Page 19 of Hidden Kingdoms

Gritting my teeth, I dug down deep despite my weariness, calling on more magik than I ever had and sparks shot up my arms, leaping and zapping around me. Big Man’s eyes narrowed and he lifted a second arm now wreathed in flames.

“Will you stop with that shit, Bas?” Angel-face stepped forward, shoving his flaming arm down and the fire faded.

“We’re not safe yet, Goldie.” He turned to me, grey eyes searching mine and I released my hold on the magik I called.

Goldie?

Waves of exhaustion washed over me, taking my anger with it as I reminded myself the last time I’d seen Titan, he’d been strong enough to break down a wooden door. They can’t have done him any serious harm, if any. But what if that thing had?

I jumped as a large hand—inked in tattoos—gripped my chin gently as if I had projected my thoughts. Something within me relaxed a little at his touch. “He’ll be fine.”

He was right; it would take a lot more to take Titan down.

Dropping his hand, the thud of gates echoed around us, I turned towards them, the tops so high I would need to crane my head to see them all. The summit of the wall itself even ten times higher than that. The gates were fully open now and themen turned towards them, walking forward without bothering to check if I was following.

“Let’s go,” came the deep voice from beneath the mask.

Dark tunnels with strange men wasn’t really my thing, but I saw little other choice than to follow, teeth gritted in annoyance and muscles screaming with each step. Dragging myself behind them, my instinct was to be petty and take my time. Instead I ensured I kept up. With effort, I quickened my pace, readying myself for the gloom of the tunnel to swallow me whole.

Lit sconces spewing flames lined the walls, allowing some semblance of visibility as I continued forward. The grinding from the gate behind startled an embarrassing squeak out of me as they sealed me in. Big Man looked back, the smirk on his face at my fright visible under his mask, even in the dim light.

Our footfalls echoed off the walls, and I tried hard not to think of the weight of rock over my head as we walked in silence. We approached the far gate, the sound of it opening reverberating through the tunnel as more light trickled in. Stepping out into the approaching dawn, men in dark uniforms stood aside as we exited; each one stiffened and nodded their heads as we passed.

Guard towers were set either side of the gate connecting to a walkway that ran along the length of the wall, the soldiers manning them dressed similarly to the men I was now trailing behind, all carrying a strange mix of swords and guns.

There were more people here than I was used to seeing in one place, and I couldn’t handle the mental baggage of their life flooding my mind right now, so I kept my eyes moving, never letting them linger on a face for more than a second even as I felt their curiosity boring into me.

Fair play to them, they were probably as confused as I was as to what the fuck was going on.

I probably looked like shit, too.

I definitely felt like shit.

It could also be to do with the extra surprise we brought with our arrival, but who knows?

Four soldiers began following behind, for what reason we needed an armed guard I didn’t know, but I was in no place to question it as we came to a large, square, walled courtyard.

Cobbled paving blanketed the floor in a mix of mismatched greys and browns, worn wonderfully smooth by years of use, so I had no worries of them tearing apart my bare feet as I hugged my arms around me. Several doors and archways lined the walls at random intervals, some larger than others. Dark green ivy clung to the stones in patches, and closed red flowers hung heavily from them, waiting for the sun to awaken their petals.

Huge circle braziers sat in each corner, fire dancing within their confines and bathing the space in a glow that almost chased away the worst of the cold. The smell of burning pine filtered through the air, and as I pulled in a breath, it soothed my overworked lungs.

The sun had lit up the sky enough that the fog had dissipated, and far into the distance I could make out the top of another huge stone wall. And past that, mostly concealed by the surrounding fortification—though there was no mistaking it—was a castle.

A fucking castle, complete with turrets and ramparts, the whole lot. Its grey stone glittered as the sun’s rays brushed the very top of its many facets.

I know something else castles have—dungeons.

And what do kidnappers really like? Also dungeons.

My muscles were starting to seize up from so much exertion, and all I wanted was to sleep. If I was lucky, they were nice kidnappers, and that dungeon would have a soft bed for me to rest my weary body for a while before I made my great escape.

Fingers crossed.

Despite knowing I was in no shape to go anywhere, I couldn’t help taking note of the exits, while also realising there was no way I’d make it more than a few steps before one of them caught me anyway.

The largest archway was set into the wall ahead from us, too far away yet for me to see what lay beyond it. There were two sets of stone stairs rising against opposite walls that led to the walkway ringing the courtyard, allowing you to walk the entire way round while still keeping eyes on what was happening down below.

The walls into which the stairs were set rose high, topped by a slated roof half a dozen crows hopped along, their shrill caws bouncing off the stones. Glass windows glinted from within the stone, and I wondered vaguely if anyone lived in there. If I hadn’t been so bone-tired, I might have found it quite charming.

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