Page 75 of I Ran Away to Evil
“Eeeek!” Amy made a squealing noise before collecting herself. “I’m sorry, Princess. I’m just such a huge fan.”
“What?” I could only imagine what news had made it to the secluded elven home in the Dark Enchanted Forest. Maybe I didn’t want to know; all this gossip about me was getting bad for my heart.
“Of your work!” Lady Amy’s eyes lit up. “You defeated the Depths of Despair Dungeon when you were fourteen. And you soloed Dungeon Valley Crest by the time you were sixteen! Sixteen! It took me a decade of training to solo Green Oak Dungeon, and it’s a lower-level dungeon! I just can’t believe it’s really you! Can I ask you some questions? Do you have time? I can walk with you back to Gren’s Keep if that’s where you’re going? I won’t be a bother, I promise. Did you know that when you defeated the phoenix of level fourteen in Dungeon Valley Crest, my father won the auction on some of its feathers? We also collected a blue scale from the ice dragon you killed. It’s the dagger … in my boot.”
Amy trailed off again after that long-winded ramble.
I could see why an adult elf would consider her still a young girl. And why he probably considered me a young girl, too. With that in mind …
“Alright,” I said. “But first, you should know that there’s a group of elves looking for you. They’re riding unicorns down the path in that direction.” I pointed.
Lady Amy visibly panicked. She gripped her book to her chest and whispered, “Oh no!”
CHAPTER 48
Paint the Castle Pink
Keith
It was a beautiful morning to fly over his kingdom, and Keith enjoyed the view. It helped that he’d had tea before this flight with Hubert, or he wouldn’t have been in such a good mood.
Being at nearly a hundred percent mana for the first time in a long while might have also helped.
This also gave him an excellent opportunity to see how the roads were faring in the west, with most of the soldiers moving around in preparation for battle. There was significantly more mundane foot traffic than he would have assumed with a war on the horizon, but Gren’s Keep was far from the Drendil border and full of beast people who could take care of themselves.
He did note seeing Sir Vainbark and Lady Hazelglade of the elven Hollow in passing. They were riding unicorns of all things, and Lady Hazelglade was actually riding the young heir to Goldenhoof’s herd. It still made Keith uncomfortable that he couldn’t remember the colt’s name, so he made a mental note to check his physical notes later.
He couldn’t wait to get the report of what they were doing on his desk … though he could guess it had something to do with Duke Briarthorn’s daughter. She was notorious for going missing during her lessons.
Keith didn’t panic when he arrived in Gren’s Keep and still hadn’t seen Henrietta. They had probably just missed each other somewhere on the road.
Keith wondered, was it just him, or did he spend a lot of time not panicking about Henrietta?
He settled Hubert in an elm close to the town’s entrance and disconnected.
Just in time for the chaos that awaited him back at his inner sanctum.
There were twelve days left until St. Veralyn’s Day, and Keith was wondering if he should scrap the plan and just go destroy Drendil now.
No one would even know. Alright, everyone would know. And everyone would also tell him “I told you so.” Which he couldn’t be sure was worse than his necromancer having a nervous breakdown in the castle lobby.
“What do youmeanJulia is on her way? Rufus!” The petite blonde paced back and forth, roiling black tendrils lashing out subconsciously as she waved her arms about with delicate, dramatic flair. “How could you not tell me?”
The commander general looked pained. “Her rooms are already made up. Please, Chloe, this isn’t the first time Julia has visited—”
“Nothing is ready! I’M NOT READY! Dear gods, what am I going towear!”
Keith was halfway down the stairs when she noticed him. He flinched.
“And you!”
“Listen, Chloe,” he started. “We were wondering how to tell you—”
“With yourwords,” the necromancer said. “Like anadult.”
“Chloe, I’ve something important to tell you.” Keith joined them on the main floor.
She looked leery. “What?”
