Page 35 of The Blood Traitor

“Good.” Ashlyn straightened Kiva’s clothes and stood back to inspect her work. “If we run into Navok, keep your head down and he won’t give you a second glance in this outfit,” she instructed, reminding Kiva of what she’d said that morning — and also revealing how she’d gone unnoticed by the Mirraven king for so long, hiding in plain sight. “But we need to avoid Sera at all costs.”

Kiva suddenly understood why Ashlyn-as-Brynn had fled to the bathing chamber when Serafine had entered the room earlier — she hadn’t been hiding infearof the princess, but because, unlike Navok, the newly returned Sera would have cared enough to look at Ashlyn, and therefore, would have easily recognized her.

“I’ve pulled some favors, and I have a way for us to get out of the castle, but after that, we’re on our own,” the princess went on. “Thereare supplies waiting for us in the city, but once we’ve collected them, we’ll have to steal some horses and put as much distance between us and Zadria as possible before Navok realizes you’re gone. It’s going to be a long night — do you think you can manage?”

Kiva nodded slowly, her mind whirling. “If you were here to spy, don’t you need to stay?” she asked. “I should be able to make it on my own once you help me out of the castle.”

Now that she knew who Ashlyn was, and that the other girl had a verifiable escape plan, Kiva much preferred the idea of remaining in her company. But not at the risk of damaging the princess’s chances of gathering whatever information she was there to steal.

Ashlyn, however, shook her head. “As I said, I was planning to leave weeks ago. It’s a good thing I didn’t, given everything I’ve heard since you arrived. But now I need to get back to Stoneforge and share what I’ve learned before it’s too late.”

Thatsounded concerning, but Kiva had enough to worry about without dwelling on why Ashlyn needed to get to Evalon’s northernmost military base, so she repressed her fears and followed the princess to the door.

“Remember, don’t make eye contact with anyone,” Ashlyn said. “And stay close.”

It was only as they stepped into the hallway that Kiva remembered there was still one more thing she needed to do that day. She swore loud enough for Ashlyn to whip around, ready to berate her, but Kiva got in first and said, “We need to go to the dungeons. There’s someone I have to speak with before I can leave.”

Unsurprisingly, Ashlyn wasn’t pleased to hear about Galdric, nor was she pleased to discover that a high-priority prisoner had been residing at Blackmount without her knowledge. But she agreed that the informationGaldric had regarding Tilda and the rebels was worth the risk of venturing beneath the castle. She, however, decided that they wouldn’t just be speaking with Galdric — they’d be taking him with them.

Kiva was unsure how they would free him from his cell while avoiding the notice of the Gray Guards, but she cast aside her worries and followed Ashlyn along the black-and-red hallways. Even though they were moving swiftly, none of the servants or guards gave them a second glance, offering proof that their outfits made them all but invisible.

Finally, they reached the entrance to the dungeons, the air growing chilly and damp as they headed deeper beneath the castle.

Ashlyn’s steps slowed as she took in the numerous labyrinthine pathways. “Which way?” she whispered.

When Kiva pointed left and started leading in that direction, the princess held her back and said, “Me first.”

Her reasoning became clear when they turned the next corner and found a trio of Gray Guards walking toward them, all visibly jolting as they saw two maids wandering in a place they had no excuse to be.

Kiva was about to offer a quick lie about being lost, but before she could, all three men cried out and clutched their heads, then dropped to the ground, unconscious.

When Kiva turned woodenly to Ashlyn, the other girl just shrugged and said, “Pressurized air straight into their eardrums. They’ll be out for a while.”

Kiva winced, having felt a similar magical attack from Mirryn the night of the masquerade. She almost pitied the guards, before realizing they would have done something much worse to her and Ashlyn.

“We need to hurry,” the princess urged.

They continued through the maze of corridors, with Kiva straining her memory for the right pathways. Finally, she was able to say, “It’s just beyond the next bend.”

No sooner had the words left her than two guards appeared from around the corner, so close that they almost collided with each other.

Ashlyn didn’t hesitate to launch herself at them, attacking not with her magic this time, but with her fists and feet, until both were on the ground, as unconscious as the first three.

It happened so fast that Kiva was left gaping.

“Never waste magic when mundane methods work just as well,” Ashlyn said, barely even panting.

Kiva nodded mutely, before pointing a finger further down the darkened stone corridor. “That one. At the end.”

They hurried over and found Galdric already on his feet, having heard the scuffle with the guards even if the angle of his cell meant he wouldn’t have been able to see anything. His brown eyes widened comically when he saw Kiva approach, and they rounded even more when he noticed Ashlyn.

“Your Highness,” he rasped, bending at the waist.

Ashlyn snorted. “Please. We both know there’s only one person here who you want to bow to.”

Kiva shifted uncomfortably, having forgotten that, as the ex-leader of the rebels, Galdric had been determined to see a Corentine on Evalon’s throne.

“But we can discuss that later,” Ashlyn continued, before adding in a hard voice, “at length.”

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