Agatha smiled. “Of course. Let’s hope the guide understands this,” she gestured at the map. “If not we’ll find another.”
“I don’t think we can,” I said.
“Why?”
“I just get this feeling…” I looked around the room, trying to find the right words. “I can’t. I can’t leave him now.”
“Whichhim?” Agatha smiled widely.
I blushed. “I meant theolderguide.”
Agatha burst into laughter. I nudged her again and couldn’t stop the laughter coming from my own mouth. In moments we were in a fit of giggles. Just like the old days when we hid in the corn fields after stealing sweet fruits and eaten ourselves silly. Before my life had changed so drastically. Before I’d found out about my prophecy, and my parents.
Before Aunt Teetee’s death.
Agatha turned serious. “What happened in the square? What did you…do?” she asked.
I went to answer and then didn’t. I couldn’t. Whatdidhappen? It all seemed so odd now. So strange. One minute we’d been in the square, the next I was at his feet, love coursing through my veins, and wanting him to–
The door burst open and Roman came in, his eyes wild and searching. “It’s time we left ladies, have you got everything?” He had a traveling cloak on and two bags on his shoulders. There was yelling coming from down the hall. Lots of it and what I thought was the sounds of fighting.
I snatched the letter up and folded into my pocket, all the while Roman’s eyes watched me. He nodded and gestured for us to follow him. He waited at the door and then led us down the hall.
“Where’s your son?” Agatha asked, as we twisted and turned out of the inn.
“He’s not my son.”
“Well, where’s your friend,” she pushed.
There were more hallways than I’d realized. We went down a set of stairs and then entered the cellars, or what should’ve been the cellars. A hidden door was revealed and we entered a tunnel beyond.
I was too caught up in the moment to ask him what was going on.
We came out in a different cellar and climbed a set of stairs in a neighboring building. Outside there were more audible sounds of fighting and yelling.
“What’s happened?” I asked.
The guide shook his head, he was angry. “Lady Skol is what’s happened. Her and her views of lycanthropy,” he growled.
Agatha and I said nothing, but we remained silent and following. We came out of the building and into the back alley. The young guide was there waiting–
Except it wasn’t him, but a man that looked exactly like him. Older. And the guide too for that matter.
“Finally,” he said.
“Took some finding,” the guide said.
“Twenty years.” He sighed, and as frustrated as he looked, he seemed happy. His face was lifting of stress having seen us. “Twenty years Roman, and it’s finally beginning.”
The guide nodded. “That’s the worry.Beginning.”He turned to us. “I’m sorry to have kept you in the dark, but things have changed in the last few hours. We will be getting out of here in one of those.” He pointed at a wagon.
“And where is your other guide?” I asked.
“My son is fighting the guards,” the man said proudly. “Can you not feel it?”
As soon as he’d said it, I understood him. I could. There was a feeling in the air.
“Well no, Marcus. They’re from Lassig. They’re not–”
