The Seven Deadly Kingdoms

Chapter 26

      Adelaide dug through the small chest located at the end of her former bed. It didn't hold much, just a few pairs of plain shirts and leather pants. She snatched the clothing out of the chest, hurriedly shoving them into her satchel.

The sun had already begun to set by the time she had made it to the mysterious building that housed the queen. Luckily, she had been able to slip through the hallways un-noticed, thankful she hadn't run into Toski. Adelaide knew that Flora would be in her office, as she always was, writing signatures and demands on endless documents and letters. The thought of it saddened Adelaide, and if she could, she would whisk away the queen, taking her with her and away from the problems of her oppressed life.

Adelaide threw back the thin blanket on her bed, lifting the straw filled mattress. Resting on the small frame of the bed were three throwing knives, a large dagger and a bow and quiver full of arrows. She had stolen them from the armoury after Toski's assault, never wanting to go a second un-armed again. Putting the various knives in a small leather pack, she shoved aside the disheveled cloths in her satchel, making room for the pack.

It wasn't until she threw the bow and quiver over her shoulder that Adelaide realised her hands were shaking. She frowned, balling her fingers into a fist in an attempt to make it stop. It didn't work.

Adelaide exited her room, making her way through the silent hallways. She was sure now that everyone had gone to dinner and wouldn't be back for at least an hour. All of them but one, that is. Adelaide squinted her eyes, attempting to see the dark parts of the hallways that the lanterns light didn't quite reach. She knew she was alone in the wooden building, but it never felt that way.

A small light shown from one of the rooms Adelaide passed, and deja vu fell heavy on her shoulders. She halted in her tracks, turning her head to peer though the crack in the door. Dread filled her stomach as she recognised the room that was marked floor to ceiling with maps. Adelaide gulped, her lips trembling now, but she couldn't help but step closer to the door. She peaked inside, scanning the room, and to her surprise, it was empty. She let out the breath she didn't know she had been holding and pushed the door open, light from the single lantern flooding the sim hallway.

Adelaide approached the desk, looking down at the various documents. Toski's almost un-readable handwriting was scribbled on each one, And Adelaide didn't bother to try and read them. She stepped around his desk, facing the small drawers that were built into it. She opened them, not feeling sorry for he intrusion. Knives and small vials that held unknown liquids were neatly arranged in the narrow drawer. Adelaide took a few of the knives, but left the glass containers.

The second drawer simply held more documents that were hastily thrown into it. Dots of ink had stained the sides of the drawer from where it had been spilled. Adelaide frowned and closed the drawer.

Adelaide turned to exit the room, no longer interested in the secrets Toski had hidden in the privacy of his office. She felt a sense of empowerment as she walked over the same floorboards that she had disabled Toski on. As she was just about to exit the doorway, Adelaide stopped, turning to look at the walls. The multidimensional maps of each kingdom and their structures hung, swaying with a breeze Adelaide couldn't feel. Circles were dry on places of interest with notes scribbled on their sides, explaining what they were.

Adelaide smirked as she ripped a map of each kingdom off of the walls, folding them neatly before stuffing them into her satchel. She might have needed the valuable information in the future, and stealing something important from Toski was a small bonus.

With a smile, Adelaide snuffed out the lantern and exited the room, making sure there was no evidence that it was her that had ransacked Toski's office. After examining her work, she closed the door and continued down the hallway. She took a left and then a right, and continued until she reached the familiar red door. The sweet scent of pine filled her nose and she could hear the soft sounds of pen on paper coming from the other side of the door.