Page 124 of The Princess Knight
“Are we supposed to just sit here until someone lets us out?”
Clía didn’t expect an answer, but Domhnall provided one. “Yes. Although, I imagine it would unlock after a day or so, in case no one comes for us.” At her questioning glare, he explained, “We have a room like this in Suanriogh.”
She didn’t want to think of being trapped in this room with Domhnall for a day, and she certainly didn’t want to think about what it would mean for her friends out there on the battlefield if she was.
She needed to distract herself.
At first, Clía passed the time trying to count the stone bricks on the wall. When that grew tiring, she took stock of everything locked inside with them.
Not long after she finished that, she managed to walk the ten paces from wall to wall over twenty times.
“Will you please stop? I’m getting sick just watching you,” Domhnall groaned.
She faced him. “I’m sorry, is my worrying about our friends’ lives bothering you?”
“Yes. It is.” He let out a ragged breath. “They aren’t just your friends. That’s my fiancée out there too.”
This made Clía stop. “I was under the impression it wasn’t a love match.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t care for her. If you’ll recall, I can be friends with someone.” He leaned his head back against the stone.
“I must have forgotten. I haven’t seen that side of you recently.” Clía smiled sharply.
He tilted his head, sending her a questioning glance. “Is now really the time to do this?”
“I’m full of bitterness and anxiety. It wants to find an outlet,” she replied.
His focus returned to the ceiling. “Well, I’d rather not right now.”
Her reply was cut off by a shout radiating through the castle, followed by pounding footsteps.
It was starting.
Domhnall’s terrified eyes met hers, and their anger was forgotten.
They sat there for what felt like days but couldn’t have been more than another hour, possibly less.
Griffin chose his location for their hiding spot well; no one came close enough for her to make out what was happening. Only a few rare shouts and screams were loud enough to travel to their hallway. And then—the familiar sound of paws bounding on the floor.
Murphy.
“Murphy!” she called, ignoring Domhnall’s questioning look. “Murphy, come here!”
Her voice must have been loud enough, because she heard the footsteps getting closer, then, clawing on wood. He had made it to the closet door.
“Good boy, Murphy! If you can get it open, I promise I’ll give you whatever treats you want!”
“You really think that creature can open a door?” Domhnall scoffed.
Crash.
Clía grinned. “No, but I think he’s big enough to take an old door off its hinges.”
Domhnall’s brows raised in approval, but she was already moving on to her next task. Hitting the wall again and again, she tried to draw Murphy’s attention to where she remembered Griffin pressing the stone that opened the door. If she could get Murphy to nudge it with his paw or nose, or maybe even lean against it—
The wall shifted back.
They were free.
