was the one behind the Red Thorn. Yacub barely blinked when the back door was nearly torn from its hinges as they rushed through. Taking the stairs two at a time, it was mere moments before Cero was in his room with an agitated Bani. Aleest appeared with his pack only a few seconds after Cero had Bani in his pack and was coming back out. They were downstairs by the time that Inadar entered the front door with a breathless Torroth on her heels. Niman and Arken took a little longer but declared breathlessly on passing that the castle guards were at the next building over.
Cero and Aleest returned through the back door with the rest in tow leaving Yacub placidly carving away at the table. The wall skirting the rickety back stoop only proved a momentary barrier even with the loaded packs when they heard the front door burst open.
“What is that all about?” Inadar hissed as they ducked through the shanties trying to avoid the castle guards that were searching everything.
“It is something Reigns does when there is some big event. He searches for contraband and fines everyone a bunch of money if he finds anything. I hear he even plants stuff so he can fine people. I should have remembered and warned you. I'm sorry.” Aleest seemed contrite enough that Inadar didn’t push the issue.
“How are we supposed to avoid them?” Arken whispered nervously as they peered at a handful of the guards from behind a heap of broken stone.
“We have to get to where the people watching the procession are. They won’t be searching there.” Aleest began sneaking out and the rest followed. There were a few close shaves with watchful guards that lagged behind the leading searchers before they got to a milling crowd.
“That was close.” Niman wiped the beads of sweat that were forming on his brow.
“Too close. We need to get out of Shienhin tonight.” Torroth glanced over his shoulder as one of the castle guards passed by. Night wasn’t far off at this point. The time spent inside the tunnels had twisted their sense of time.
“We can’t until after the ceremony is done. We are effectively locked inside the walls.” Arken grumbled as the crowd began jostling him.
“That isn’t exactly the truth. Cero and I came over the walls to get in. We can get back out the same way if we are careful.”
“Can’t do that either. There are patrols all along the outside. Reigns doesn’t want the ceremony interrupted by commoners.” Niman was as grumpy as Arken, or was it the other way around?
“Hey be quiet. We got ahead of the princess. She is coming now.” Torroth elbowed his way to the front of the throng of excited citizens with the rest of the party a razor’s width behind. The look alike princess was now riding a horse alongside Reigns having abandoned the open carriage. The rest of the litters had also been discarded and it was clear that they were prepared for the expedition across the plain to the King’s Stone. No longer were there garlands of flowers blowing in the breeze or silk ribbons fluttering from the castle guard’s pikes. The riders seemed to hardly notice the impoverished crowds that vied for a glance at their sovereign in the growing gloom of nightfall. Lanterns were carried by the attendants keeping the procession well lit, but soon the only other light was from the candles that the more fortunate in the crowd held.
“She is actually fairly good looking.” Torroth flinched as Inadar poked him in the ribs with a grin.
“You did like Em’risi. I knew it!” Inadar’s intended taunts were forgotten when suddenly the older man that Cero had seen driving Reigns’ carriage earlier spurred his horse forward towards the princess.
Time seemed to freeze momentarily as Cero’s perspective shifted to that of one similar to what he had enjoyed the first time he had watched the procession. He could see each of the castle guards where they stood in various stages of movement. The princess’ white knuckles and the grimly determined look on her face. The enraged expression on the old man’s face and Reigns’ white furry. He saw that the girl was in the process of digging her spurs into the horse’s side. Everything fell into place as the picture came together. She was trying to escape. The old man knew somehow and was trying to stop her. Reigns was already drawing a sword so what he might