Loren’s breath hitched in her throat. Her pale hands brought Kae’s up to her face, pressing them to her cheeks. She slowly nodded. There was fear in Kae’s eyes, and Loren felt her pulse beating rapidly in her wrists. And yet, the huntress came back for her. After being spared Seraphis’s sword, Kae came back for her. “I trust you.”
“Let’s go home.”
“Can we focus on getting out of the castle first?” Cassendir muttered, his voice climbing in pitch with every word. His hands, now covered with a soft blue glow, shook in fear. He eyed the stairs leading up from the dungeon and kept his arms out in a ready stance. “I agree that once was too much, and I’d really like to get out of here, please.”
Kae nodded, snatched her dagger back from Cassendir and took a deep breath. Entwining her fingers with Loren’s, the huntress took the first steps up towards the throne room.
The throne room of the Firestone Keep was empty. It’s many brass braziers were still lit, giving off their stifling heat and casting flickering shadows on the walls. The veins of the firestone pillars pulsed softly, the magic in the stone still active. Kae pressed herself against the wall, signaling to her friends to follow. The three of them crept along the wall, keeping to the shadows as much as possible and hurrying past the braziers. Behind them, the sound of rushing guards in heavy armor descended the steps to the dungeon, shouting that they heard a noise. It wouldn’t be long before they found the queen’s prized prisoner missing.
“Kae.” Loren whispered, her voice shaking. “They’ll find us.”
“No they won’t princess, I’ll make sure of it.” Kae whispered back. The huntress’s attention was focused on the next step, on finding the next patch of shadow to creep into, on getting out. She didn’t see the hound until it was too late.
Duro, Seraphis’s large white hound, was standing guard by the throne room’s door. The hound watched them as they approached, and tilted his head as they froze in fear.
“Hey, Duro.” Kae said softly, creeping closer to the hound. She held out her hand, palm up, and kept a calm aura. “Good boy. We’re just going to pass through, okay? We won’t cause any trouble.”
Duro sniffed the huntress’s hand before licking at her face. Kae giggled and rubbed at the hound’s back, but before she could say another word, the hound turned to Loren. Duro nudged his big head into Loren’s side, sniffing her hands, her rags, and her face. It was a struggle for the princess to keep still. Loren hesitantly held her hand out for the hound to inspect, when suddenly Duro barked loudly and ran from her. The white hound disappeared into one of the hallways leading away from the throne room.
“What was that about?” Loren whispered. “Is Duro okay?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it. We have to keep moving, Ma’trii’s waiting for us at the kennels.” Kae tugged at Loren’s hand and continued through the Red Sister’s throne room.
The large black and red banners hung from the walls, the twin lionesses emblazoned on them watching them closely, accusingly, as they crept through the Firestone Keep. The heat and darkness within the throne room set them all on edge. Every flickering shadow cast by the braziers made them jump, every crack of the fire was seen as an enemy approaching. As they neared the hallway that led down to the kennels, Cassendir gasped behind the girls.
“Cassendir?” Kae muttered. She felt the scholar was no longer following them. “What is it?”
The scholar reached over and touched Kae’s arm with a shaking hand. His palm was sweaty from his nerves, and he pointed towards the firestone pillars that stood in the throne room. The flame colored veins of the firestone were glowing brightly and pulsing, as if with a heartbeat.
“What’s going on?” Kae muttered.
“Kae please, we need to go. Now.” Loren pleaded.
“Where do you think you’re going, my darling?” a voice sounded, echoing through the empty throne room. Loren heard the confident smile in the voice, and her blood froze. “Did you not enjoy my company? I so enjoyed yours. Why don’t you stay a while longer? I’ll let you keep your friends if you stay with me, my darling Loren.”
The fire in the braziers blazed. The flames leapt straight up, towering higher than a grown man. The light they gave off lit the chamber, banishing shadows and revealing Kae, Loren, and Cassendir, frozen with fear. The queen had entered the throne room from the hallway Duro disappeared into. She strode confidently towards them, the veins of the firestone pillars she passed flaring into life. Kae’s grip on Loren tightened. She turned to the hallway leading to the kennels and darted towards it, only for a sheet of flame to rise from the floor and block her way. The huntress turned back to the queen, moving Loren behind her to shield her from Haedria.
The queen chuckled. "My, isn't that simply precious? Your little huntress loves you Loren. She would throw herself in my path to shield you." Haedria's expression turned hard. The markings along her arms sparked to life. "How honorable. Loren, do not play coy with me. Return to my side at once."
At Haedria's command, the burned markings on Loren's neck and wrists flared to match their master's. The light flared as if coals were stoked underneath Loren's skin. She screamed again, just as how she screamed endlessly not hours before, and fell to her knees behind Kae. When she struggled, she felt as if being roasted on a spit. When she turned towards the queen, the heat turned
