The Death Kingdom

Chapter Twenty

I move before I can think better of it. I'm a flurry of motion that's only thinking one thing: to disarm the king of Delphine.

If he truly has an immense amount of extra strength there's not going to be much I can do without a weapon, so I need that dagger.

I creep up from behind and use the base of my metal candle holder and slam it as hard as I can into the back of the king's skull. Before I even take in if my hit had any effect, I'm sweeping my leg underneath the king. He falls to his knees and I round on him, slamming the heel of my foot into his hand that's holding the dagger. When it clatters to the floor I clamor for it, afraid to look at the king.

"You fool!" the king roars, as I swipe up the dagger. I swing it at him, without thinking and it digs through the skin of his chest, getting stuck.

Horror and bewilderment course through me, he wasn't kidding about tougher skin, I barely broke the surface with a wild swing. But I did break enough for some blood to start pouring out.

"S—Saige?" Prince Kavi sputters, confusion written all over his face.

I reach for the dagger again, but this time the king is prepared and his hand grasps my forearm in a tight squeeze. I wince from the pain, but it triggers my training and I quickly work to break his hold on me. I manage to twist his arm enough that he has to let me go and I go for the dagger again, luckily getting a solid hold on the handle. I yank with all my might and the dagger pulls free.

The king struggles to stand, taking a second longer and it's all I need. I slam the hilt of the dagger into the side of his head and the king falls. Hopefully, it's enough.

I whirl on Prince Kavi. "We have to go!"

"What the bloody Nyer are you doing down here?" he asks, wasting precious seconds.

"Saving your royal ass, now let's move!" I shove him toward the exit, breaking out into a run as I grip his arm in mine to make sure he's moving.

What have I done? I acted without thinking and now Prince Kavi and I are running for our lives from the king with no way out. I'm an absolute idiot.

We race down the corridor I took to the room, the only thought in my head is that maybe there's a chance we can get out the service entrance, but at this point, I'm not even sure if we'll make it out of these hallways. My future has never looked so grim, death has never been this close. It's a fire under my feet that fuels each step forward, the fear nagging at me to go, go, go.

I swing around the first bend taking each passageway back to the servant's quarters as if I've always known how to go. Prince Kavi's footsteps follow each of mine, his steps slightly sloppy and haggard. I'm surprised he's able to move considering the fact his father just tried to murder him.

I have no idea how I'm going to get him through the servant's quarter, he's going to be seen, the hallways at night might clear out, but above there are servants who work throughout the night to prepare things for the next day. We'll be seen no matter what.

My mind races, and I call out to the prince behind my shoulder as we run. "Is it common for you to have relations with servants?"

Prince Kavi's incredulous voice reaches me a second later. "Why would you ever ask me such a thing? And at a time like this?"

I want to turn around and punch him. "We're about to be running through the servant's quarter, it would be nice if you had a relationship or two with a servant so it wouldn't be so strange for them to see you down there. We can't have the king know."