Fight or Flight

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Mere moments later, Alannah was leading us toward the castle. When I had first set foot on Erralian docks, its elegance had appeared humble and quaint from across the distance. Once our party neared closer than a stone's throw, however, the details of the structure began to emerge.

The main, outer gate was sizable and smooth– only creatures with the capability of flight would be able to scale its walls if the gate was sealed. Wrought iron bars perched at attention along the top of the parapet. Upon closer observation, the metal had been twisted into both artful designs and sharp defenses. The security didn't end there, though. Every fifty paces a mechanized contraption pointed to the sky with a deadly poise, as if waiting for an attack from the clouds. The foreign instruments were each loaded with an arrow, I recognized, the stone heads winking in the dimmed, evening oil lamps. My stomach flipped as I imagined what it would feel like to be struck by such a mortal weapon. These must have been the anti-air weapons Caulder had mentioned at my last meeting in Riem.

The unnatural stench of metal and oil clung to the thick air, undercut by the smells of the vast freshly-manicured lawn.

As we passed through the ornate gates, Vex whistled low. "Some job your folks must have. Royal librarians? Chief scholars?"

"Something like that," Alannah murmured, avoiding our eyes.

"Alannah," Finnian's voice was low. "When you said your parents worked at the palace I didn't think—"

"—They do work here," she said, her voice tight. "Like I said; it's complicated."

I exchanged a glance with Eylan, who wordlessly inched closer to my side. This all felt very wrong.

"Wait here," she said, her voice strained. "I'll be back soon."

As she disappeared into the palace, Finnian rounded on us. "Alright, I can't be the only one who thinks this is off."

"Agreed," Vex nodded, her eyes narrowed. "I've known Alannah for years and I hadn't the slightest idea that her parents held such high positions here."

"Perhaps they're more than just employees. Advisors to the king and queen, maybe?" Eylan frowned.

Before we could speculate further, Alannah returned. Her face was pale and drawn.

"They want to see all of you," she shrunk back. "Now."

As we followed her through the gilded corridors, I remembered the crown stashed inside Alannah's safe. Is this where it had come from?

Finally, we reached a set of massive double doors. Alannah paused, taking a deep breath before pushing them open.

The circular room beyond was breathtaking, its domed ceiling the shade of a cloudless sky. But it was the raised dais at the center that drew our attention - and the two figures seated upon ornate thrones. I almost thought they were painted statues until one of them blinked. These must be Alannah's parents.

"May I present," her voice rang out, clear and formal, "Their Royal Majesties, King Kaius and Queen Lyra of Errals."

The silence that followed was deafening. The air had been sucked from my lungs. A little over a week ago I had been mortally frightened of Errals, of its humans and the horrendous stories I'd been told. Now, I stood before its king and queen.

Beside me, Finnian had gone rigid, his face shadowed with betrayal. He'd known Alannah much longer than me, and I couldn't even begin to understand what he must be feeling.

"Alannah," he breathed. "What—what does this mean?"

Vex's usual composure had also cracked, her nostrils flaring with frustration. "All this time," her voice was tight, "you're a princess?"