Page 94 of Why Broken Wings Fray

Those avian eyes blinked at me several times. “I will remain nearby. Scream if you need help.”

Then Urram was gone, pushing off of his twig-like talons and flying his way through the stretching black sky above. I was smiling to myself as I turned away from him, thankful for a lot of things of Saoghal but none more than my caraid who kept me on my toes.

Considering my hair, that somehow was brighter than usual and nearing white, and my gown that was quite literally a ray of sunshine, it seemed silly that I started to creep through the small clearing of grass beside the dungeons. All someone would have to do is open their eyes from a nearby window or even half-way across Saoghal and they’d see me, my body like the fog-light on a lighthouse as I moved through the sea of verdant grass around me.

Either no one saw me, or they were on their way to collect me, as I arrived at that door on the side of the palace. Crossing my fingers and begging to gods I didn’t know nor understand, I pulled at the stone handle and hoped that it was not sewer that came spewing out.

It wasn’t.

It was a clear, easy passage right into the dungeons.

Right to Tadgh.

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I tried not to think about why the cages of stone and clay were so empty. It seemed odd to have so many of them and not a single body occupying the space. Allowing myself to be naive, I decided that it was because crime, as a whole in Saoghal, was low. That made me feel better.

The positive to there being next to no one in the dungeons was that there was a corresponding amount of guards. And by that, I mean there was none. Which was great, because as I started to creep down the cold, wet aisle-way between the cells, I realized I did not have a good excuse as to why I was sneaking around down there.

The downside to there being next to no one in the dungeons was that there was a corresponding amount of light. One sconce, hardly alive at all, the flame whistling and dying with every passing seconds. Fireflies hated the coldness of the dungeon, as well as the lack of natural light and the overall feeling of dread, so I, for once, was left without them buzzing around my head.

But I managed to find who I was looking for with ease, the Prince of Uisge housed in the biggest and nicest of all of the cells.

I continued my sleuth towards him, pausing at where the clay of the sidewalls turned into the brambled sticks-and-mud of the aisle-facing wall that allowed me to see him, and his space, in it’s entirety.

It honestly wasn’t that bad. A flat just like it back home would cost a hefty portion of the average salary, and if someone offered me a permanent stay in Saoghal on the terms that I had to stay in it, I would have shrugged and accepted.

Though, for a Prince of Saoghal, it likely was less than up to par.

“Tadgh?” I whispered.

A shadow in the back corner, curled up with their head pressed into a pillow, moved at the sound of my voice. I watched the blob of darkness as it pushed off of the bed, strode towards the bars, and at last stopped and revealed his blue skin and lavender eyes.

“Olivia?” The Prince shook his head several times before rubbing at both of his eyes. “Is that you? Or is this a dream?”

I couldn’t help but to laugh. “You dream of humans saving you in dungeons often, Tadgh?”

“Certainly enough to believe this could be one.” The corner of his lips curled upwards and his natural charm started to shine, brightening up the otherwise dreary space we were in. “You came for me?”

Tadgh looked familiar as he watched me through the bars. Far too familiar. A reminder of another Prince that had once looked at me the same way, broken and weighed down by the heaviness of their role, no matter how wide their smirk was or how sharp they made their eyes.

That’s why I sighed and moved closer.

“I’m going to get you out,” I promised, casting my gaze down the long stretch of dark dungeon, taking note of the rebuilt walls that Urram had blasted through. “I just need to figure out the locks.”

“Don’t bother,” he said before hanging his head. “It is better that I am in here.”

I frowned as I looked at him, daring another step towards his bars. Placing my hands on two, I watched him carefully as his shoulder sagged.

“What am I to do?” he whispered. I wasn’t sure that he was truly speaking to me and not the gods, not until he looked up at me with watery eyes. “If you let me out of here, Olivia, then I must do it. I must become it. And I do not want it.”

My heart cracked as his words found me, a mirrored conversation to another, with a Prince of another kingdom.

“What?”

“I do not want this role,” he admitted. “I do not want to be King. But if you free me, then I will need to be. Not only that, but I will need to protect my kingdom.” He straightened, slowly and cautiously, before moving closer. I didn’t flinch away from him, only held the sad gaze he offered. “I will come for Raegan, if you let me out.”