Abide: An Awakened Fate Novella (7 page)

Zeke had done it.

Yeah, and he’d gotten lucky. Making a break for it like he had… I’d heard the guards talking. He’d looked ready to kill anyone who got in his way. But the guards had caught hell for letting him escape like that. I doubted they’d be so lenient this time around.

I raked a hand through my hair. There had to be a better option. A cover story, maybe. Or a diversion. I didn’t want to race pell-mell across the city and end up with dozens of guards on my tail. But if I could come up with a plausible excuse to leave the palace, and maybe get close to the outer wall at the same time…

“Princess?” one of the guards called.

I froze, my mind racing through a dozen panicked scenarios before my mouth caught up with the need to respond.

“Yeah?”

The man slipped past the leaves blocking the door. “Tiago Colcoran is here. He says you asked him to come by?”

A breath left me. “Y-yeah.” I cleared my throat. “Please, yes, let him in.”

The guard retreated from the room. Tiago came in a moment later.

“Hey, princess.” He smiled, more than a hint of lust in the expression, as if he was already imagining us in bed. Without looking, he touched the lighter patch of stone on the wall, stilling the leaves.

A plan crept through my mind like a picture unfolding, all desperate and crazy and maybe, just maybe, possible.

I cast a quick glance around. I was fairly certain the guards wouldn’t hear us. Not through the sealed fejeria.

My bedroom would be safer, though.

I drew a breath, steadying myself. “Hey.” I let my smile mirror his own as I nodded toward the bedroom. “Come on.”

He followed me. As we passed the archway to my room, he paused briefly to unfasten the ties holding back the leaves. They drifted up to block the entrance.

Tiago swam over to me. His hands slid around my waist. “So,” he asked, amusement in his tone, “what would you like to do with the afternoon?”

I kept smiling. “Well, actually, I’d prefer to get out for a bit, if you wouldn’t mind?”

He paused. “Out?”

I nodded.

“Out where?”

“Into the city. There’s a production at the playhouse I’ve been curious about. Some modification of a human play. Shakes-something. I think it involves fairies.”

He was silent for a moment. “Sure,” he agreed cautiously. “But… do you think now is the best time? Things are, well,
safer
at the palace. I’m sure the king would be happy to have the playhouse hold another performance for you later.”

I fought to keep from grimacing. “I’d really rather go now. I need to get away from all this. Being here, it’s just a bit overwhelming.”

He nodded, but the expression on his face was anything but agreeing. Brow furrowing, he seemed to be weighing the words of his response.

“Princess, if I may ask… this wouldn’t have anything to do with your grandfather, would it? With the warrant issued for his arrest? It’s just, I can’t help but notice how I’ve never heard anyone say you had an interest in the theater before, and the playhouse happens to be right next to the city’s outer wall.”

I wasn’t sure what to say.

“That’s it, isn’t it? You’re thinking of warning him.”

A breath left me.

“Princess?”

The grimace emerged this time. I couldn’t stop it. I’d really hoped he’d just go along with my suggestion. “Yes.”

He looked away.

“Tiago, please,” I tried. “My grandfather… he’s not guilty of this. I know he’s not. Something else is going on, but if he comes back here, the guards could hurt him. He might be condemned to die. I can’t let that happen. Please. I’m not asking you to leave the city with me, or even let on to anyone that you knew my plan. Just get me to the playhouse. Let me slip away for a second. I’ll take care of the rest.”

He paused again, longer this time. His hands dropped away from my waist.

“Highness,” he started. His jaw worked around. He still wasn’t looking at me.

“Please.”

He sighed. “I’m not going to do that. I’m sorry, but…”

A humorless chuckle escaped him.

“Tiago–”

He moved farther away from me. “Look, we’ve had fun and, trust me, I’ve enjoyed it. But my father is in favor with the king right now, despite all the tensions with your neighboring countries. I’m not going to jeopardize that. Not for you and your family problems. I’m sorry.”

I stared at him. “But I’m not asking you to get involved. You don’t even have to say you knew what I planned. Just get me near the wall and–”

“It’ll still look bad. Your brother’s opinion is the only one that counts around here, highness, and if you interfere with what he’s ordered, the political career of anyone near you will suffer. No one’s going to let that happen to themselves.”

He shrugged as if that was the end of it.

“But the king could
kill
him, Tiago.”

“And I’m sorry about that.”

There was nothing in his voice. I might as well have mentioned the chance that some food might go bad.

Shivers coursed through me.

He seemed to pick up on them. Turning away, he ran a hand through his copper hair. “Alright, well, I guess that’s it, then.” He returned to the archway. “See you around, princess.”

Without another word, he swam from the room.

A choked sound escaped me. I couldn’t believe this. Someone could die and he couldn’t care less.

But I should have expected it. I should have known…

I shook my head. I
had
known. That’s why I’d tried to get him to take me to the theater rather than tell him the truth. Because he was right, no one would help me. We didn’t live in that kind of world. The courtiers and the nobles and everyone else played around, partied and had fun because it boosted them socially, not because they gave a damn about each other’s welfare. It was better that way. Easier. Family was the only thing that protected you or cared about you – and sometimes not even then. But regardless, nobody in this entire city would lift a finger for someone out of favor with the king, not when it might jeopardize their political careers or their parents’ connections.

The serious always came back, no matter what you did.

I turned from the archway, still shivering. So that was it, then. I had to go, and there was only one option left.

Zeke’s strategy.

A breath left me. I was fast. Faster than anyone I knew, Zeke included. If I made a break for it, I might be able to outdistance the guards coming after me.

And they wouldn’t touch me. They weren’t going to shoot their princess.

Hopefully.

I pushed the thought aside. They wouldn’t. I’d be fine.

I’d still have countless guards chasing me.

That thought followed the first, shoved from a cliff in my mind and ignored as it fell. I would be
fine
.

Now I just had to figure out what I’d need out there.

I swallowed hard as my gaze went to the closet on the other side of my bedroom. There were mercenaries everywhere, Ren had said.

Protection then. The knife, a veil stone to create a protective covering – if I had one stuffed in there somewhere, anyway – and maybe some sieranchine, in case of injury.

The thought sent my stomach twisting all over again. Taking a deep breath, I swam to the closet. Shelves with boxes carved of black stone waited near the floor, below racks of robes and capes and other random things I rarely wore. Dropping to the floor, I pulled open a box from the lowest shelf and then felt around inside till I found the belt Egan had given me. I tugged it out and then pushed the box back into place again.

My hand lingered over the hilt of the knife. I couldn’t ask for Egan’s help either. No matter what he thought he felt for me, he was still the son of the Duke of Teariad. His father had more to lose than almost anyone by upsetting the king – given that he needed Ren’s help to keep negotiations with his Ryairan neighbors going well – and therefore Egan did as well.

He’d never risk his province or his position for my grandfather, any more than Tiago or anyone else would.

I was on my own.

Quickly, I snagged a bag from the wall. Stuffing the knife belt inside, I scanned the shelves and then grabbed the other supplies as well, trying to keep my heart from racing.

On my own or not, it didn’t matter. This would work.

This
had
to work.

I slung the bag crosswise over my chest and then glanced around the room. Nothing else met my gaze.

I headed for the window.

Chapter Seven

The two guards were back outside the window. I could hear them talking beyond the leaves, their voices low and the words unintelligible.

I bit my lip. I could rush past them, but a diversion still felt like the best plan. Even if my idea with Tiago hadn’t worked out, the longer I could keep them thinking I was just here and upset and not intending to leave, the– A new plan popped into my head.

Swiftly, I shrugged the bag off and tucked it on one side of the windowsill. Taking a few quick breaths, I tried to make myself look as upset as possible, like I was fighting to keep from crying.

It wasn’t hard.

I pushed the fejeria aside.

“Hey, guys?” I said to the two men outside.

They glanced back, and their brows twitched up in alarm.

“What is it, princess?” one of them asked.

“Um… could you, um, like…” I took a hitched breath. “Tiago just broke up with me and Granddad might’ve killed my father and… Could you find a servant and have them head down to the kitchens and get me something? I don’t know what. Anything nice. It’s been a hard week.”

The guards hesitated and I could read the consideration on their faces. If I’d wanted a servant, going to the door would have been more logical.

But then, I was upset. Maybe I wasn’t thinking right. Maybe they could just accommodate me.

I made myself keep breathing, waiting to see if they came to the conclusion I hoped they would.

“Yes, princess.”

One of them turned and swam down a level, disappearing into the opening there.

I let out a breath and then glanced around. The other man was watching me and the palace surroundings equally, while beyond him, there was only the veil and the guards stationed by it.

And if I was fast…

I slipped back behind the leaves and grabbed my bag. Pushing the plants aside again, I kept my shoulder behind the fejeria while I pretended to watch for the other soldier’s return.

The guard gave me a polite smile and then glanced away.

I took off.

The soldier shouted. The guards by the veil turned toward the sound in alarm and then moved to block me.

I darted to the right and dropped fast through the water, veering around them. The bag dragged at my shoulder, slowing me down, but I still managed to cut beneath them as I raced into the veil.

Bubbles rippled over my skin, and magic did as well. The veil fell behind me while the whole city came into view.

Twisting hard to the side, I sped toward a cluster of buildings that rose slightly higher than the rest. The rocky surfaces of the building faces blurred beside me, and then those were behind me too. I tossed a fast glance over my shoulder, checking to see how well the buildings blocked me from the soldiers’ sight.

Not well enough. Half a dozen soldiers were on the other side of the veil now, and one of them was pointing my way.

I gasped and fought for more speed. Up ahead, the broad curve of the outer veil was a glittering fabric that surrounded the city, to which I was racing closer with every second.

But there were other dehaians in my path, and one of them looked familiar. My eyes narrowed.

Niall. A dozen guards flanked him, with supplies on their shoulders and weapons at their waists. They weren’t looking toward me yet, but that could change at any moment.

I dove between the buildings, losing sight of my brother and the others almost immediately. People scattered out of the way, plastering themselves to the rocky walls as I raced past, and more shouts followed. I muttered a curse. Surprised people and confusion would only let the guards know
exactly
which way I’d gone.

But then, the veil was coming closer. Another few seconds and I’d be there, after which it’d just be the open water and swimming as fast as I could to outpace the guards. Nothing much surrounded the city of Nyciena, barring a canyon so deep it gave little kids nightmares. Hills lay a few miles away, with caves on their sides, but after Ren had found out Zeke had hidden there for several days with Chloe, he’d ordered the guards to keep an eye on the area.

I’d just have to hope I could get enough of a lead that, if I had to use the veil stone to hide, the soldiers wouldn’t spot me before the covering was in place.

Something sped through the water behind me, faster than a dehaian and headed directly at my back.

I veered hard to the left. Missing me by inches, a net pod slammed into the wall and exploded into a mess of tentacles that suckered to the rocks.

My eyes widened. They were shooting at me. They were actually
shooting
at me.

More pods followed. People cried out as they were hit by the nets and tumbled toward the ground. Chaos erupted, with dehaians fleeing in every direction as they tried to avoid the barrage. The guards shouted, slowed by the crowds.

I slalomed past the buildings, flying toward the veil. Net pods burst over the walls, but the impacts were falling farther and farther behind.

And then the glittering bubbles rushed over me, fast as the blink of an eye, and all of the ocean spread out ahead of me.

I raced east, leaving the city behind.

Chapter Eight

I swam for another half hour before slowing down, my sides heaving and my lungs protesting the speed at which I’d been forcing myself to travel. The canyon around Nyciena was miles gone, as were the hills nearby. A flat stretch of nothing surrounded me. I bit my lip, scanning it all.

Granddad could be anywhere.

I continued northeast. Nearly a day’s travel separated me from the Washington coast, which didn’t account for other places he might have travelled. Granddad had connections everywhere. He could have gone for help before looking for Zeke.