The Lady Knight

Chapter 18

                The dark corridor stretched on for what seemed like miles. Alex held back a cough, dust filling her lungs with every breath she took. Rats scurried past them, their squeaking seeming unnaturally loud in the cramped hallway. 

                Blade stopped abruptly. Alex skidded to a stop, just barely catching herself before she crashed into his back. She glared at the back of his head. He seemed to be making a habit of this. 

                He released her wrist, stepping towards the stone wall until his nose was nearly pressed against it. Alex watched curiously as he squinted for a moment before placing his finger on the wall. A rat bumped into Alex's foot, drawing her attention. She easily knocked it away, turning back to Blade. 

                Her eyebrows rose in surprise. The piece of metal that she could now see was a key was lodged in between two stones. Slowly, Blade turned the key. 

                Orange light filled the corridor as the whole section of the wall shifted. An outline of a doorway took shape, the stones flawlessly moving together until a gap appeared in the wall. Blade looked back to Alex and motioned towards the gap with his head before ducking down and squeezing his way through. Alex quickly followed.

                The gap led into a large room that seemed familiar to Alex. They were standing in a doorway high up on the wall. Alex was about to step forward when Blade's hand shot out and pushed her back. She stumbled and glared at him. He jutted his chin towards where Alex had been planning to step.

                A gasp lodged in her throat as she looked down. There were no stairs like she had expected. There was no way down but the straight drop down to the floor. Based on the current height they were at, Alex was not willing to go for that option. 

                She then noticed that it was the room with the round table from earlier. Now, only one man remained. 

                King Orpheus had removed his armour and now wore a simple green shirt and dark pants. His snowy hair stood up in random places and Alex could see the dark circles under his eyes. The king looked absolutely exhausted. Alex felt her heart break for the overworked man below. A map of the country was spread out on the table, black ink marking the main territory of the Dark Ones. 

                Alex's eyes widened as the king had a sudden coughing fit, clutching his chest in pain. She wanted to rush down to him but the look in Blade's eyes told her not to. King Orpheus reddened in the face. Alex stared in horror as specks of blood flew onto the table. Gradually he calmed and collapsed into his seat, panting. 

                Alex sharply turned to Blade, who was watching her silently. Ducking his head, he returned to the dark corridor. Alex glanced back at King Orpheus one more time before following after him. Blade closed the gap, grunting as he shouldered the stones all the way shut. They walked back in silence, the only sound being the squeaking of rats echoing through the hall.

                Alex waited until they returned to the courtyard before speaking. "What was that?!" she demanded. Her heart was pounding, her legs feeling jittery. She clenched her fist to stop her shaking fingers.

                Blade grew somber, "King Orpheus is sick."

                Alex felt her heart stop in her chest. Her breaths grew laboured and shallow. A sinking feeling in her gut put her even more on edge. 

                "That's not all?" her whispered words came out as more of a statement than a question.

                Blade reluctantly shook his head. He hesitated, looking at her face almost wearily.

                "Go on then, just tell me." Alex was feeling light-headed, "Just get it over with."

                He remained silent for a moment.

                "King Orpheus is sick. He shall be dead within the year." he rumbled.