Wild Rider (Dragon Castaway Book 1) [Complete] {2018 Wattys Longlist}

Chapter 45

Moving quickly Jake doffed his robes, retied the sash around his waist and checked his gear. He knew that the fall wouldn't have killed the little prick and even though he was sure the cesspool wouldn't be located on the hill with the palace, he wouldn't have very long before Elgenon returned and raised the alarm.

Climbing into the rafters he was relieved to see that Jadiak had indeed been able to hide Wyena's sword there. Retrieving the blade Jake strapped it to his back before moving carefully towards the door and cracking it open.

He stepped out when he saw that the coast was clear and made a b-line for the stairs.

Keeping his ears open for any sign of trouble Jake slowly descended deeper into the palace. He heard no one however, and the coast was clear as he made his way onto the floor below.

The corridors under the palace were dark and dingy, the stone walls and low ceiling illuminated only by a few torches lining the walls.

Jake stopped dead as he saw a new light appear at the end of the tunnel. Judging by the flicker quality it was from another torch, only this one was moving straight towards him.

"Shit, guards!" Jake thought frantically. Looking around for a place to hide Jake doubled back and ducked into a small alcove near the stairs.

Holding his breath, he waited as the pair walked buy. His luck held, and the pair kept going not bothering to look back as they ascended the stairs.

Checking to make sure that no one else was coming, Jake emerged from the passage and sprinted down the corridor, hoping to make it to the end before the next patrol came by.

"I hope I'm in the right place" Jake thought as he vaulted down another set of stairs. As if to answer his question he saw several cells lining the hall as he emerged into the next corridor, some were closed with sleeping people inside, but others were empty with the doors left open. A bright light was coming from a chamber at the end of the hall and he heard several guards talking loudly.

"This seems like a very heavy detail for just one prisoner." A deep voice said as Jake flattened himself against the wall and edged closer, hoping that the shadows would provide adequate concealment.

"Lord Rindar is expecting trouble with the Dieron girl, now keep to your post and shut up!" a new voice said harshly.

"Bah!" The first man replied dismissively. "Who in their right mind would challenge a dragon lord in such a way? They'd have to be positively suicidal. Besides, no one's getting through that lock without the keys and your fellow Vestarii have reported that nothing has happened around them."

"Be that as it may, he expects trouble, therefore, we should expect trouble, if you can get that through your thick head!" the harsh voiced man replied in a sharp rebuke.

Sticking to the shadows Jake moved closer to the chamber and took a quick peak inside. Four guards, one in the telltale uniform of the Vestarii stood around a thick iron door.

"What do you want to bet that that's my target" Jake thought withdrawing back into the shadows. He had to find a way to get rid of them without raising any premature alarms.

"Gonna have to split one or two of them off first" he muttered, an idea forming in his mind as he looked back towards the row of cells lining the corridor.

Doubling back Jake walked up to one of the closed cells and banged loudly on the bars, causing the occupant to start shouting expletives as he backed into an empty cell adjacent to the one he'd just stirred up.