still be safe.”
“I can use spells, in case Adaranth attacks us. You’re also learning how to use spells, and
I’m sure you can hold your own in a sword battle as well,” Abigast said.
“Definitely,” Rue said. “I’m not afraid of fighting if I have to. I’ve had training. I’m just afraid of the inevitable moment when the sword takes Adaranth’s life. The moment when I see the life leaving his eyes and knowing that I’m responsible. I know it’s not murder, I know that he has to die for the good of the Kingdom, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel like murder. It won’t make it any less difficult or emotional. I’ll never be the same again.”
Maia hugged Rue. “You’re going to be okay. I know we’ve never met before this, but in just this short amount of time that I’ve known you, I can tell that you are a very strong person. I believe in you, Rue. And maybe that’s not saying much, but I hope it’s a little bit of consolation.”
“I appreciate it,” Rue said genuinely.
“Okay, once you’ve finished the job, you’ll go through a secret passage that connects Adaranth’s chambers with mine. We used to use it in the past when Adaranth wasn’t quite so horrible, but it’s been abandoned for years now. I think the guards have even forgotten about it. Once you go through that passage, you’ll be in my chambers, safe with me. I’ll escort you out the castle, and you can go home.”
“That’s it then? Just kill a man and go home, sounds easy,” Rue said sarcastically. “We’re going to make it through this,” Abigast said reassuringly. Somehow, it didn’t sound very reassuring coming from him. The expression on his face showed that he was just as scared as Rue. He had no idea if this would work. He had no idea what would actually happen. So many different scenarios could take place, leaving Rue and Abigast dead or severely injured.
Rue tried her best to put these thoughts aside, but doom seemed imminent no matter what she tried to think about. When Maia hugged her again and left them alone in the room to wait for hours until nightfall, Rue broke down into tears.
Chapter 6
Rue sniffled, her hands trembling too much even to reach up and wipe the snot dripping from her nose. She looked at Abigast who was staring straight ahead, expression blank. He didn’t meet her eyes, perhaps wanting to give her privacy, allowing her to cry without shame. That didn’t stop her from feeling shameful anyway. She had silently promised herself time and time again that she would stop crying, stop being so emotional, stop thinking about Thane, stop worrying about killing Adaranth. But she couldn’t keep any of her promises. The time would come to set the plan into motion in just a couple of hours. It was nearly time to kill Adaranth, and Rue still couldn’t even imagine going through with it.
“You can do this, you can do this,” Abigast whispered. “I know you can.” His words still sounded unsure. There was no way he fully believed them. At least Rue had the company, at least they would both go through this ordeal together. They would both be left scarred, and Rue supposed that was better than being scarred alone.
“We can do this,” Rue said to him, using all of the possible confidence she could gather. Just then, the door swung open, and as Rue braced herself, not sure whether it was
Princess Maia or someone else, she prayed that this plan wouldn’t fail before it even began. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, to her relief, it was Maia who stood before her.
Of course, the relief didn’t last long. Maia’s expression was one of great distress. “What is it?” Rue asked.
“I’m afraid the plan must be delayed until tomorrow morning.”
Both Rue and Abigast sighed deeply. They were getting used to bad news.
Maia apologized. “Adaranth is having a late night tonight. He’s up drinking with friends, making a bigger fool of himself than usual. I tried to persuade him to go to bed, but you know how he doesn’t listen to me. He accused me of treating him like a child, ordering him around as if I was his mother. I was lucky he didn’t slap me. He would have if other people weren’t in the room.” Maia’s eyes glistened, and her nose was pink. She must have been crying, but her voice didn’t hold any evidence. She spoke with a strong, eloquent, voice, regal like the Princess she was. It didn’t match her soft appearance.
“So should we just sleep here then?” Rue asked.
Maia shrugged. “It’s the best option. No one will bother you here. A few minutes before dawn, just make your way towards Adaranth’s chambers. I’ll be there, ready to set off the distraction, and you’ll sneak in and get the job done. It should all be over before the sun even comes up. I know it’s going to be a difficult night to get through, but remember this will end soon. You’ll be able to go home and leave this all behind.”
Abigast frowned. “And you’re completely sure nothing else will change? That Adaranth won’t be awake?”
“He’s drunk on rum right now,” Maia said. “He’ll sleep soundly into the afternoon if his advisors allow him to. Perhaps this is even a blessing in disguise, him delaying the plans. You’ll have a bigger chance of success against him if he’s still intoxicated anyway.”
Rue swore under her breath. “Alright, Maia. We’ll be in a few minutes before dawn, and we’ll get this over with once and for all.”
“I believe in you,” Maia said. “You know I do.” She didn’t reach in for a hug this time. Instead she quickly backed away. “I’m just as nervous as you are,” she whispered, and with that, she was gone.
Rue and Abigast looked at each other, silently preparing themselves for the long night ahead. Neither of them slept even a bit. Rue lay awake staring at the black ceiling, her eyes wide open the entire night. When she opened the door slightly to check the status of the sky, she saw that what felt like a year had only been a handful of hours. The sun was still far from rising, the moon high up in the sky.
“Slept at all yet?” Abigast asked as Rue closed the door. “Not a bit. You?”
Rue could practically see him shaking his head in the dark. “No.”
They didn’t say anything else to each other the rest of the night. When the moon started to vanish, and the earliest signs of the sun appeared in the sky, Rue and Abigast stood up and began to walk towards Adaranth’s chambers, the castle halls empty in the early morning haze. Abigast pulled a hood over himself, shadowing his face. He tucked his beard into his robes, and when Rue looked at him, she didn’t see the friendly wizard who had been her mentor all of these years. He was enshrouded in darkness.
Rue couldn’t think of a disguise to wear. She didn’t think she was very conspicuous as it was, but Abigast insisted she did something to alter her appearance. “For all we know, someone saw Thane with us. Someone could know we were associated with him. That puts you in just as much danger as me.”
“I didn’t grow up in the castle like you did,” Rue said. “Doesn’t matter. We both have to be as safe as possible.”
So Rue tucked back her usually free flowing brown hair, braiding it down her back. She opened her knapsack, finding a satchel of cherries. She smeared them over her lips, creating the illusion of lipstick. Apparently, it was enough to significantly alter her appearance. “It makes your face look pale,” Abigast said. “Like a ghost.”
“And you look like a demon in a hood.”
They ventured into the castle, a demon, and a ghost, heading towards the devil himself. The castle was completely silent, and it really was like they were ghosts floating through it. Rue hoped they wouldn’t actually become ghosts any time soon. Rue couldn’t see Abigast’s face, but she was sure his gaze was darting around, taking in all of the sights of his upbringing. She wondered how he felt right now, being back in the place he hated, about to do something that he would never forget. Of the two of them, who was in the darker place?
“The Prince’s chambers are straight ahead,” Abigast said, raising a finger slightly to gesture towards a set of giant doors, intricately painted in scarlet and gold. The guards stood in front of it, just
as Maia had said they would. The Princess herself was nowhere to be seen.
“What do we do?” Rue whispered. “Wait for her.”
“Are we early?”
“Maybe a few minutes early,” Abigast replied. “Don’t worry, Rue. It’s all going to work out.”
Rue could not stop trembling. She wondered if the guards could see her legs wobbling underneath her. Did they suspect anything? Did they wonder why her lips looked like blood and why a giant shadow stood next to her? Their swords sparkled as a hint of sun hit them through the window. They were deadly sharp. Tools of murder and those guards would not hesitate to run those swords through Rue’s neck.
Abigast grabbed her shoulder, and they headed towards the edge of the corridor, out of view of the guards. “As soon as Maia appears, we make a run for those chambers, you understand?”
Rue nodded. “And if we get caught?”
“Then we fight, Rue. We fight until we win.”
Little did Rue know that those words would stick with her forever. She watched out of the corner of her eye at the hallway, waiting for Maia. Just as Rue was about to collapse from anxiety, Maia appeared, and the guards were pulled away from their posts. Rue and Abigast began to sprint towards the chambers, Rue pulling Abigast behind her as quickly as possible. The old man’s sprint wasn’t much more than a jog, but it was fast enough. Rue caught Maia’s eye and winked, a promise that this was going to work and that everything would be okay. She didn’t stop to gauge whether the guards had even detected her and Abigast or not. For all she knew, she was still safe, and she could stop running before the wheezing wizard had a heart-attack.
Reaching the doors, Rue pulled them open and jumped inside, slamming them shut. Abigast stood in the middle of the living room, gasping for breath. Rue put a finger to her lips as if to say, “breathe quieter, or we’re dead.” Abigast nodded, catching oxygen as silently as he possibly could. Rue caught her appearance in the mirror, noticing the makeshift lipstick had begun to melt, dripping a liquid eerily similar to blood down her lips. Abigast tore his hood off, sweat dripping down his brow. “Too much running for an old man,” he managed.
“Let’s get to Adaranth’s room,” Rue said. She pressed her hand against the knife in her pocket. That hand had hardly left her side since last night. Almost with a sense of paranoia, Rue had checked to make sure that knife was still there; without it, the job would be a guaranteed fail. Abigast could use magic, but Rue wondered how many killing spells existed. She had a feeling there weren’t very many. They were like curse words to Abigast, he had always refused to teach them to her. Probably to avoid Rue ever becoming like Sluforn and probably to keep those memories of Sluforn at bay, far away deep in Abigast’s subconscious under lock and key.
They ignored the lavishness of the apartment – the piles of jewels seemingly endlessly placed on golden mantles and carved-oak armoires. They ignored the silk blankets and suits of armor placed at every corner. They ignored the intricate designs woven into every curtain. They ignored the filthiness of living in excess while peasants just yards away starved.
Finding Adaranth’s room was not difficult. It was the room with the most luxurious set of doors in the entire apartment. Stained-glass windows adorned it, revealing the image of a bed behind it. A set of velvet curtains hung over the door, drawn wide open, making the outline of Adaranth easy to see.
Rue remembered Maia’s words. He had to be asleep. Absolutely had to. If there were any chance he was awake right now, he would immediately see Abigast and Rue strolling into his room. Those doors were gigantic, no way they could be silently opened, no way someone wouldn’t see them being opened even if they were quiet. Rue took a breath and opened the doors painfully slowly. When they were opened all the way, revealing Adaranth sound asleep in his massive bed, Rue breathed a sigh of relief.
Abigast followed behind her as she tip-toed towards Adaranth’s bed. Rue pulled the knife from her pocket, watching as it gleamed in the sunlight. The sun was rising too quickly. Soon it would filter in from all of the windows and Adaranth would awake. Rue had a very short time frame to get this done. As she walked across the room, venturing closer and closer to the sleeping criminal, she felt a sense of doom.
Not that she hadn’t had this feeling for days already, but suddenly, it was much stronger, almost palpable. Rue’s heart began to pound, and was that a second heart she heard beating? Abigast was too far, on the other side of the room, near the secret passage waiting for their quick escape. That was not his heart Rue could hear. Adaranth was asleep, wasn’t he? He certainly looked that way, his eyes closed, head rested against the pillow, body splayed on soft sheets. He looked as if he was experiencing a peaceful slumber, unaware he was about to meet death, yet just as Rue looked down at Adaranth, a knife came soaring upwards, and Rue screamed.
Chapter 7
For that moment, everything moved in slow motion. Rue braced herself for the cold, steely knife, waiting for it to sink into her chest like someone digging into a fruit. She waited for the sound of it slicing through skin and tissue, stabbing into her heart. She waited for the gush of blood to pour out. She waited for the excruciating pain and inevitable death. She hoped death would come first, that she wouldn’t hear it, feel it, see it. As she screamed, she closed her eyes, silently praying. Rue didn’t worship any deity, but she figured there had to be some god who would listen to her pleads. She figured Thane had to be in some after life waiting for her to meet him. “If I die, let me see Thane again. Please.”
Just as Rue’s eyes fluttered open, she saw Abigast, diving across the room. Though time seemed to have come to a near halt, she could tell Abigast was moving more quickly than he ever had. He was leaping with the energy of a man three times his junior, with fervor Rue didn’t know he was capable of. When she realized what he was doing, her eyes went wide. Her gaze shifted from the knife nearing its plunge to Abigast’s frail body, making its way straight into the knife’s path.
“Abigast!” Rue screamed, forgetting her own plight. But it was too late, Abigast pushed her out of the way, flinging her to the wall, just as the knife sank into his abdomen. Rue watched in horror as the gruesome scene played out, still in slow motion. Adaranth’s sadistic laugh tore through the room, echoing in Rue’s mind. Abigast sighed weakly as the knife dug deep into him as if it was simply a papercut. He didn’t cry out like someone in pain. He didn’t so much as wince. Maybe he couldn’t even register the pain. He had to be in shock. But as Adaranth laughed maniacally, repeatedly stabbing the poor wizard, Abigast just looked at Rue, his expression blank. If he were in pain, he wouldn’t show it to her. He was protecting her, shielding her from the true agony. But Rue knew better. She was not a little girl. She slowly shook her head, silently telling him it was okay to show her the truth. It was okay to be in pain.
A tear dropped down Abigast’s cheek. By now, Adaranth had put the knife down, the bloody instrument staining the white sheets of the bed. He wasn’t laughing anymore. He was watching Rue and Abigast’s silent exchange like a predator stalking its prey. He was waiting for Rue to let her guard down so he could strike. Abigast’s eyes shifted towards Adaranth, saying, “don’t let him get you.” Rue nodded slowly. She wasn’t one to let her guard down. No matter how distracted she was.
“Your friend is dying,” Adaranth slyly said. “Any moment now.” He laughed. “I wish it was you. I don’t like killing old men very much. It’s not like they’re ever going to live much longer anyway.”
Never had Rue been so furious. She fought the urge to pounce on the Prince, to slice his fragile throat open, but she couldn’t. Not now. He was too far away. Abigast had pushed Rue all the way to the other side of the room. If she were to get up now, Adaranth would rush at her, reach her first, and kill her before she so much as had a chance to land a blow. She couldn’t run either. She wouldn’t. No way would Rue leave Abigast here alone. It wouldn’t be right. He deserved to die in peace, surrounded by friends, not in the presence of one of h
is worst enemies. But what could Rue do? She was stuck, a prisoner in Adaranth’s dungeon.
“Do you really think you had a chance against me?” Adaranth asked, now pacing the room. “An old man and a little girl? What power do you think you had that could match mine? I’m not an idiot you know. I heard you the moment you walked into the room. I know my wife’s been talking to you too. I had her followed.”
Why hadn’t Rue thought something like that would happen? How could she have been so stupid? Of course he had Maia followed. Adaranth was a spoiled, evil, monster, but he was smart too. She should have given him more credit.
“I know who you are,” Adaranth said, kicking Abigast’s leg. “You lived here once. I remember seeing you around when I was a little kid. You and that Sluforn fellow were brothers. Always arguing, squabbling like a married couple. I heard he got violent with you, drove you out of here. It’s a shame, you were the nicer one. I would have liked to have you as the wizard here. Maybe you could have helped sort me out.”
Abigast wouldn’t look him in the eyes. Adaranth kicked him again. “Look at me!” He spat. “I am your Prince! I am your leader!”
Abigast didn’t look at him. Adaranth kicked him yet again, harder. The wizard still wouldn’t show pain. Rue’s heart ached for him. All she wanted was to lift him up and get out of this vile place away from this demon of a person. Abigast was losing so much blood, the color now nearly drained from his face. He didn’t look like the mentor she had lived with for so many years.
“Whatever,” Adranth scoffed. He turned his attention towards Rue. “You’re a tiny thing,” he said. “A little mouse. Did the little mouse really think it stood a chance against the big bad cat?” Rue wanted to smack the smirk off of Adaranth’s ugly face.
She was not a mouse. Rue swore at the Prince, standing up to face him. Adaranth’s eyes lit up with fire. “What did you just say to me?”
The Apprentice Page 4
