Hot Pursuit

As soon as the door to the king's bedchamber shut, Borit shook his chains. "You got what you needed from His Majesty. I know you have the key, Jenner. Now release me."

The thin soldier pulled his mouth to one side. "I believe I should wait for the general's orders on that," his crisp words were very different from the crass speech of those around him.

'Not a commoner,' Silver noted. 'No wonder Kaarel trusted him with the surrender document.'

Since all of the men from Lakyle were in stolen uniforms, it was impossible to tell anyone's standing from appearance alone. Silver was forced to rely on other methods to determine their standings. The commander quickly confirmed the Guardian's suspicions. 

"The General has no direct power over you. Don't you answer to the king? Think for yourself!" Borit tried to engage Jenner's pride.

But the man would not be tricked. "I have been kept around for my strict obedience to His Majesty's will. He advised me to accompany General Kaarel and work with him in all the dealings. That is what I shall do."

Dropping his arms, Borit's face changed. He thought of Ingrid and her betrayal. And where was Nuall? Surely he had been given a similar offer to Ingrid. Surely he had taken it. 'Traitors, both of them...'

The Commander clicked his tongue. "Loyalty is a very commendable trait. I respect you for it. Would it be too much to ask if I might take a seat while we wait for the general's judgment?"

Jenner contemplated a moment, his thin frame growing still from being so deep in thought. "I suppose that is acceptable."

As the commander moved toward the cushy sofas, Borit tripped on the end table. He went careening into the arms of Willric's trusted advisor.

Jenner moved to take a step backward, but not fast enough. The two men collided and fell into a heap.

"Get off of me!" Jenner pushed the Commander's body to one side and scrambled to his feet.

"It would be easier if I had use of my hands!" Borit retorted, clearly unhappy about the situation as well.

The two began to bicker before being separated by the other soldiers in the room.

Borit sat down with a grunt. "Blaming me for being clumsy. You would think I did it on purpose!"

'So that is his game.' Silver smirked.

For of course the Commander had fallen intentionally. His hands might have been bound, but he was still able to lift the scroll of surrender off of the thin man with a single deft movement.

'Not a thief, my foot!' Silver mused. 'He has certainly done that before.'

While Silver did not know the exact wording of the document, he gathered enough from the snippets of talk to realize that whoever was in possession of it had the ability to rule the kingdom should Rhodri die.

On its own, possessing the document was not enough to ensure Borit would take power, but it would be enough to rally people against Lakyle when things went wrong.

'I knew he had a plan!'

Though Rose would never allow it, it was also very possible that Borit would try and force her into a marriage with him as well.

'Over my dead body!'

Silver contemplated whether to take the document from Borit here and now, but the Commander was very exposed in the middle of the room. The Guardian might be able to get there, but at what cost?

It was better to leave things as they were and try to save the king. If Rhodri remained alive, then the agreement could be nullified.

There were more pressing matters, and the plan forming in Silver's mind meant he needed to get out of the king's suite and into the throne room as soon as possible.

He glanced once more to make sure that Jenner had not noticed the theft, and then covertly made his way into the hall.

The Guardian's exit was even less eventful than his entrance. The Lakilians' utter routing of the enemy had made them cocky.

Ghosting down the corridor, Silver shook his head. 'Too easy…'

A breeze whirled around the Guardian's head, forcing his vision down the hall. At the same time, he became aware of someone approaching. Two figures stepped out of the shadows standing tall.

Their faces were covered in ceremonial helmets, but the two were clearly soldiers who had come with the invading forces. Their uniforms were not clean like those in the palace would be.

Were they coming to retrieve King Rhodri for the formal announcement? It would give the right pomp to the occasion and a subtle flair. Kaarel had really thought of everything! Or perhaps Borit had suggested it?

It didn't matter. What did matter was the rotten timing. They were cutting off the Guardian's exit.

Silver froze.

The two guards froze as well. They had clearly seen the movement. They seemed to be trying to wait out the stranger as if they knew he was there.

Then Silver remembered the pale oval of his face. He didn't have his cape! Without it, he could still manage to hide in people's peripheral vision easily, but he was very exposed in their direct line of sight.

'Blazing Fates! I'm spotted!'

"Is that him?" One of the men whispered, confirming Silver's fear.

"I think so?" The other answered uncertainly. He scratched his helmet as if it would give him some clarity.

'Who do they think I am?' Silver did not wait around to see if they would explain.

Before they could utter another word, he had already leapt over them and continued running. One of them called after him in a low voice, "Wait!"

'Does that ever work?' The Guardian wondered. It certainly didn't on him. Rather than slow down, he sped up to an inhuman speed down the hall.

As stealth was no longer an option, only speed mattered. His ability to escape was tethered to the time which it took for Silver to get out of the reach of the two men in pursuit of him.

And it was taking far longer than Silver desired. No matter which way the Guardian turned, the soldiers continued after him like hounds on a scent.

'I have to give them credit. They are far better than the ones guarding the king.'

They not only seemed to be reacting to his moves, they were also anticipating them. It was like they could see into the future.

If it was not utterly infuriating, Silver might have admired their skill. Instead he began to sweat as he was pushed farther and farther into the bowels of the castle. At last there was only one thing to do.

'This better work.'

Barely a moment later, the men appeared in hot pursuit. 

Having split up, the two soldiers came from either end of the hall. They faced each other, confused by the empty space between them.

"Uh, where did he go?" the larger one asked. He scanned the hall in both directions, but it was completely empty.

His burly companion slowly tilted his head upwards. Both men drew their swords.

With his arms and legs outstretched, Silver's body spanned the width of the hall as he pressed his body up against the ceiling. It was a maneuver he had used countless times and had never once been discovered.

Until now.

"Come down," The burly man ordered. "We've been looking for you everywhere."

Silver gave a pale smile as eyes flashed. "Well, you found me. I only hope you knew what you were doing."