Page 73 of I Ran Away to Evil
“If you own their soul,”—Chloe waved him off—“they tell you freely.”
“Enough, Chloe.” Rufus stood up quickly and slammed a fist down on the table. The room went quiet at his outburst, but Keith wasn’t surprised. Everyone knew how Rufus felt about freedom andethics. He was Nilheim’s standing representative at the Valarian Council. Whereas Chloe just treated almost everybody as if they were just a body. It sort of felt like she forgot people were real people sometimes.
Chloe had the grace to blush. “Alright, alright, sorry. I was just joking.”
“It was in poor taste.” Rufus settled back down in his seat. After a moment, he said, “I’m sorry I lost my temper.”
Keith watched his two closest friends. They fought a lot, but they also fought side by side when it mattered. He wouldn’t be surprised if Rufus was asked to be her best man.
Speaking of, if he finished up early today, maybe he could take his own vacation before a certain Paladin arrived …
Keith had worked himself stupid in the vain hope that he might—just might—have a chance to slip away for a few days.
He liked to think that if Drendil had King Simon running everything all year, then Keith could probably leave for a few days, and the Dark Enchanted Forest wouldn’t burn down.
That was, if he stopped having spies and family drop in …
Julia was set to arrive any minute; who could really tell how long it would take. She could have a magical horse or stamina potions or any manner of magical aids.
“Your Viciousnesss.” Lilith had come to deliver an afternoon snack and found him staring at the wall. “Is sssomething bothering you?”
“I’m not cursed,” Keith let her know. Not that she had asked, but he’d tested. And he wasn’t under the influence of a spell either.
Lilith set down the tray and curtsied. “So nothing is bothering you?”
“Actually,” Keith stood up, leaving the office and his snack behind. “I’ll be in my inner sanctum. I should be busy for an hour.”
He hadn’t visited Ria yet, and it was midmorning. Time flew when you had spies and paperwork and anxiety. And a whole bleeding kingdom to run; thank the gods for competent minions.
Not that he was getting anxious about things. Keith had prepared for war with Drendil for about a decade … a war he’d originally intended to stop at the border, but who was counting?
Henrietta was counting. On him. To make her a part of the team.
Keith ignored his chaotic inner thoughts and connected with Hubert. The raven had stolen something shiny and was creating a nest in a nook among the rafters of one shop. The automaton had let its nature distract it, but all of his higher sentient creatures did so. He couldn’t blame the raven for behaving like a raven.
Hecouldanddidpanic when Henrietta was nowhere to be seen. He had Hubert fly around the town, high overhead. There was no trace of her, so without waiting around, Keith sent Hubert up the trail.
… Missing the fact that a dwarfess who’d just sat down to lunch and a beer at Polman’s Tavern might’ve had a message for him if he’d bothered to say anything to anyone before he flew off.
As it was, Keith didn’t check in. He simply flew off toward the Great Road, proceeding directly to Gren’s Keep, pushing to catch up with his missing princess.
CHAPTER 47
The Flat of the Blade Across My Throat
Henrietta
After a lovely cup of rasp-elder berry tea, I said farewell to my bridge troll friend and set out west for the Gren’s Keep turn off.
I wasn’t in a rush, as there were still a few days before I was needed back at the castle … and even then, I wasn’t really needed. I ignored that train of thought and sauntered up the road at a casual pace.
I tried not to look at the crossroad that wasn’t a perfect crossroad because it was still off by one stone on either side of the path. That was a foolish thing to do, because I may have tripped, and barely had time to catch myself.
My Dexterity was high enough that my flailing save looked more like an elegant sway, but it was still awkward to just flail about while walking.
I glared down at the path; I was very sure that rock hadn’t been there a moment ago …
If the path found my glare insulting or amusing, I couldn’t tell. In either case, it chose not to speak to me.
