The Twilight Children//The School for Good and Evil

48 ~ The Hallway of Paintings

. : Sebastian of Havfrue : .

Sebastian tilted his head back to stare at the tall cobblestone walls of Villeneuve. It had been years since he had last been, but he had always loved the joyous air that surrounded the great Ever kingdom. The castle was cozy, with candles in every corner, and the marketplace took up most of the lower city. 

Merlin had said that the safe house was inside the walls.

There was only one problem. They were stuck on the outside.

Villeneuve's walls only opened for the rightful ruler, the heir, and those who had permission from the monarch or heir to enter. Even the Queen needed permission to enter. It had been that way for centuries.

Unfortunately for Sebastian and the rest of the group, they had no way in.

"How are we supposed to get in?" Tedros asked. "Unless any of you have the rose brooch and can mysteriously get us in."

Sebastian scanned the group. Tedros had walked with him most of the way, the both of them catching up for hours. Sebastian told his old friend how he had discovered that he had magic similar to Laura's that favoured water-- obviously leaving out the part about the Council and his panic-- and Tedros had told him about his time in the reader's world.

Behind him, Sophie and Hort were both dressed impractically and shivered. The sun was nothing more than a small spot in the sky, a steady drip vanishing each time he glanced at it. He could feel the pull in his magic.

Merlin waved his hand to acknowledge Tedros' question but didn't say anything. He and Laura had walked together most of the way, after the surprising display of affection between the two. Sebastian's heart twinged with jealousy at their casual familiarity.

"Let's go," Merlin offered no more explanation. 

Together, Sebastian watched as Laura and Merlin stepped forward. Laura tugged up the hood of the cloak over her hair and pulled up the face covering so only her brown eyes gleamed through. Sebastian watched with mild confusion. What did she have to hide? As far as he knew, Laura had never been to Villeneuve.

Laura and Merlin made it within ten metres of the walls and stopped. The cobblestone groaned before the wall began to peel back and separate, the ancient stones folding in on themselves.

Sebastian watched it happen, his eyes wide. Eventually, a wide archway formed, and the rest of the group scurried forward to catch up with Merlin and Laura.

Sebastian followed suit as they passed through the arch and into the fairytale kingdom of Villeneuve.

Four guards, dressed in the pine green with gold accent uniform, and carrying sharp rapiers, stopped them. The first, a captain of sorts, based on the emblem on her chest, spoke. "What is your business here?"

"We are here to meet with his royal majesty, King Alard and her royal majesty Queen Bella. We have news of the war." 

The captain nodded, apparently accepting Merlin's excuse. Although the wall wouldn't have opened had the King not known they were coming. 

The captain scanned their group and nodded her head in respect when she noticed both Sebastian and Tedros. "I will not keep you. His Majesty will be expecting you. I'll send notice that you've arrived."