Snow White Queen [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Chapter Thirty-Two

"If we're going to get into the castle, we need to be careful. Even with Lilia gone, they're still going to be vigilant. Many people in the castle are still loyal to her."

Rays of sunlight were just barely peeking up over the horizon as they planned. Neva couldn't recall another time when she'd been this nervous about something. She'd never wanted anything as badly as she wanted this to succeed. If they could pull this off, if they could get in and out of the castle and get information about what Lilia was planning, it would be a huge advantage to them.

They spent the daylight hours planning. Using the bits and pieces of information they had been able to gather, they debated different plans and contemplated their chances of success.

After about three hours, they settled on a plan. They'd enter through a secret door that Neva had used frequently in her childhood. She was certain that not even Lilia knew about it; she hadn't used it since before her mother had died. They would remain hidden to the best of their ability. If they were seen, they would kill, but only as a last resort. They'd snoop around for a bit and see if they could find any information about what Lilia was planning, and possibly why she had left the castle, if she had left for a reason other than fear. They'd have to be brief; they had to be gone before sunrise.

Their plans settled, the group went to sleep, planning to get some rest before what would undoubtedly be a difficult and harrowing mission.

~~~

Neva paced around her bedroom, frustrated at not being able to go outside. It was nighttime, so there wasn't any risk. She couldn't understand why her father was being so strict. It's not like she wanted to go far, she just didn't want to be trapped any longer.

Someone tapped gently on her door.

"Go away!" Neva whined.

"It's me, Neva," Cassandra called through the door. "Can I come in?"

Neva wanted to be angry, to yell at her to go away again, but it was her mother. Cassandra had always supported her, even when Aldaren had wanted to lock her away.

Neva jumped up off her bed to open the door. Cassandra smiled sweetly at her daughter. Instead of coming in, she beckoned Neva to follow her out. Intrigued, Neva obliged.

Cassandra led Neva through the castle and down several flights of stairs. Neva asked several times where they were going, but Cassandra only gave vague answers, which made Neva even more curious.

They reached the bottom floor. Cassandra led her to a secluded part of a castle and stopped at what seemed to be an ordinary wall. Neva was about to ask what they were doing there when Cassandra tapped a seemingly ordinary brick to reveal a secret door.

Neva looked in wonder down the secret tunnel it revealed. Cassandra smiled down at her. "I know you want to go outside, so let's go."

Together, they went down the tunnel. Clearly, it wasn't tended to much. The stones were cracked and moss was growing on the walls.

The tunnel stretched on for what felt like miles. Neva was starting to grow bored.

A sudden draft of wind blew through the tunnel. Neva shivered reflexively. "We're almost there," Cassandra whispered.

The tunnel opened up to the world just ahead. Neva could see the moon and stars from where she was standing; she could feel the brisk night air, a stark contrast from the stuffy castle she had been confined in.

Cassandra kept a gentle but firm grip on Neva's shoulder so she couldn't go any further, but for the first time in a long time, she felt free.

Neva jerked awake on the cold stone floor. It took a second for her to remember where she was.