Elvirund | ✔️

Chapter Thirty Three

I shuddered as a shock ran through one wing. My stomach hurt, my head pounded, my arms shook. Hallucinations danced in front of my eyes and I shut them desperately. I had no perception of time passage and I had long since given up on trying to figure it out. Every so often my shoulder muscles would convulse in a shower of feathers. My mind was scattered in a shiny haze, no clear direction to my thoughts.

I wanted out.

Raphael rested his head against one hand, pacing back and forth in the main hall of the palace. There was no way he could sneak himself into Alethia's cell, regardless of the guards that he had chosen himself. Even his fame couldn't get him everywhere. He would have to ask the Fourth Elder.

"Summon the Fourth Elder, please."

The young page boy nodded and ran out, returning shortly with an aghast Fourth Elder in tow. Raphael continued his distraught pacing, ignoring the Fourth until he spoke.

"What is it you need, Princeling?"

"I need someone to break Alethia out of her cell."

The Fourth's already pale face faded to a ghostly white and he shook his head. There was no way. His allegiances to the Prince didn't stretch that far, and risking the ire of the First Elder was too much. The girl couldn't possibly have been that important.

"Then I am not the person."

"Please! I need your help. Have I asked so much of you in the past?"

"What are you planning? Even someone of your caliber cannot do this just because of that!"

"I know! That's why I'm not personally doing it."

"You were thinking of doing it yourself?"

"Yes. I was." He muttered.

"Prince, do you take me for a fool? Worse, do you plan on playing the fool? I thought better of you."

"Jophiel, I cannot abandon Alethia!"

"And I cannot abandon my duty. I'm sorry, but I will not help you this time, Princeling."

"Not even for the Archangels?"

Jophriel stopped, waiting for a long moment before sighing softly. Without turning around, he gave his answer.

"No. Not even for them."

Caphriel opened her eyes and shook herself awake. Once more, she'd fallen asleep tending the pot, and Sibriel was sitting by her, stirring. His other hand was occupied by a sleeping owl.

"You looked so peaceful, leaning against the windowsill. I couldn't wake you."

"You should have. I don't do enough around here, especially since it's me you're helping."

"No, really, it's alright. This is my job, after all. Anyway, you forget that I knew Alethia as well."

She rolled her eyes and conceded. He wasn't wrong.

"Is it tonight? The breakout?"

"Yes, you have your days correct. It is tonight."

"Raphael has been silent, so we should be all set."

Just then, a large white owl floated in through the window and landed at Caphriel's wrist. Dropping a small envelope, the owl peered solemnly at her and hooted once.