Page 164 of I Ran Away to Evil
“You keep forgetting that I’m theDark Lord.”
He let go of my arm as an attendant welcomed me to the throng of clamoring youth.
There were a few last stragglers, and then an announcement that we were welcome to follow the staff.
Suddenly, Duke Wyldon of Servalt was beside me and offering his arm. “Shall we?”
CHAPTER 100
It Pleases Me That You’re Not Dead, Monfort
Keith
Keith rubbed Jacqueline’s hilt as he watched Henrietta leave with someone else. He had to admit that as much as a sword got in the way, it was comforting to carry around.
Especially a sword that specialized in killinghim.
He wandered the castle aimlessly, and eventually found his way outside to a courtyard with benches and a fountain.
He wasn’t alone.
“Greetings, Your Highness.” Keith nodded at a young woman reading a slip of paper on a bench at the fountain. She looked up, shocked, and then grinned at him playfully.
“Monfort. What brings you to the garden? I thought you’d bury yourself in the library while you waited.” Rowen waved the paper in their hands and said, “But perfect timing. I’m sure you’ve been distracted with the princess all morning, and probably didn’t get thenews?”
Keith quirked an eyebrow but didn’t disagree. He had no idea what the fox was talking about. “What is it?”
Rowen handed over the page, and in neat scrawl, it read:
A surprise Cast today, with interesting news!
I have been fortunate enough to change the future a few times. As such, many of my predictions are out of date before I have the chance to give them.
I hope this is one of them, and it is no longer valid … but just in case, I’ll let you all know anyway!
At the stroke of midnight, please don’t stand beside the greenoak tapestry. And if you like your green oak tapestry, maybe move it?
In other news! I have it on the best authority that Chancellor Fernley in Peldeep is smuggling a group of blue pandas and should be stopped. Those bundles of fluff can be found under Gorge Turpin Bridge.
Finally, if your assassin never made it home last night, you can start your searching at the guild in Peldeep or Servalt. Maybe next time don’t attack an Enchanted Forest that can kill you all by itself?
This is Madame Potts, signing out.
I read the paper at a glance and handed it back to Their Highness.
“The pandas?”
Rowen scoffed. “They were rounded up within the hour, of course. We take Madame Potts very seriously ever since she saved my life last year at the Festival of Lights.”
“I can imagine.” Keith felt a bit guilty, having never much listened to Potts until Henrietta had showed up. It didn’t seem important unless it was directly about the Dark Enchanted Forest. Plus, he didn’t really trust foretellers. “What is the point in showing me this?”
“There’s a green oak tapestry in the Grand Hall. Where we’re going to have the Spring Ball tonight.” Rowen rolled up the page and ate it, their mouth opening into a giant toothy maw and closing again as if nothing happened.
“Is itstillthere?” Keith chuckled. He could only imagine how busy the palace already was without having to relocate a wall tapestry.
Their Highness’s smile turned vicious. “You think this is funny, but you didn’t almostbathin molten ash vane magicked to look like regular bath water. I would have died a very painful and permanent death if Bastian hadn’t burst into the Forbidden Palace after hearing the Cast. Smart boy.”
The Forbidden Palace was home to the Peldeep ruler and their consort. It was separated from the main Emerald Palace, and it was punishable bypermadeathto intrude on the grounds. Keith’s estimation of Bastian went up considerably.
