Chapter 4: to the front gate.

Adrian's story ended, the weight of his grief and betrayal still heavy in the air. Al Mussad sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the flickering torchlight, his thoughts shrouded in the shadows.

After watching Al Mussad kill the Warden and the guard his hand reach out "I know your story. And I think it's a waste to end your life here. I'll give you a choice. Follow me and be part of our society, or stay here and meet your maker."

he finally said, his voice a low rumble, "you're ready to get out of here?"

Adrian, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope, looked at Al Mussad. "I... I don't have much choice, do I?" he whispered.

"No," Al Mussad said, a grim smile playing on his lips. "You don't."

He stood up, his movements swift and silent. "Follow me," he said, extending a hand.

Adrian, fueled by a newfound determination to live, grabbed Al Mussad's hand. They ran, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors, their shadows dancing on the stone walls.

The guards, oblivious to their escape, patrolled their designated areas. Al Mussad, a master of stealth, moved like a ghost, his presence unseen, his movements unheard. Adrian watched in awe, impressed by Al Mussad's ability to blend into the shadows, to become invisible in a place teeming with guards.

They reached the last wall, a formidable barrier as tall as the castle itself. Adrian's heart sank. "How are we going to get out of here?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Al Mussad, his confidence unwavering, "the front gate of course," he said. "Just follow me."

He moved with a silent grace, his steps measured, his movements precise. He eliminated the guards who patrolled the way to the front gate, each strike swift and deadly, each kill silent and clean.

At last, they reached the front gate. Two guards stood watch, their backs to them. Al Mussad, faster than a blink, struck their necks, silencing them forever.

"Let's go," he said, his voice a low growl. "Get the horses."

Adrian, still reeling from the speed and brutality of Al Mussad's actions, emerged from his hiding place. He moved with a newfound agility, his fear replaced by a fierce determination.

They mounted the horses, their hooves pounding the cobblestones, their escape swift and silent. They rode away from the prison, the darkness of the night swallowing them whole, leaving behind a trail of whispers and unanswered questions.

Their journey had just begun.

As they galloped through the night, the wind whipping through their hair, Al Mussad turned to Adrian. "Before we disappear from this place," he said, his voice a low rumble, "is there anywhere you want to go first?"

Adrian nodded, his throat tight with emotion. "Let's go to my master's fiefdom," he whispered, his voice choked with grief. "Where his body will be buried."

They spurred their horses forward, the night air filled with the sound of their hooves pounding the earth. The morning light began to break, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold.

As they approached the Duke's fiefdom, they saw a crowd gathered outside the church. A ceremony was taking place, a solemn farewell to the man who had been so unjustly taken.

Adrian, his heart heavy with sorrow, pulled back his hood, revealing his face to the world. He looked at the church, his eyes filled with tears. He whispered to the air, his voice barely audible, "I will take your last offer, Duke. I will run away."

He followed Al Mussad, his steps slow and deliberate, his mind filled with memories of the Duke, his kindness, his unwavering principles. He knew that the Duke would have wanted him to live, to find his own path, to make his own way in the world.

And so, with a heavy heart but a resolute spirit, Adrian stepped into the unknown, his future as uncertain as the path ahead. He had lost his master, his friend, his guiding light. But he had gained a new companion, a man of mystery and shadows, a man who had shown him the meaning of courage, loyalty, and survival.

The journey ahead promised danger, intrigue, and perhaps even a chance for redemption. And Adrian, with a newfound determination, was ready to face it.