Page 74 of A Rising Hope (The Freckled Fate #3)

74

FINNLEAH

T he tunnels were narrow and low. The few torches that we carried illuminated the ancient stone walls warped in certain places with thick tree roots. Occasionally, small puddles of stagnant water got deeper, reaching above our ankles as we trudged through the labyrinth of tunnels holding our skirts up.

Florian led the group ahead, hunched over at the low ceilings of the crumbing tunnels, followed by Priya’s menacing figure. I walked right behind her, then after me was Zora, followed by the rest of the Ten. Xentar walked last, bent in half, walking mostly sideways as he constantly had to squeeze his big frame through the narrow walls of the tunnels.

We walked in silence, not wasting extra breaths lest we’d run out of air. We reached another small opening with three different paths leading in separate directions.

“This way.” Florian’s voice echoed off the stone walls in the darkness and an almost silent rhythm of steps followed suit.

The space felt tighter each minute we spent buried deep under the ground. The moldy smell of damp air eroded our lungs the longer we stayed.

My mouth was dry. I picked on my lips with my teeth, calming my racing heart. With each blink rapid bursts of forgotten memories from the Rock Quarries cut deep into my thoughts like a sharp knife. And, at times, it felt like it wasn’t the darkness biting at our heels but despair, eager to eat us alive without a moment of respite. I wanted to run; I wanted to claw at the walls. My nails dug into my palms as I forced myself to breathe.

In and out. I reminded myself.

“Are we getting close?” I found myself asking Florian, though regretting it immediately. I knew that question was pointless. It didn’t help us get there any faster. Nor would it help with the heavy silence lingering in the air.

To Florian’s credit, he played nice, “Oh sure, gorgeous, almost there. Is my dazzling smile not bright enough for you in these terrible tunnels?” he cooed, carrying the red cat on his shoulder.

“I just can’t believe your family still uses these,” Cori chipped in, eager for any conversation.

“Usually only on very special occasions. The maps of this labyrinth are very much generational knowledge exclusive the Casteol-only,” Florian replied. The flicker of fire on his torch shook with a small draft of air. “And being surrounded by such strong and unequivocally beautiful women for a couple of hours is a special occasion enough for me, don’t you think?” He glanced back at Xentar who nodded his head, smiling.

“Yes, indeed,” he agreed, his hand softly brushed past protruding dead roots, making them come alive, weaving into the ceiling above us and shielding us from the occasionally crumbling roof.

“I am surprised these are not talked about more often. They seem to be in good shape, considering the age of these ancient walls.” Cori’s voice was soft and curious as she lifted her torch closer to the walls, observing the scratches of what one would’ve guessed was an animal, or perhaps an elf. I, too, found myself wondering who had walked these tunnels for thousands of years.

“My family has been taking care of them for a long time, though there isn’t much left of the vast network of tunnels that it used to be. And they are not frequently talked about, because my family ensures their secrecy,” Florian answered.

“That’s one way of saying your grandfather kills off anyone who knows about them,” Priya grumbled near me.

“And what would your grandfather say if he knew you just brought a group of Rebel Destroyers through them? Would he, also, harm you for divulging the family secret to us?” Tori asked.

“I am sure it’d be quite the speech, but my grandfather is a pragmatic man. He knows I am of no use to him dead. You, on the other hand, he’d put a bounty on each one of your heads for an amount of money that would leave the Emperor speechless. Then you’d be hunted for the rest of your lives until your heads would be delivered to him,” Florian spoke casually, but there was a pinch of somber in his voice, like he spoke about something he’d already experienced.

We spent the rest of the walk mostly silent. Only occasional sentences would rattle the eerie darkness around us. My mind was scrambling on the edge of a frantic abyss, and I dedicated every passing thought to keeping my feet moving, my lungs expanding.

Time became irrelevant here and though I knew it couldn’t have been that long, it felt like days had gone by and we were lost far underneath the ground in the never-ending labyrinth of tunnels. My fingers turned cold and numb, and I balled my hands into a fist, fighting the growing urge to explode with fire to fight the choking dread within.

We took another turn. The ground sloped higher and the stale air warmed.

My heart thumped louder against my chest in anticipation as we took another turn.

“We are here, lovelies.” Florian pointed to the exit. I would’ve missed it in the dark; it was only a crawl space near the ground, with what looked like carved in stone wall steps. I swallowed hard.

“Relax, Freckles. If you get stuck, I’ll visit you.” Priya rolled her eyes, following Florian into the darkness.

“Jokes on you because if I panic, all of you go up in flames,” I teased, hoping my sarcastic tone would hide the half-truth in my words. I took a deep breath, immediately regretting it as the walls felt closer to my expanding lungs as we crawled higher. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. Priya’s feet were just above mine; Zora was behind me as we came to a stop in the tunnel. Breath from my nose and mouth turned into small drops of condensation at the cold stone next to my face. I held on to the dug out steps.

“Move it, Casteol. She is about to explode,” Priya growled above me, irritated at the sudden pause.

“We are clear,” Florian shouted down the tunnel and our convoy moved. The daggers at my hips scraped the last bits of stone before much needed rays of light bathed my skin.

One by one, we crawled out of the tight opening hidden underneath a wooden floor of a shut-down pub. Based on the empty liquor shelves covered in layers of dust it had been closed for some time. Claw-footed chairs were up on the round tables, coverings were on the loungers and sofas. To anyone passing by, the pub looked like nothing more than a temporarily closed building, but to anyone standing inside, it was far from that. Florian fixed the wooden panel, moving the perfectly clean carpet on top of it.

“Welcome to Svitar, the City of Light, my ladies.” Florian adjusted the collar of his shirt, dusting off his matching burgundy jacket and pants.

There was a certain thrill seeing the grand peaks of the white buildings outside. It was as if nothing had changed. Flowers still bloomed in their flowerpots decorating the perfectly painted windows, glass had been washed and door were without a single chip of paint, roads polished without a speck of dirt.

“Five minutes out,” Zora mentioned, as the Ten adjusted their weapons, ensuring they were hidden and easily accessible.

Zora peeked through the long wooden shutters outside. The sun was high above the ground now.

“You set?” She looked back at Xentar.

“Waiting for the first ring of the bell.” Xentar nodded, pulling off a chair from the tabletop and taking a seat. A few golden rays from the sun sneaked past the blinds, landing on his magnificent face as he leaned back and welcomed the warmth.

“And just like that, the plan is in motion.” Florian picked up the roaming cat, scratching behind his ear. “Aren’t we cute little rebels?” he sweet-talked the cat before high-fiving his large paw.

“Let’s go.” Zora motioned to the door, and Florian nodded. “Let’s hope your charm works on these streets as well as those two say.” Zora added a bit more face paint on her cheek, hiding her tattoo.

“Just be careful, Commander, by the end of the day I might charm you too.” Florian winked in Zora’s direction.

“Stay safe, Florian.” I gave him a goodbye hug. “And goodbye to you too, my little sunshine,” I cooed to the purring cat in his arms.

“What about a goodbye kiss for me, gorgeous?” Florian winked, the large scar on his face scrunched with his smile. “It’d only be fair.”

“Keep walking, Florian. She’s fucking married now,” Priya snarled at him, impatient to get home. Her words somehow made me fight a childish smile that wanted to creep up at her sudden recognition of my marriage.

“Oh, but married women are my specialty.” Florian grinned, and I found myself laughing.

“And cutting off dicks is mine. Go!” Priya grumped.

“Touché.” He looked at me, as if we were back at the Queen’s Palace. Just two friends free of their titles, free of their duties, simply eager to enjoy the world. “Come visit me, sweet cheeks, when you are done taking over the world. I like to get my gossip firsthand,” Florian requested.

“Will do,” I agreed. “And Florian?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“Anything for Finn, like the fish Finn.” His eyes creased in the corners as he saluted me like a soldier before twisting on his heels and heading outside.

One by one, the Ten exited the pub, slipping into the oddly calm and uninhabited streets of the Fashion Corner accompanied by Florian’s swaggering figure.

Zora was the last one, lingering on the step.

“See you later, Empress.” She glanced over her shoulder towards me. Her eyes were sharp and tense, and though her tattoo was covered with layers of paint and makeup, there was still darkness in her gaze, demons haunting her within.

“Good luck, Commander,” I replied, giving her an encouraging smile.

The door creaked, and bells chimed, signaling her departure.

Priya stood uncaring, with a slight annoyance at her lips, as she stared at the old broken clock hanging on the wall. Time ran long as both of us counted the seconds and minutes, waiting.

“Fuck it—it’s been long enough.” Priya stood up from where she was leaning against the wall.

“Yes, let’s go,” I agreed, just as impatient to get out.

“Enjoy.” Xentar waved us off, drawing flower patterns with his finger on the dust spots in the center of the table.

“Don’t fuck it up, Creator,” Priya said her version of a goodbye before heading for the door. Another chime of the bells and she was already outside.

“Thank you, just the courage I needed.” Xentar laughed.

“Last chance for a dagger?” I looked with a flash of worry at him.

“Oh princess, daggers will do me no good. My looks would kill them first.” He flexed his large arms, kissing the biceps.

I chuckled, adjusting the daggers at my waist.

Another round of bells chimed, and I was outside.

I had forgotten how bright the city was. The sun reflecting off the polished white stone blinded me, and I paused to adjust, blinking a few times until my eyes got used to the shining light. I had never seen so few people on Svitar’s streets before. The Fashion Corner especially. The shops and restaurants were empty of their patrons. Even the grand gallery that was regularly full of live models showcasing the most gorgeous and, at times, provocative garments, stood void. Long gone was the chatter and cacophony, all of it diminished to the hushed whispers and rushing steps of the few that braved to go outside. All of them were wearing the red mark with the golden insignia of the crown on their arms.

I adjusted mine higher.

Initially, Priya and I were going to disguise ourselves like the rest of the Ten, but Priya refused, opting for the leathers instead, which now meant depending on Priya’s powers to get us through the city unnoticed.

We spoke little, staying on the outskirts of the ribboned streets, rapidly making our way towards the lavish Royal Castle with its golden roofs and towers nestled on a big green hill.

You could feel the tension in the air, feel the slightly nervous looks in our direction from the more observant pedestrians, but no one said a word to us. Whether it was due to the red bands on our arms, their fear, or Priya’s skillful webs of power, I didn’t know, and a part of me didn’t want to know. Ignorance was bliss, after all.

“Hurry up, Freckles, I don’t have all day for this.” Priya crossed the street and started down the long alleyway. Her figure was lost in the shadows from the canopy of the tall ancient trees, their old branches woven together at the very top, shading the road to the castle like in a large tunnel.

“Do you have some pressing plans?” I quickened my pace, catching up with Priya.

“Many. One, take a long fucking bath. Two, fuck someone with good hygiene. Three, eat so much fucking dessert until I puke. It’s a busy schedule.”

“I can tell.”

“Let’s hope your boyfriend can keep the blood off my streets because I just replaced my carpets and if I get them stained with blood, I will come for his soul.”

At the mention of Gideon, I looked up to the sky blocked by the changing leaves and I silently begged the gods to keep our people safe, to keep him safe.

A clatter of hooves sounded ahead. Priya and I darted behind the neatly trimmed bushes decorating the path.

“Fucking Destroyers,” she quietly swore at the two riding soldiers.

We waited until their chatter faded in the distance before resuming our brisk stroll. The closer we got to the castle walls, the more guards and soldiers passed us.

Soon, we snuck through the gates, leaving only a couple of bodies behind. Their dead figures were hastily shoved into ponds leading to the gardens and the servants’ entrance to the castle.

We stood by the door waiting, crouching behind grand pedestals with enormous statues of lions carved out of marble.

Our daggers drawn, poisons ready as we watched the sky, waiting.

Priya picked on the ends of her braid, bored, while I couldn’t stop looking up, lest I blink and miss the signal.

Soon, the chaos would erupt.

Soon.

But not yet.