The first question is how do I get out of this cage. I don’t see any locks or keyholes visible. The bars seem to be coming out of the ground. I could try and dig down under them, but I don’t know how deep they go, and I’m sure Codian will notice that. I try to see if Codian has a key on him but the only thing out of the ordinary is a silver necklace that he has been constantly pulling on and no sword. I wonder why Paylon would leave him here with no protection unless they were running low on supplies. This must mean they haven’t found their horses that ran off in the battle. I know they took my sword, and I’m sure Alexander’s was taken too. Three of them, our two swords, I guess Codian pulled the short straw. They’ve underestimated me to think he won’t need protection, I need to use this to my advantage.
I’m trying to think of some way to get Codian over here when I remember a story I had heard back in the prison about him and his brother. The rumor was Chadian was appointed to be Paylon’s right-hand man first and Codian was supposed to be left behind to tend to less important matters at the castle. A rivalry between him and his brother may be all I need to get his blood pumping. I pull on my backpack and get ready to outsmart him.
“Codian,” I hiss at him again. When he looks over at me, I wave him toward me.
He rises slowly, throwing another piece of wood on his fire before walking to my cage. “What do you want?” he asks, kneeling face to face with me.
“I just wanted to know if the rumors were true,” I say through gritted teeth and I watch the curiosity flash in Codian’s eyes.
“Rumors about what?” he asks and draws out his question, trying to figure out where I’m going with this.
“About your brother being Paylon’s first pick,” I say and tilt my head innocently. I watch the muscles in his face tense and his lips press into a straight light.
“If that were true then why am I here?” he questions back to me. He stands and I match his movements to stay at his level.
“I heard it was because your parents paid Paylon to take you both.” At this comment he squints his eyes at me. He’s losing sight of why I’m asking these questions and is getting lured into defending his integrity.
“Who told you that?” Codian huffs back to me.
“Your friends that work in the prison at the castle talk a lot,” I say and take a step back from the bars. He rolls his eyes and starts to turn away from me, but I can’t lose this opportunity.
“They said you failed your first three attempts to be a part of the army,” I call out and he freezes with his back to me. “They said if it wasn’t for your parents’ money you would be nothing.” His hands close into tight fists and I know I’m getting to him.
“What’s it like to share everything with a twin that’s better than you?” I question and raise my voice. “Birthdays, first days of school, holidays,” I list off and I watch the muscles in his neck tighten. “All while everyone around you is saying how he is the better twin. He is the successful twin. He is the one who will make the family proud.”
Codian spins on his heels and comes straight at my cage. “You have no idea what you’re talking about!” His voice roars and I watch him fly through the metal bars of the cage. The silver necklace around his neck burns bright red as he effortlessly passes through the bars. That’s the key.
Codian reaches for me but I use my small size to my advantage. I drop and miss his grasp. I come up behind him and rip the silver chain from his neck. Swiftly I clasp it around my own neck and launch myself through the bars. Just like before, the necklace glows red and allows me to fly though the metal cage, and Codian is left, shocked, behind bars.
With my blood pulsing through me I start to regain strength and confidence in my gift. “Where’s Alexander?” I ask sternly.
“Why should I tell you?” he spits back in my face. His cheeks are flushed red with embracement that he fell for my trick.
“Look, you’re going to answer the question. Where is Alexander?” I growl.
A look of fear passes through his eyes and he mumbles, “Just around the lake, to your right.” I look over my shoulder, and through the trees and tall grass I see the lake off in the distance. I’m about to leave when I stop and ask, “And my mother’s journal?”
“Paylon has it, I swear,” Codian says. I turn to leave and he calls after me, “You’re just going to leave me here?”
“Be happy I didn’t kill you,” I say, my voice low and scratchy. I turn away from Codian and make my way off to my right.
I don’t have to walk far when I see the hint of flames a few paces ahead. I drop to my knees and crawl the last few steps. I peek through the bushes in front of me. It’s just a
