Ezekiel Geimhreadh
"That's for me to decide." Turning back as his hand rose in answer to slam against the bars with a rattling thump and sizzle, I continued down the dimly lit hallway without another glance back.
"I have an obligation to keep her safe! I will, Ezekiel," Rowan's shouts threatened my back as we left him and his temporarily muted neighbor to their little corner of the prison. It wasn't long before the half-blood's violent hums that followed after us turned into shouts that faded the further we travelled. It only took one door to silence them altogether.
But we had to pass a few more before we were clear of any unwanted ears.
"The others have everything ready and are waiting for us at the pools," Cedric immediately began, tucking away the phone he had been communicating with one of them through as the last door, or first when entering, sealed shut behind us. "Emerson was able to access human satellite footage of the location. It confirms the Autumn Prince's claims that nothing awaits us," he added as we strode past the stairwell that led to the upper levels of the prison that housed those serving time for petty crimes or their fines that went unpaid. "Just the blackened remains of the dwelling that once stood on the land."
The house that no longer stands.
"Do we need to worry about drawing local attention?" I asked, turning down the path that led to the barracks. We'd cut through them to make our way to the castle that housed the natural pools where we would meet the others.
Cedric shook his head no. "It's located near the end of a paved street in a quiet rural area. Wooded land isolates the plot from the neighboring residences. It should provide enough cover for us to make it in and out unseen."
"Did he find a portal point?" Knowing Emerson, the answer would be yes.
Cedric gave another nod. "A stream cuts through the back end of the property. It should more than suffice."
As a pure-blooded winter royal, I didn't need to use a portal, not when the same magic that they employed to enable travel was the kind that ran through my veins. It was Winter's gift. One that was limited by the finite magic contained within my body compared to the magic a body of water could draw from the surrounding earth and nature to keep a portal open. Without a key, I could only open one for me and one other to pass through. If I was lucky. For four large fae, a key and an old-fashioned portal were necessary.
Still a far better gift than the pair of shimmering wings that Rowan's blood gave him.
Cedric spent the walk to the barracks combing over details, big and small, while I struggled to keep my thoughts from wandering into dangerous territory. A territory they had been frequenting a little too often as of late.
Trying to block out the pessimism trying to encroach on the buzz that came with obtaining a new and promising lead, I shifted my focus to our surroundings as we made our way up through the barracks. The old building was milling with soldiers that had Cedric quieting as we passed through towards the exit. Some younger soldiers stopped in their tracks to greet us, their backs straightening as their eyes lowered in respect. Others, the ones that didn't run at the sight of me in fear of catching me at the wrong moment, knew it was unnecessary. I didn't require such formalities of those who were willing to risk their lives for me and this court.
As we made our way to the exit and out into the frigid afternoon air, a familiar voice reached my ears that the cold nipped in greeting me. Following it off to the side, I spotted Aster and Rory near the entrance to the living dorms. Aster was bursting with energy as she animatedly recounting last night's events to Rory who was listening with half an ear while her eyes skimmed the pages of the file she held in her hands.
