“Come on, now, get yourself up off the floor, I don't have all day to stand around playing nursemaid to some sick chit.”
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and made as if she were going to stand, but at the last minute she sprang up, blocking his knife hand with her left arm as she used the other to plunge her dagger into his gut. Another round of bile attacked her throat as she felt the blade slice through soft flesh, blood oozing out onto her hand as she slid it back out.
Tamping the nausea down as best she could, she pushed past the man who was now doubled over, clutching at his wound. Without waiting to see if he'd recover, she ran for the kitchen door, slamming her body into the swinging door as she barreled into the room. A handful of terrified servants cowered in the corner, their wide eyes taking in her haggard appearance.
Ignoring them, she made for the outer door, her slick hands fumbling to open it.
“I wouldn't go out there, Your Highness, the courtyard is crawling with Antoski soldiers. Don't know where they all came from.”
She turned to look at the girl who'd spoken, a young serving girl no more than fourteen.
“Is there another way out from here?”
The girl shook her head.
“Looks like I'll just have to take my chances then. I can't hide in here forever.”
She wiped her hands on her ruined ballgown, wishing she were wearing something else, anything else, really. Gritting her teeth, she steeled herself as she opened the door a crack, peering out into the dark stable yard. When she didn't see a crowd of soldiers, she opened it a bit wider and stuck her head out, looking around. The sound of shouts and clashing metal came from the front of the castle, but she couldn't quite make out their figures, as the clouds had opened up and begun pouring rain down in thick sheets.
Well, here goes nothing.
She hadn't made it more than two steps outside the door when she felt a hand grab her waist from behind, pulling her back against a hard chest. With a startled scream, she lifted her dagger, prepared to thrust it backwards into her attacker, but the sound of a familiar voice in her ear had her hand falling limp by her side, relief coursing through her as she leaned back into the strong arms that were wrapping around her protectively.
“It's all right, Your Highness, it's me. It's just me.”
A sob tore at her throat, and she twisted around in his arms, hands clutching at the front of his shirt.
“He killed him, Alex. That bastard killed my father.” She raised her head, her red-rimmed eyes brimming with despair. “What do we do now?”
Chapter Eleven
Alex looked down at Josselyn, and his heart squeezed painfully as he took in her vulnerable frame. She'd always been an indomitable pillar of strength and courage, and now here she was, her spirit breaking to pieces before his eyes. He allowed himself to fold his arms around her, tucking her under his chin as he breathed a sigh of relief that she was at least physically unharmed, from what he could see. A crack of thunder brought him back, and he forced himself to let go, scanning the grounds around them as he did.
“The Antoski have taken control of the castle gate, as well as the main gate into the capital. If the prince has reinforcements on the way, they'll be able to stroll right in.”
Josselyn nodded. “Leaving through the front is a no, then.” Her gaze swung toward the back of the castle. “Mother,” she whispered, her voice filling with excited energy as she turned to look at him. “The mausoleum – there's a hidden tunnel in the mausoleum that leads all the way out to the northern forest!”
“Lead the way, Your Highness, but stay close.”
They darted across the grounds, almost invisible in the dark and rain. They had almost made it to the mausoleum, when the back entrance to the castle was thrown open, and an Antoski soldier came running out, looking around frantically. He caught sight of them and shouted, brandishing his sword as he ran toward them.
“I'm guessing they know you're not in your room,” Alex murmured, drawing his own sword before charging the approaching soldier. Just before he reached him, he slid onto his knees in the rain-slick grass, ducking beneath the Anotski's sword and slicing his own blade across the man's shins. He was on his feet before the man hit the ground, pivoting around and driving his sword between the man's shoulder blades.
He pulled his blade out and ran back to the mausoleum. “Get inside, now!” Josselyn responded wordlessly, her eyes wide and wild around the edges.
The inside of the mausoleum was dark, with only the faintest bit of light coming through the small windows. Josselyn slowly made her way over to a stone tomb in the back and grabbed the edge of the coffin's lid. “Help me move this.”
Together they pushed the heavy cover to the side. He looked to Josselyn for further instruction, but she was already climbing up into the open tomb. She lowered herself down through a small hole cut into the bottom of the tomb, only pausing long enough to whisper, “Down here.”
Alex swung himself into the cramped tomb after her and heaved the cover back into place over his head, which effectively covered their tracks but also cut off the little bit of light they'd had. Now there was nothing but pitch black as he made his way down the ladder into the tunnel below.
He could hear Josselyn breathing and and knew she was standing nearby, but he couldn't make out her figure. There was a creaking sound, like rusty hinges being used for the first time in a long while, followed by a clattering noise and
