In a land where power and deception reign supreme, two unlikely heroes find their fates intertwined in a battle against a malevolent force.
Kelvin, a daring thief, gets caught in a perilous mission to steal a prized horse, only to discover that his...
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I woke to the murmur of voices outside my cell. Straining to hear, I caught snippets of the guards' conversation.
"Petersburg has fallen," one guard said, his voice heavy with disbelief. I've never seen His Majesty this furious, not since the rebellion was started."
"Yeah," the other guard replied. "It's like a storm's about to break over all of us."
Their conversation stopped abruptly, plunging me back into silence. Hours passed as I sat in the darkness, my mind racing. I almost drifted off again when the faint sound of metal moving jolted me awake. I stood up, my heart pounding. The cell door creaked open, revealing Vladimir.
"What are you doing here?" I whispered, my voice trembling.
"I'm here to help you escape," Vladimir said quietly.
He stepped closer, but I took a step back. "Why should I trust you? You work for... a monster."
Vladimir's expression sobered, and he cleared his throat. "I know it's crazy, but you're going to have to trust me. The rebels have taken down Petersburg, and I have to get you out of Zlatograd before tensions make it harder to smuggle you out of the city." He pulled his shirt aside, revealing the phoenix tattoo on his chest again.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.
Vladimir sighed. "It's a symbol of the rebellion." I hadn't known that before. We stared at each other for a moment, the weight of his words sinking in. "I'm on your side," he continued.
I nodded slowly. I'd never thought of joining the rebellion, probably because it was very new. Only a few years old.
"We have to hurry, though, if we're going to get out of here without getting caught." Vladimir broke me out of my thoughts.
"You have to trust me, though. Are you in?" Vladimir asked, his eyes locked on mine. I nodded, trying to steady my nerves.
"Outstanding. Now to take care of your hair..." Vladimir pulled out a pair of scissors, and I instinctively backed away.
"I'm not getting my hair cut," I said firmly.
Vladimir sighed in annoyance. Just then, a servant woman entered, carrying a bundle of clothes. She curtsied quickly.
"I heard the rumors, but I didn't actually think..." She squealed in excitement, but Vladimir quickly shushed her.
"Careful! We need to get out of here," he groaned. "We've wasted valuable time already. I'll work on the chains; you help her change."
Vladimir unsheathed his sword and, with a swift motion, broke the chains holding me.
"Why did you use your sword?" I asked, half-startled and half-annoyed.
"Ignatius didn't give me the keys. The cuffs you're wearing are special and need the magical key that he has. I think he's already getting suspicious of me, but it won't be a problem. After I get you to the peninsula, I won't be crossing the border again."
