Page 57 of The Prince and His Stolen Groom
“What about the other paths?” Brendon asked, calm and collected, like he didn’t even care that he was conversing with a talking statue.
The maiden said nothing, which actually helped me relax. After taking a few measured breaths, I said, “They probably aren’t sentient. They’re designed to recite a script, and then respond in a certain way based on your answer. Here, back up.” I gestured for him to stand back in the center, then approached the gargoyle.
It straightened and flared its wings again. “If you would like to proceed down this path,” it hissed, “you must perform one task.”
I moved away and stepped in front of the old man. He hemmed and hawed before grumbling, “If you would like to proceed down this path, you must confess one secret.”
“So, we just choose one?” Brendon asked, looking between them. “What if it’s the wrong path?”
The statues answered in unison, a cacophony of voices. “All paths lead to the heart of the maze.”
“Can we hear more details before choosing a path?” I asked.
No answer.
“Guess not.”
“People actually paid money for this?” Brendon muttered. “Well, what do you want to do?”
I looked back and forth between the statues, wondering which would be the safest choice. The tasks couldn’t be anything that wouldrequire us to leave the maze, so they couldn’t be too dangerous. The questions and secrets on the other hand … “Let’s try this one,” I said, pointing to the gargoyle.
Brendon shrugged and we approached it together.
The gargoyle repeated the same introduction, posturing and all: “If you would like to proceed down this path, you must complete one task.”
“What is your task?” I asked.
“Hold your partner’s hand until the next crossroads.”
I stared at it, dumbfounded. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Hold your partner’s hand—”
“Yes, I heard you.”
“—until the next crossroads.”
“I just don’t understand how—”
“Hold your—”
Brendon snatched my hand and clasped it tightly. The gargoyle’s mouth snapped shut. “Come on,” he said, pulling me along. I watched the gargoyle apprehensively, remembering those sharp claws. It didn’t move as we passed and continued down the path.
Well, at least the maze should be easy to get through.
Chapter Twenty-Two
I anticipated obstacles popping up to make it difficult for us to hold onto each other all the way to the next crossroads. Nothing happened. No monsters, no vines tripping us, not even a jump scare. After a while, Brendon slowed his pace and loosened his grip, so we walked side-by-side more casually.
“How long do you think this has been here?” Brendon asked.
“I honestly have no idea,” I said, brushing my hand over the foliage. “It can’t be too long—someonewould have found it and talked about it.”
“Maybe there’s a trigger for the spell?”
I frowned as I considered that option. “That’d be a pretty complicated spell. It would require specific conditions to be met that you and I happen to fall into. I’ve walked these woods alone hundreds of times and never stumbled across it, which means it requires at least two people. Kit and the Good Wizard probably walked this same path last night, and they didn’t mention anything about a maze.” Given Kit’s flare for the dramatics, I couldn’t imagine her leaving out such an important element of the story.
“Could there have been a physical trigger? Like a pressure point in a dungeon floor that sets off all the traps?”
