Page 121 of The Awakening of Essensia

The other man grunted. “We’d have had longer if you’d used the right key.”

“Jurah?” Vaelira peered beneath his hood.

“There’ll be time for a reunion later,” Jurah said flatly. He grabbed her arm and shoved her out of the cell.

Vaelira hurried after Axel, with Jurah bringing up the rear. “We have to get Freya,” she said.

“Who’s Freya?”

“My friend. They took her.”

“There’s no one else here,” Jurah replied, placing his hand on her shoulder so she wouldn’t slow.

“Are you sure?”

“Your cell is the furthest back. We would have seen.”

Worry and hope warred inside her as they rushed up the stairs. Maybe Freya had escaped, or maybe… No. Freya was not dead. Vaelira would get out, regroup, and find her.

Axel cracked open the dungeon door, slipped through and closed it silently behind him. A moment later, he returned, nodding for them to follow.

At one end of the corridor warm light glowed, and at the other there was only darkness. Jurah covered the lantern with his cloak and hurried into the dark.

They had turned countless corners when low, muffled voices drifted towards them, echoing faintly off the stone. Axel swore under his breath. “No one is meant to be down here.”

“They weren’t here when we came in,” Jurah bit back.

“Well, they’re here now,” Axel hissed.

Jurah narrowed his eyes and shoved the lantern into Axel’s hands. He straightened and threw back his hood, striding ahead.

“What is he doing?” Vaelira said.

“Nothing smart,” Axel muttered. “Hopefully his bluff works.”

Vaelira gnawed on her lip, tasting blood. Jurah wasn’t King’s Guard and had no authority here. Hopefully whoever was down there didn’t know that.

Jurah disappeared into the room ahead, and his muffled voice came out stern and commanding.

Chairs scraped. Someone shouted. Glass shattered.

Axel cursed, and they ran.

A man flew out of the room, crashing into the opposite wall. Axel grabbed him by the neck and slammed his head into the stone. He crumpled, unconscious.

Vaelira entered behind him, bound hands raised. Jurah was fending off two guards. A small table lay overturned, chairs scattered, playing cards and broken glass littered the floor. Axel moved in beside him. The last two guards were down in seconds, no match for two commanders.

Axel barked a laugh. “If someone told me a week ago, I’d be fighting at your side, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Jurah chuckled, out of breath. He nodded to the door.

One of the guards groaned, clutching at his stomach. Vaelira kicked him in the head. He slumped, silent. Jurah frowned.

“What?” she said. “Do you want him to remember your face once they realise I’m gone?”

“Good point.”

They passed corridor after corridor, deeper than Vaelira thought the palace even stretched. Every time they turned a corner, she expected to run into a patrol, expected to be hauled back and executed before she could attempt another escape, but they saw no one and heard nothing but their breath and boots on stone.