Gorg ducked down the hall, heart pounding in his ears. Footsteps thundered behind him. It was almost too late; they would be racing to block his escape. They wouldn’t let him live after what he heard. The only way to get as far away from the castle would mean leaving everything he knew behind.

  Strents.

  And he really had been looking forward to getting the name of that cute innkeeper. But really, was she worth his life anyway? No. Definitely not. Now his life was worth millions of marks. Too bad he wasn’t the man for the job that this would call for. Which meant he was going to have to preserve his witness for the people who could.

  Or maybe he was a coward.

  Sweat prickled down his spine. They were getting closer. He could hear shouts behind him as they shadowed his footsteps. He had to shake them off somehow. And soon. The Guards all knew the castle as well as him, so the nearest secret passages were less safe than a hallway. They would send someone to be there already. What was in Gorg’s favor? He had been an orphan on the streets of the capital city before becoming a guard. He knew how to hide. He knew how to run. He knew disguises like the back of his hand, and he knew what bullies looked like. Where would have the resources needed for a plan? The closest guard chamber was about thirteen rooms away. He just had to outrun them for that long. So, he focused on one foot in front of the other, pounding away at the floor. Thump thump, thump thump… the slate-colored stone flew behind him, the tapestries glaring and judging, like the ever-present priests. For all Gorg knew, they could have eyes, reporting his moves to the Guards every second. Gorg shivered and continued to ignore the feelings. Even if they were watching him. He could always disappear into a crowd.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  As he ran his way to the stables, he tripped on the transition from slick polished stone to rough servants flooring. He slammed hard, knees stinging, but he forced himself upward. A servant girl walking in the hallway shouted in surprise, inadvertently drawing attention to him further. He stumbled forward, pushing open a door and running to Noonglory. His horse shifted uncomfortably, sensing danger, and Gorg’s fear.

  “Easy boy. I am sorry for this, but you are my only escape.” Gorg eased the horse out of the stables. There would be no time to saddle. Even now, he could hear them getting closer. He pulled himself up and spurred Noonglory into a faster pace, out of the castle gate and into the city quickly. The guards sent to cut him off were just around the corner charging toward him.

  The horse reacted instinctively and turned a corner sharply, forcing Gorg to hold on to the horse for dear life. For a moment, the sun peeking through the city's shield filled Gorg's head, but he got slammed into reality as the horse picked up its speed and dashed wildly through the city. Gorg took in a sharp breath of air and prodded the horse to turn back down a road that led to the gate. Thankfully the horse turned despite its scare, but didn't slow down, threatening to throw Gorg off in the process of saving his life.

  Gorg could see it; the gate was unmanned and as Noonglory turned through it, he could see the guards behind him getting caught in the festival's crowd.

  Good.

  It wouldn't be long before they'd be on their way to capture him though, so- as Noonglory steps through the Solguard Shield and he felt the chill of the snowstorm- he made his mind. He'd head for the trees. There had to be a good place to hide near the caves and forests of east Marima. And once he was safe, then he would figure out what to do about the information he found.

  Hopefully before it was too late.