The Flames of Deception - A Horizon of Storms: Book 1 (20 page)

“
Thank the gods for that,” she breathed. “My feet are killing
me.”

“
It’s not over yet, princess,” Matthias replied, peering over
his shoulder. He caught her eye a moment. They were like deep pools
in the gloom, and for a moment he held her gaze, before smiling
encouragingly. “You’re doing well,” he added, as her brow creased
and she swallowed.

“
This door needs a key,” Thadius muttered. “I didn’t think
about that.”

“
I
don’t need a key,” Matthias replied confidently, waving his palm
over the lock. The door clicked and creaked open.

“
Mahalian tricks,” Thadius whispered with a grumble. “What’s
the point in having a lock if people can just open it like that?”
Matthias grinned and pushed it open a notch. Moonlight shone
through the opening. The ball of light that had guided them fizzled
into nothing, and the shadows that had danced around them from its
aura subsided.

They
emerged from the building slowly, looking around hesitantly. They
were in a garden area, overgrown and filled with brambles and
weeds.

“
We
should be at the southernmost part of the palace grounds. This is a
small garden, a space in a corner of the grounds hidden by bushes.
Ah! There,” Thadius said, pointing to a tall hedge. “We need to go
through there and we should be able to make our way around and
down. There’s a walkway about quarter of a mile from here that
leads to a ladder into the habitual quarter.”

“
You
expect me to climb over that?” The princess asked with a scoff,
nodding to the hedge.

“
Oh
come on, I’ll give you a leg over,” Matthias said with a grin. She
rolled her eyes and turned to Thadius, who obliged
instead.

“
Have it your way,” Matthias said with a shrug, as he grappled
with the hedge and hoisted himself over its branches, landing on
the other side gracefully. The princess was having more problems.
Her dress was catching on twigs, and as she swung her legs over to
the other side to drop down there was a tear, and her black cloak
ripped. She began to fall to the ground, but Matthias caught her
before she hit the floor.

“
Got
you! Safe and sound!” Matthias said.

The princess was surprised and for a moment she
sat in Matthias arms, before her dignity got the better of her and
she flapped at him until he let her to the ground. “Get off!
Get
off!
” she spluttered.

“
You’re
welcome
,” Matthias said as she brushed herself off and
inspected the tear in the side of the cloak.

The
princess opened her mouth to retort, but then there was a large
thud from behind them, and Thadius landed awkwardly on the ground.
He looked up at them sheepishly.

“
It’s been a long time since I climbed any trees,” he
muttered, getting to his feet.

“
Come on,” Matthias said as he laughed silently, and beckoned
for Thadius to once again lead the way.

They
crept through the moonlight, ducking into shadows made by the
buildings surrounding the Palace.

“
Have any more of the creatures set off your traps?” Thadius
asked Matthias quietly.

“
No,” Matthias replied from behind, his eyes
scanning every which way. “There were only a couple more, and
they
could
have dodged them. If they are in the palace they might take
a while to realize we’re gone.”

“
Let us hope that my father’s men have caught them
all!” The princess added. “Perhaps then we can start this journey
the way it was
meant
to have been undertaken! I was meant to be accompanied by a
full guard!”

“
One
thing at a time,” Matthias whispered.

“
Do
not act as if you are not pleased,” the princess whispered back.
“You never wanted to bring soldiers along on this journey, did
you?”

“
Thadius is here and he’s a soldier,” Matthias
rebuffed.

“
You
know
what I mean,” Josephine sniffed.

Rina
was even more of a maze at night than it was in the day and the
ladders and stairwells that stretched all across the city were even
more perilous for it as they made their way down. Trying to get
Princess Josephine down ladders with her dress was particularly
interesting, and her slipper – like shoes kept sliding off the
stairs leading to more than one close call. Eventually though, as
they descended the city, they dropped down into Market Road, where
Matthias had encountered the stalls the day before. It was empty
now, and lamplight glowed through some of the windows of the houses
lining the street. They were halfway down the empty road when
Matthias paused and held up a hand. He craned his head.

“
What’s that noise?” he asked. The others strained to
hear.

“
What noise?” asked Thadius, his eyes darting back and
forth.

Josephine leaned her head to one side. “I don’t hear anyth-”
she was stopped short as a rotting wooden gate a pace behind them
burst open, and a creature lurched out of the debris towards them.
Its head was rotten and its body disintegrating. It was a corpse of
a creature, and it stunk like one. Its eyes were wide, twisting
limply in their bony sockets towards Josephine. It snarled at the
princess.

“
Thadius!” Matthias yelled from where he had been knocked to
one side, struggling to get to his feet. The creature lunged
towards Josephine.

Thadius had his sword in hand already, and struck at the
creature with his blade. Its head fell to the stones, black blood
smattering the cobbles, and a second later its body followed,
dribbling more fluids from its open neck. “You don’t need to tell
me wizard,” he huffed. The creature’s mouth worked silently for a
moment before its eyes closed and it fell still.

They
looked up to the sound of scuttling along a wall, and another
creature dropped down a pace behind them; a large, furry insect -
like with segmented eyes like a fly, analysing them with interest.
It flexed its six – fingered, suckered hands and then sped towards
them. It opened a toothy mouth, saliva dribbling across the path as
it attacked. Matthias held out a hand but Thadius got to it first
again, his sword ready. He threw the blade behind his shoulder as
he ran and swung hard. The creature barged into him, narrowly
missing the blade, and sent Thadius sprawling to the floor, his
weapon clattering uselessly away. The creature clicked through its
mandibles with triumph and carried on towards the
princess.

Matthias stepped in front of her and cast his hand in the
direction of an empty barrel propped up against a wall. It shook
slightly at his attention, and then, with a throwing motion towards
the oncoming creature, Matthias sent the barrel careening into it.
The wood split against its bulk and the monstrous figure fell in a
tangled mess.

“
Let’s go!” Matthias yelled. “Thadius?” he called to the man
who was struggling to his feet.

“
I’m
right behind you. Just go!” he yelled, snatching his sword up.
Matthias grabbed the Princess’s hand and darted off down the
street, Thadius in tow.

They
made it through another few streets and alleyways before another
creature caught up with them. Grey and hairy with the bulky stature
of a gorilla, only twice as large, it rolled its wild, red,
poisoned eyes madly about when it spotted them.

Matthias skidded to a halt and released Josephine’s hand. “Go
on ahead you two!” he barked as Thadius caught up. “Move! I’ll
catch you!”

Thadius nodded, and they ran off, whilst Matthias stood to
face the beast. It had a ring in its wrinkled, leathery nose, and
chains attached to it trailed off on the ground, probably used to
hold the creature back before it had been let loose.

“
If you’re a pet then I do
not
want to meet your owner,” Matthias
whispered, as he slipped his staff from beneath a strap on his back
and held it tightly. The beast roared, and beat its chest. “Have it
your way then,” Matthias said. With cat - like agility he pounced
towards it, spun and sailed above its head and landed facing the
beast’s behind. He darted for one of the chains trailing along the
ground as the creature spun to face him again, grabbing a rusted
link tentatively between his fingers. Matthias pulled hard, digging
his heels into the gaps between the cobbles, and the beast reared
back on itself, its sausage like paws grappling with the wet,
cobbled floor. It tugged back, pounding with its muscular back legs
for leverage, and Matthias went flying about on the ground, still
clutching to the chain. The other swung untamed in the air, and
Matthias made for it as the beast paused in the tug of war to turn
again for a better position to fight. His palm clamped around the
leash and he quickly, methodically wrapped them both around his
fists tightly and pulled. The beast slid across the alleyway,
landing on its rump with a thud. Seconds later it was pulling at
him again and Matthias tottered about the alley like a drunk,
thudding into a wall with a force. The links pinched his skin but
he held on tight, grunting with the effort of holding the reins,
ducking a swipe of a paw and then, as he ducked and weaved another
melee attack, a thought struck him. He grinned wickedly as his
hands sparked to life and hundreds of volts of electricity coursed
through the chains into the creature. It convulsed with the raw
power conducted through the metal.

Matthias let go, and it fell, collapsing onto the floor,
smoke rising from its silvery skin. He wiped his brow, and then,
without remorse, turned and ran, grabbing his staff as he
did.

Thadius dragged the princess along the streets so hard that
she flopped along behind him like a ragdoll, her shoes flapping
from her feet, skirts awhirl. They stumbled through streets and
alleyways, faster and faster.

“
Are you…
sure
this is the…
right
way?” Josephine wheezed as they descended a line
of steps.

“
I’ve lived in this city… all my life Your Highness! I know
where to go!” Thadius puffed, sweat caking his shirt.

They
both looked around as they heard a pounding behind them, and
Matthias approached them from behind, catching fast. He missed the
steps and hurtled through the air, legs whipping along as he landed
without stopping and caught up to them.

“
Not
much further!” he panted, retaking the lead. “Faster! They’re still
coming! There’s at least two more!”

Jadin the gatekeeper was standing on guard again as Matthias
skidded around the corner. Instinctively, Matthias’s hand dived
into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins from inside his
cloak. Jadin spotted him, began to smile and then, seeing the look
on Matthias’ face, scowled, confused.

“
If it isn’t my good friend again, leaving so soon
after he’s arrived!” he said suspiciously. “And in a
hurry
too!”

Matthias smiled as best he could at him as he bundled the
selection of gold and silver into the man’s hand. “I am afraid so.
I have urgent business elsewhere,” he panted. “Now if you would
kindly open the gate-”

“
I’m
afraid I can’t open this gate for you,” Jadin said. “The only exit
to be used at this time of night is the main gateway.” He shook his
head. “Besides, no offence, but you look up to no good.” He sighed.
“Maybe I was nai... er... oh what’s the word?”

“
Naive?” Matthias ventured, in an attempt to hurry things
along. He doubled over as his lungs tried to suck in air, and
rested his hands on his knees.

“
Yer, that’s the one, naive – in thinking you was a good lad
earlier, if you is running about like a thief. Who’s chasing
you?”

As
if on cue, Josephine and Thadius rounded the corner. They slid to a
halt inches from crashing into Matthias. Josephine slumped against
the wall, her chest heaving. Thadius coughed heavily. His lungs
burned like they were on fire.

Jadin spotted Thadius instantly. “Here, Thadius!
Look here – I-I stopped him! He’s the one you want!” He nodded to
Matthias, who rolled his eyes. “Tried to
bribe
me as well, he did!” Jadin held out the
handful of coin.” His eyes then fell on
Josephine.

“
What?” Jadin gasped. “Is that-?” Jadin stuttered, pointing to
the princess. “Is it?”

“
No, it’s not,” Matthias replied, still wheezing.
“And they’re not chasing
after
me! Thadius?”

Thadius stepped up to Jadin. “You are ordered to open this
gate, sir,” he commanded forcefully. “On the command of the King’s
Guard.”

“
Oh, no can do sir, I’m afraid. Rules
is
rules I’m afraid,
no matter who you a-
uuungh!
”

Thadius had him pinned against the wall with one
hand. “Open the
door,
Jadin!” he barked. “Or when I return I will tell your wife
exactly what you did in that tavern the other week! Or should that
be
who?
” The coin in Jadin’s hand scattered to the floor and
rolled about the alleyway.