwen save our kingdom. I couldn’t let it slip. If I failed... I didn’t want to think about that.

  “We have to do this. You know what he’s like if we refuse,” I tried to persuade the men

  Josh shook his head. “No kid, I’m not going to risk my neck for a dangerous mission like that. You can tell the Basilisk I’m out.”

  My heart sank and I looked at Henry with desperation in my eyes. Henry sighed, “I’m sorry kid. Josh is right. The king will lynch us if we get caught.”

  “Then don’t get caught,” I snapped, frustration cracking through my calm composure. Henry’s hand rested on my shoulder, gentle but heavy.

  “This mission is too dangerous. You can see that, can’t you? You’ve always been a smart kid. Don’t throw your life away like that,” he said. I shook him off.

  “You don’t understand… he’ll kill me if I don’t do as he says.”

  Josh huffed a laugh. “Don’t worry, he won’t. I refused him plenty of times. He’s a reasonable man if you give him a good reason why you can’t do something.”

  “No,” I whispered, voice breaking. “You really don’t understand. I…” The words caught in my throat. I didn’t want them to know I’d made a deal with the Basilisk. If I gave up now, I would never see Faelwen again nor gain my freedom.

  “Forget it,” I muttered, turning for the stairs. But before I reached the street, strong hands grabbed my collar and slammed me gently but firmly against the wall. Henry’s dark-blue eyes bored into mine.

  “You don’t think we’re gonna let you do this by yourself, kid. Don’t tell me this is one of your escape plans again, is it?”

  “No!” I said instinctively as usual. “I—It’s more complicated than that.”

  “Oh, I know that damned look.” His voice softened. “You made a deal, didn’t you?”

  I swallowed and nodded.

  “She better be worth it,” he sighed, releasing me.

  “How did you—”

  Henry laughed. “Because women make idiots of all of us, kid.”

  Heat flooded my face. I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment. Suddenly Josh emerged beside me from the shadows with silent steps that nearly stopped my heart.

  “All right,” he murmured. “Henry convinced me the Basilisk would not stop until he has what he wants. But if we’re doing this, we need a solid plan. And two backups.”

  A grin spread on my face, my self-confidence returning.

  “Good,” I breathed. “I already have an idea.”

  ? ? ?

  The next two days passed in a blur of preparation. We studied castle maps. Tracked patrols and consulted Henry’s spies who lived in the castle. Piercing together a solid plan. So we thought. By the time the sun set on the second day, we were ready.

  Our plan was simple. Approach the castle gardens through the tunnels during the switch of the guards, climb to the first floor, get prince Wylliam and leave. Henry would be the lookout while Josh and I entered the castle.

  When night approached, we set out. The sewers welcomed us with the stench of decay and old water. The cold air bit through our clothes as we moved through the maze of tunnels.

  My nerves thrummed. If we were caught… there would be no trial. Just rope or steel. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. But if we made it… this would be the biggest heist ever accomplished by a mere thief from the thieves guild.

  We met only one corpse-creature on our way. Its body, more rot than flesh, blocked the passage we had to go through. My stomach churned at the sight. We dispatched it quickly since it was barely able to fight back and pressed on. It wasn’t the same corpse Faelwen and I had found. Meaning there was a new portal somewhere.

  The thought tightened its claws around my heart, but we had no time to worry about it. We pushed deeper into the darkness until Josh found the drain we needed. One by one, we climbed into the cool night air and tumbled into the castle gardens.

  The scent hit me first. Salt from the sea combined with roses in bloom and damp earth. The castle loomed before us, its red-and-blue roofs faintly glowing with the last scrap of twilight. A small stone pathway curled around a pond. The moon reflected on the water’s surface.

  We moved fast. We had to. Shadows devoured us as we crossed the garden. Henry split off to patrol, giving us his signal – a piercing seagull cry – if danger approached.

  Josh and I scaled the rose-lined wall on the left side of the castle. We didn’t encounter any guards, but I knew that would soon change. The switch between guard duties took about fifteen minutes. Enough for us to slip in and out without noticing. Henry disappeared in a hedge, waiting for our return and keeping watch.

  Stealing ourselves we moved over to the wall, a balcony hanging above us. The thorns bit into my palms when I pulled myself up. At the balcony, we pressed into the stone, our breath shallow. Josh peered inside. His jaw tightened. That’s not good.

  “There’s someone in the room,” he breathed against my ear.

  Wonderful.

  This would complicate things. I sucked in my breath through my teeth. Pushing away my doubts. If there’s one thing I was good at, it was moving like a shadow. A corner of my mouth lifted. I got this.

  Quietly I crouched before the door, working the lock with shaking fingers. As I fumbled with the lock, my eyes caught a light coming from the washroom that was connected to the bedroom. It looked as if this person was readying himself to go to bed.

  “We could wait,” I mouthed the words. Josh shook his head.

  “No time,” he mouthed back to me.

  The faint click sounded like salvation and we slipped inside like noiseless shadows, gliding past the washroom. A woman bathed inside, humming softly, completely unaware of the danger drifting through her room like smoke. I looked away, my cheeks burning.

  We crossed the room quickly and escaped into the hallway, where lanternlight flickered over sand-coloured walls. The air was colder here, quieter. The hallway was lined with wooden doors that led to other rooms.

  Josh pointed to the right and led the way. At the end of the hallway, we ventured to the left and Josh looked around the corner. This seemed too easy. Where were the guards inside the castle?

  As if I’d called out to them, footsteps echoed in the hallway. Too close. Eyes wide Josh turned to me. My body tensed and scanned the hallway for a way out. Josh motioned to one of the closed doors.

  I shoved it open, heart hammering as the hinges creaked loud enough to wake the dead. We slipped inside and froze in the dark. Breath suppressed.

  The room slowly came into view. As luck would have it, the room was empty. The furniture was covered with white sheets to prevent dust from settling.

  The footsteps passed and I dared to let out my breath. We waited another minute before moving on.

  When we reached the corner, we stopped. This hallway had a dead end and there were only two doors. One on the right and one on the left. I looked at Josh and he seemed to hesitate before approaching the one on the right.

  He motioned for me to follow and we slipped inside. Faint light glowed in the nursery from a soft golden orb in the corner. Woolen clouds, stars and moons dangled over a small wooden crib.

  Wylliam lay swaddled beneath them. Bright blue eyes, curious and unafraid. My heart stuttered for a moment. How could we take him? How do you steal a child who looks at you like that?

  He smiled and wiggled from left to right, his arms tugged neatly against his small body, babbling softly. Josh and I shared a look. Mutual dread coiling between us. You wanted to do this, he seemed to say with his eyes. I sighed and reached inside the crib to pick up young Wylliam.

  He cooed and I shushed him, cradling him in my arms. We quickly left the room, back towards the bedroom and the balcony we came from. But the little prince decided now was the perfect time to be delighted by life.

  “Dada… dada?”

  I groaned inwardly. How were we ever going to get through the bedroom of that woman without her noticing? Josh seemed to read my mind and started searching through one of his pockets.

  He produced a small vial and a cloth. He hesitated for a moment, his eyes meeting mine in the dim light. I swallowed hard and nodded. It was the only way. He gently pushed the wet cloth against Wylliam’s face who started squirming.

  Suddenly not being so excited about his little adventure anymore. He tried to wail, but his voice was muffled by the cloth. We should’ve done this earlier. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the liquid to do its work and soon Wylliam’s eyes grew heavy and he fell asleep. We moved on.

  As we approached the bedroom of the woman again, Josh listened for any sound. He stayed quiet for a few seconds before nodding. The coast was clear and we slipped inside.

  The woman was curled up in bed. The fireplace barely lit, illuminating the room in a slightly red glow. We quietly sneaked past her, but froze when she murmured and turned around in her bed.

  My heart seized. But she didn’t wake and I breathed out through my nose. Almost there. We continued towards the door that led to the balcony. Thankfully, it was still unlocked.

  Outside, the night air greeted us like an accomplice. Henry appeared soundlessly and helped us down to the ground. Wylliam, strapped to my body, was still asleep.

  “Look at him. Poor kid,” Henry whispered and stroked his head lovingly. “We’ll bring you back, I promise.”

  With no time to lose, we started moving back towards the underground tunnels. This whole mission seemed to go without any problems. A surge of pride for accomplishing something like this surged through me.

  But I celebrated too soon. Luck snapped and from around the corner a guard noticed us.

  “Stop! In the name of king Edmund!” he yelled and started running towards us. Henry cursed under his breath, releasing an arrow from his crossbow. It found its mark right between the slit of the guard's helmet and breast plate, knocking him down instantly.

  “Collateral damage,” he shrugged. “Now move!”

  We dove into the sewers as shouts erupted above us. Cold sewer water filled my boots as we landed in the tunnels.

  “Run!” Josh barked. And so we did. Behind us several guards jumped down and gave chase. We took a different path back to Armenelos to shake them off. We knew they would get lost like the others or killed by our members. The king knew better than to try and find us. Many times he’d tried and failed.

  Suddenly the air crystallized. My breath fogged turning to frost. We skittered to a halt. My hands suddenly cold and clammy fumbled with my daggers around my waist. Something shifted in the darkness before us. A dark shape approached us from the shadows. Tall. Slender. Too long-limbed to be human.

  A demon.

  My breath caught. A sudden cold crept through my spine. The demon crawled from the darkness. Its face was hooded. Hovering above the ground. A morning star swaying slightly from his hand. It shrieked and with horrifying speed lunged forward.

  Henry’s arrows found its chest. The demon slowed, but did not fall. The guards caught up with us and froze.

  “Do something!” Josh roared at them. But the demon moved first. One swing with its morning star and a skull cracked. Narrowly missing Josh as he jumped aside. I flinched, the cracking noise echoing through the tunnel. It was enough for the other guards to attack.

  We didn’t stick around to fight alongside them. Henry pulled me to the side and we slipped into another tunnel. Back on track to Armenelos.

  Behind us we heard the gurgling sounds of the guards as the demon killed them all. The sound caused adrenaline to rush through us as we sprinted through the tunnels. We didn’t encounter any other demons on our way back to Armenelos and Wylliam slept through it all.

  With trembling legs and ragged breaths, we reached our destination. The two sentries at the entrance of the castle let us through. The Basilisk was already waiting inside as if he knew we were coming. Next to him Hawkeye sat on a chair, eyes sharp with worry.

  I laid Wylliam on the table with shaking hands.

  “We got him,” I whispered.

  The Basilisk purred his approval, stroking the baby’s forehead. Henry and Josh stiffened. Wylliam made a soft wailing noise before falling back into unconsciousness.

  “I knew we could count on you three,” the Basilisk said.

  “You can go, we’ll take good care of him,” Hawkeye promised. Josh cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably on his feet.

  “Yesss, Josh?” The Basilisk hissed. Josh looked from the Basilisk to Wylliam and back.

  “I can watch him. My home’s close and we’ve got kids. We know how to take care of a baby.”

  Hawkeye nodded, but the Basilisk narrowed his eyes.

  “That does sound like a better plan than keeping the child inside the castle. If the guards find their way here, this would be the first place they’d come looking for the child,” Hawkeye responded. This seemed to convince the Basilisk as well and he nodded reluctantly. Josh released his breath he was holding and picked up the sleeping prince. Cradling him to his chest, he left with Henry on his heels. He gave me one last smile before disappearing in the dark.

  The Basilisk’s gaze flicked to me.

  “What are you waiting for boy? You’re free to go,” he hissed.

  My heart lifted. I was free. Free to go back to Faelwen. I should have felt hope. But instead the weight of what we had done lingered heavier than I thought. Freedom tasted bitter in my mouth.