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“Okay but be careful.”
“I will,” he nods.
“How can I get to Zalith from here?”
“Head back through the passages and stick to each left turn. You’ll come to a vent leading out into the kitchen pantry, where you’ll then sneak to the art room. It’ll be the first room on the left on the next floor. At the back of that room is a collection of utensils and cutlery. Pull on the golden three-pronged fork and another passageway will open up. Keep straight, and you should reach Zalith’s room.”
“Stick left, head upstairs, art room, fork, keep straight… Okay, I think I’ve got it.”
“Good luck, Rory. With you by my side, I know Zalith can make it out alive.”
With that, Slyth bows and disappears out the nearest door. I turn around and go back through the dark passageways, feeling my way along the walls for each left turn. Rodans of various sizes scurry between my legs.
The passage grows darker I advance but I don’t panic, my mind remembering how important it is I reach Zalith. Right now, I care more for his safety than I do for mine. After a few minutes, I turn the final corner, spotting a light coming up ahead.
I step out into the back of the kitchen pantry, my legs and back aching from crouching for so long. I’m surrounded by shelves upon shelves of ingredients, some of which I’ve never seen before. To the left is an open door, where a group of naga stand outside.
“They must be the chefs… Best not get spotted by them.”
I sneak past the door and come out into a long corridor. To the right are an endless amount of doors running down the hallway, to my left are the stairs to the next floor. After a quick glance around for guards, I sneak forward, moving up the stairs.
“First door on the left…” I mutter, spotting the appropriate door as I come to the topmost step. I duck behind a pillar as a guard walks by. Coming to the door, I silently turn the handle and tiptoe in.
Hung on the walls is a magnificent collection of portraits, which I presume to be royal figures from naga history. Also here is an exhibition of treasures, but there’s no time to marvel as I spot the cutlery set at the back of the room. I lay a hand on the golden three-pronged fork and pull down, causing a nearby bookshelf of vintage books to slide to the right.
Behind it is the second passageway. I waste no time entering, moving straight as quickly as I can until I come to a dead end. An inconspicuous rock sticks out from the wall. Pushing it, the wall opens, revealing a shocked Zalith sitting on his bed.
“Rory!” he exclaims, rising to his feet.
I run forward, embracing him with a kiss.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I whisper, burying my face in his chest.
“You too, I was so worried that they got to you.”
I pull back from the hug, remembering the secret meeting.
“Zalith, Slyth and I saw everything.”
“Then you know my parents have been brainwashed,” he groans.
“Yes, but that’s not all,” I explain. “There’s more to the story. After you left, Vippera and her father met with some assassins.”
“Slow down,” orders Zalith. “Did you just say assassins?”
“Yes,” I say shakily. “They’re planning on killing you tomorrow night during something called The Hunt.”
“Bastards…”
“Slyth is trying to track them down but we didn’t get a look at their faces. All we know is they’re going to try and kill you.”
Zalith takes a seat on the edge of his bed.
“This isn’t good…”
“We need to get you out of here,” I say insistently.
He looks up at me with a brave face.
