Page 112 of Null & Void

“Why me?” she asks, keeping her sword trained on me.

“Because you helped the Prince Ofnemoris give me apricots. I’m pinning everything on your moral compass to keep Eryn safe,” I say this to Lottie quickly, eyeing Eryn with the cloak. “What are you doing?” I ask him.

“That was Aurelius Jasper, the second Prince Ofnemoris?” she questions with a hiss.

“Yes, he is here to save his kidnapped sister, who we also need to rescue. Satisfied I’m not the monster?” I ask, closing my eyes for a moment. I am a monster, just not the monster this time. Irony abounds.

“This is madness!” Lottie says, finally lowering her sword.

Eryn laughs. “That’s what I said! Should we go?”

I try not to growl at the kid. “No, we are not going anywhere. Lottie is going to guard you here, and I’m going.”

“Technically, you both have to do what I say. Prince and all,” Eryn says with a cunning smile on his face, imitating the hair flick I did earlier. A challenge. He knows I can’t dispute him without revealing our secret. Definitely a king in the making.

“Fine. But you’re staying outside with Lottie when we get there.”

Eryn gives me a smug look and flips the hood of the cloak up. Lottie looks queasy. My body begins contracting and distorting as I once again take the form of King Stol Brud Oferdu. It’s getting easier, but no less painful or uncomfortable.

“Your clothes change, too?” Lottie asks, peering at me like…well, like I've shifted into another person.

“Apparently,” I mumble, shrugging away her scrutiny.

Eryn keeps his head down as we walk, and I hope no one takes a closer look at the doxy under the cloak. One Patron guard stayed behind to replace Lottie, and the other three, after some reluctance, were relieved of duty for the evening. I tell them to stay and help guard Prince Eryn’s doors as there may be an intruder.

The guards are terrified of me—of King Stol. Not one of them points out what a ridiculous idea it is for us to only be escorted by one guard while there may be an intruder about. Eryn is going to need better guards.

We make it to the king’s chambers without incident. Eryn throws off the cloak, and I shift back to me. I pull back the tapestry for Lottie and Eryn to enter the secret passage as an explosion rocks the castle. It came from the direction of the caves.

We run. Lottie has her sword drawn, and I am inadequately armed with only my small knife. I stumble out of the passage as another explosion rocks the canyon. Outside the cave, Beans is cradling Bitty in his lap as the Laguzborn writhes in pain and clutches their ears.

“Beans! What happened?” I scream as we run toward them. Where is Riley and Tovi? Dust and smoke billows from the cave entrance.

He gives me a panicked look. “Riley and Tovi ran in when Bitty said they heard Lyss scream. We waited out here. Bitty was listening to what was going on. The explosion…” Beans’ cries. Bitty finally stops writhing in pain, falling into unconsciousness.

Riley and Tovi were inside during the explosion.

I’m not sure how long I stand there, frozen, my rage slicing my insides to be free. Lottie shakes me back to myself.

“Can we leave the prince with these two?” Lottie is screaming at me. I nod.

Lottie drags me with her into the cave. The dust has started to settle when we come across Lyss’ and Tovi’s prone forms. Both alive, but unconscious.

“Tovi?” Lottie breathes, obviously confused to see the Erduborn woman here. She picks up the women with ease, one over each shoulder as if they weigh no more than small sacks of grain. Gift of strength confirmed I observe distractedly.

I’m alert, back to myself. The sounds of moaning and crying sharpen my senses. Collapsed walls, fallen rocks, and small fires burning make the air acrid. I’m desperately looking for Riley, while also keeping an eye out for the imposter king.

A couple of conscious prisoners stumble into view, and I direct them out. I find the bodies of three dead women and a dead man still manacled, though I barely register who they are. Only that they aren’t Riley.

Lottie helps me move rocks and fallen debris, carrying out casualties as we find them. Eventually, Tovi returns to help.

“Lyss is awake and is setting up a triage area.Have you found him?” she asks us, though she knows the answer. No. We have not found Riley.

Some of the royal guards have begun panicking and looking for the king. Hearing the explosions, the guards found their way around into the canyon via a camouflaged bend in the gorge wall. Sighing, I shift into his form. The last thing we need is everyone thinking the king has been kidnapped. The guards cry in relief when they see me. Immediately, I start barking orders.

“Guard the prince.

“Help bring the wounded and dead out of the caves.

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