Dark Illusions (The Warrior Breed), page 18
Carter smiled. “You’ll finally get to blow up something.”
“And it’s about time,” Dylan mumbled.
"Wizard and Ty will be the only ones going into the castle," Carter said as he looked at them. "Be careful."
Dylan spoke up. “I’ve got you covered there as well. Since Rufus has planned an elaborate celebration for the first night of the Winter Festival, I’ll surprise them with fireworks on the opposite side of the castle where the King and Queen are imprisoned. Once they start, you’ll have about thirty minutes to get them out safely.”
That wouldn’t give them much time, but Wizard nodded. He’d worked on a narrow timeline before. It always gave him a rush of adrenaline, but always in a good way. He didn’t think that would be happening this time.
After the meeting broke up, Wizard went for a walk. Zeke followed beside him. There was a full moon tonight. He marveled at how beautiful the countryside was with its rolling hills and the old-world feel. He was having more and more memories the longer he was here. This was his country, and these were his people.
But he was afraid for them. "Maybe we're pushing too fast," he finally said as they stopped at a slight rise. He could see the faint twinkling of lights in the distance.
“No, it’s not too soon,” Zeke said. “Our people are ready, Your Highness. They’ve been oppressed far too long.”
“I hope you’re right.”
"I am. Our people believe all this was foretold. A cruel King would rule, but the warrior son would return to save his people, and the rightful King and Queen would take their place on the throne once more."
Zeke was pulling his leg, but when he looked at him, Zeke’s expression was serious.
“Do you really believe that?”
"Our people welcome the winter so they will have a productive and bountiful new year. We watch the stars for signs of when to plant the crops that will give us the highest yield. We also believe in the stories passed down from generation to generation."
“Well, I like stuff that can be explained more logically.”
Zeke looked at him. “Fair enough. But you are here now, you are a fighter, and you will restore the rightful King and Queen. Is that logical enough, Your Highness?”
It was just a coincidence, but he wouldn’t push the issue. If that’s what Zeke wanted to believe, and it gave him hope, who was he to take that away from him?
When it came time for everything to be set in motion, he only hoped there was a little truth to what had been foretold.
They returned to Otto’s house. It was time.
"Be careful," Lorelei said as he finished getting ready.
"I'm always careful."
Her forehead wrinkled. "Why do I doubt the truth of your words?"
He only smiled at her, then turned serious. "I will be careful. There's precious cargo on the other end."
"I think you’re precious cargo as well. Do try to be careful. You're walking into a perilous situation. If King Rufus discovers who you are and what you're doing, it won't go well for anyone."
"I know, and I’m good at what I do, besides, I’ll have Ty with me," he reassured her, then leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. "We'll finish this conversation when I return."
"I'll hold you to that."
He left the bedroom and walked out of the house, meeting up with Ty and Zeke.
"Let's do this."
They mounted the horses that were waiting for them. There were two extra ones to carry their passengers back. They would go as far as they could on horseback, then travel the rest of the way on foot.
They traveled in silence, each knowing what the other would be doing. Zeke would stay behind with the horses once they were closer. Woods surrounded part of the castle, making their task easier.
A servant who worked in the castle had given them the timelines of when the guards made rounds. His parents would be given their last meal for the night, and the trays removed an hour later. They wouldn't be checked on again until mid-morning of the next day. They were only given two meals a day: lunch and dinner.
One guard would be stationed outside the tower's main door where they were being held, but something slipped into his drink would knock him out for the rest of the night.
If everything went according to plan.
"May the night shield you from your enemies," Zeke said before they dismounted and started toward the castle.
Yeah, he hoped that was the case. "If something goes wrong, take care of Lorelei," Wizard told him.
"Of course, Your Highness."
Ty and Wizard started on foot. It wasn't that far to the castle from where they'd left the horses. He only hoped his parents would be able to get there on foot. The servant who took their meals to them said their diet was lacking, but they were healthy. She would slip them extra food and fruit as often as she could, but it wasn't always easy to get past certain guards.
Right before they got to the castle, Wizard turned to Ty. "Thank you for doing this."
"You would do the same. Besides, it’s nice when we can help each other out. We don’t do that often enough." He was quiet for a moment. “Are you really a prince?”
He grimaced. “Yeah, it would seem so. I’m not sure I’m going to make a very good one, though.
Ty laughed. “Yeah, I’m not sure any of us would.”
Conversation stopped as they drew nearer the castle. They stayed behind the cover of bushes and trees, surveying the area before they went the final few yards to the castle wall. This was where they would be the most vulnerable.
A guard walked along the side of the castle. They dropped down, flattening their bodies against the rough ground, not moving a muscle, not even breathing. As soon as he moved around the corner, they came to their feet and approached the wall.
They brought the grappling hooks from the bags they carried and didn't waste any time shooting them up the side of the castle, then testing them to make sure they were secure. Carter and Rader made sure all the men went through extensive training so they both knew what they were doing.
They slung their bags over their shoulders and hooked onto the thick wire. With one push of the button, they silently glided up the side of the castle. The air was like a whisper against his face.
After peering over the side and making sure the coast was clear, they vaulted over the edge. It wouldn't be quite so easy getting out with his parents. They would have to go through the halls and hope any guards would think they were supposed to be there. So much could go wrong. He tried not to dwell on it.
They paused at the top of the battlement. It ran along the entire top of the castle. A vague memory returned of him going up there with his father and his father saying that one day he would rule the land and the people. That it would be his responsibility to take care of everyone. He supposed that was what he was doing now.
They moved forward. Dylan should be starting the fireworks any moment now. He tried not to think about his parents being so close as they moved to the stairs that would take them to the next level and inside the castle.
They had just reached the wooden door when the first of the fireworks began exploding on the other side of the castle, shooting up into the air in a brilliant display of deep shades of bright blue, brilliant red, and spectacular white. He only hoped Dylan knew what he was doing and didn't blow up the castle.
He looked at Ty. "We have thirty minutes to get them out of the castle."
He nodded. "We go left at the bottom of the stairs," Ty said.
They had the directions committed to memory. Left, then right, and down a long hallway. The hallway would be the most treacherous for meeting anyone who might question their purpose for being there. There would be nothing they could hide behind. If they made it past the hall, they should be okay.
He listened, but all was quiet. He motioned for them to move forward. Ty nodded. They were in silent mode now.
They were halfway down the long hallway when two guards rounded the corner. Ty slipped behind him, and they downed their heads, praying the guards would keep walking past them.
"Hey, what are you doing on this side of the castle? No one is supposed to be here."
"We're here to entertain the King's guests, but we got lost," Wizard easily replied.
"I ain't never seen either one of you two. Maybe you should go with us."
Wizard reached into the air, waved his arm around, and then put his hands together. When he brought them back down, then opened them, a white dove flew back toward the stairs.
"Hey, how did you do that?"
"Magic."
The other guard didn't look impressed. "Well, I don't care what it was. Come with us because you're on the wrong side of the castle."
Ty stepped out from behind him.
"What can you do?" The first guard asked.
"This," he said, then executed a series of moves: throat punch, kick, slicing arm, and another well-placed punch. In seconds the two guards were unconscious on the floor.
Wizard stared at him. "Damn, you didn't mention that trick."
Ty smiled. "And no one mentioned you knew magic."
"Let's hope no other guards are hanging around."
They dragged the guards down the hall and put them in a closet. They shouldn’t wake up before morning, but just in case, they tied them up and put duct tape over their mouths.
Time was ticking away.
They made their way done a shorter passageway, turned right, then turned left. The closer they got, the more his heart began to pound inside his chest. He tried not to think about how he would feel seeing his parents for the first time in a long time. They would have time for a family reunion after he got them to safety. He only hoped he could hold everything together.
As they approached the passageway's end, Ty motioned that he would go first. It made sense. He had a slender build and was obviously skilled in martial arts. He let him go first, but he eased around the side. When he saw the guard was asleep, he moved closer. Just in case he'd only fallen asleep and not been given something, they didn't make any more noise than they had to.
Ty slipped the keyring from the loop on the guard's belt and unlocked the outer door, then stepped inside. There was a damp, musty odor on this side of the door. Renewed anger began to build inside him. His parents had been living like this for over twenty years. He would make sure Rufus paid for his crimes for the rest of his life. Killing would be too quick. He wanted him to suffer as his family had suffered.
Their cell was at the end of all of the others. He quickly made his way forward, stopping in front of the wooden door. Ty handed him the keys, giving him the right to open the door. Wizard took a deep breath and inserted the key, then turned it. The door creaked open.
Chapter Twenty-two
Nash
King Rufus was certainly no ruler if he wouldn’t even hear Nash out about Wizard. His secretary was an idiot as well. Nash, of course, followed the rules. The King's secretary had been over an hour late for their appointment.
Sebastian hadn’t even apologized. But why would he even think to do so? The man was obviously a peasant. He was heavyset and wearing a suit that had clearly been bought off the rack. He was certain the secretary’s station in life had been raised solely due to pure luck.
“I’m telling you, I met the Prince, and I'm sure he's on the way here to cause the King problems," he repeated.
Sabastian only seemed mildly interested in what Nash had to say. “We have reports every week of one of the princes being alive,” he said, clearly bored.
Nash wanted to smack him up beside the head. Patience, he told himself. "I'm not just anyone. My ancestors came across on the Mayflower. I have a large estate, and I own my own business. I've flown all the way from America to warn the King. This man kidnapped two of my employees. He's a ruffian and only wants to cause trouble."
Sabastian didn’t seem to appreciate Nash’s exalted position in life. He could immediately see this man could not say the same about his ancestors. This was his last chance to get an audience with the King.
"I saw the man without his shirt on. He had a symbol on his chest of a phoenix rising from a cloud of fire with a sword and shield. When I presented a rough sketch to a local scholar, he discovered the symbol's history. If the King cannot even see me, then I shall return to America. Just know that I tried to warn you." That at least got his attention and now he seemed mildly worried. It was about time.
Sabastian glanced at the clock on the wall. “King Rufus has a gala tonight. He probably won’t see you until tomorrow.”
“Then I wish him luck facing this man. I won’t be returning on that dreadful ferry again, and I’m the only man who can identify him. It just isn't worth my trouble.”
Sebastian looked undecided, then seemed to come to a decision. “My apologies. I believe King Rufus will be interested in what you have to say. Come to tonight's gala affair and please, be his guest and spend the night at the castle. I’ll make sure you have an audience with the King in the morning.”
Of course, he could do that. He was finally getting the respect he deserved. The room he was shown to an hour later was nothing to brag about, though. It was on one of the lower levels, right above the servants’ quarters. The suit he had worn today would have to do. It wasn't what he would call formal, but it was tailor-made and probably better than anyone else would be wearing tonight.
But later that night, he had to admit, the gala affair was quite spectacular. The ancient stone walls exuded an air of grandeur and history. Even the castle's courtyard was transformed into a captivating wonderland adorned with strings of twinkling fairy lights.
There were opulent flower arrangements, sparkling chandeliers, and a string quartet playing quietly in the background. Even the food passed around by servants on silver trays was quite tasty. Nash puffed his chest out. This was the life he was meant to lead. Maybe the King would make him a knight. Everyone back home thought they were on the same level as his family. Once he was a knight, they would be green with envy.
“And you are?” a man in uniform asked.
Nash raised an eyebrow. It was apparent the man was quite beneath him. He looked like an officer, and he wore several medals on his chest. It wouldn't do to get on the wrong side of him. He bowed slightly. "I'm Nash Bumford from America. I have an audience with the King tomorrow."
“And your title? Oh, that’s right, you Americans fought for freedom, so you no longer use them. Quite provincial of you.”
He stood taller. “My ancestors can be traced all the way back to the Mayflower. I suppose you have a title?” He raised an eyebrow.
“I’m the Duke of Armas.” A slight, mocking smile raised his lips on one corner.
Of course he was. He’d probably kissed the King’s ass to get the title.
“My apologies, I see someone I must speak with.” With a condescending bow, the officer moved past Nash. Just wait until the King knighted him. He might even make him a duke. Nash looked around, but there was always a crowd surrounding the King. He’d hoped he could speak to him tonight.
The only problem was, he hadn't been able to get close enough to the King, and it was getting late. The day had been long and tiring. He was ready for bed. He would have to talk to him tomorrow.
This trip had been exhausting. He was ready to return home, back to civilization. Even though the gala affair was splendid, the people were still uncouth. Earlier, one had even thought he was a servant. He set him straight quickly enough. The man had definitely been a peasant.
He jumped when there was a loud boom outside, then flashes of light. Everyone hurried outside to watch the fireworks. Maybe he would retire in a bit, he thought and followed the crowd. He had to admit, it was a magnificent light show. Someone came with sparkling champagne on a tray and he took one.
Yes, this was the life for him. He might even buy an island and create his own country. He was sure the King would reward him handsomely. As the fireworks died down, everyone went back inside. Since it seemed he wasn't going to see the King tonight, he decided to go to bed. As he made his way to the hall, there was a loud explosion outside. Were there more fireworks?
Guards began to run inside. "We’re being invaded!"
Sebastian immediately pointed toward Nash. "You! You’re the one who planned this! Seize him!"
Guards immediately grabbed his arms.
"No! What are you doing? I have no idea what's going on, but I tried to tell you the Prince was coming. You wouldn't listen!"
“Lock him in the dungeon! Gather the men and sound the alarm!” An officer ordered.
He began to sweat, his heart pounding inside his chest. No, this couldn’t be happening. His family came over on the Mayflower!
Chapter Twenty-three
Wizard
“We’re here to help you escape,” Wizard told them. “We have to hurry.”
There was enough moonlight from the small window that he could see the deplorable conditions they were forced to endure. There were two cots with thin mattresses and threadbare blankets, an unlevel wooden table and two chairs, a bucket to relieve yourself, and a small fireplace to heat the cold room in the winter.
"They will throw you in the dungeon or execute you if they catch you," the King warned.
"We won't leave without you. But we do need to hurry. Can you walk on your own, or do you need help?"
"We can make it on our own. And we thank you for your help." He put his arm around the Queen, and they hurried toward the door.
Wizard took the lead, and Ty brought up the rear. There would be time later to explain who he was, but something inside him swelled just knowing these two people were his parents. They hadn't deserted him, and he wouldn't desert them.
But it had taken them too long to tie up the guards, then get to his parents. Their time was almost up. When he didn't hear the distant sound of fireworks after a few minutes, he knew they would be cutting it close. He only hoped the party downstairs would continue long enough to get safely out of the castle.
