Chapter 34.

  Dangerous Gambit

  Theodren stared Reina down as she tried to come up with an argument. She knew he was set on this path. She knew that he wouldn’t be shaken from his moral code, but to willingly let himself be taken? She shook her head. Ice cold anxiety filled her chest. “This is a stupid plan.” He grimaced at her as the footsteps of multiple people creaked along the hallway floorboards. “Hide.”

  Theodren collapsed back against the bed, feigning unconsciousness. Reina looked around for a place to hide. There was no space under the bed and no wardrobe that might hide her. In a panic she backed toward the window. She fumbled with the latch all while the footsteps got ever closer.

  The metallic click of the door handle sent a shock of fear through her soul and she jumped to the darkness of the corner, trying to make herself as small as she could. Her timing could not have been any closer. Just as she came to a halt, the door creaked open.

  Madame Black stood in the doorway, hands clasped together as she strode into the room. Theodren didn’t dare to move. Keeping his breathing as even and slow as possible. “Tsk tsk tsk. Falling asleep without even bathing. Poor form indeed.” Madame Black chided as she looked around the room. She froze. “Where’s the girl?” She hissed, looking around the room for Reina, who shuddered in the corner. The innkeeper’s eyes betrayed a terrible fury as they searched the room for Reina and the baby.

  She stopped when her eyes landed on the window latch Reina had managed to pry open just seconds too late. “She went out the window!” She hissed, spinning around to face the two men still waiting in the doorway. Unnaturally long arms crested emaciated torsos wrapped in ragged peasants garb over sallow skin. “Find her. I WANT that child!” She screeched. The two men nodded dumbly, shambling off toward the stairs in search of Reina who remained in the shadows.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  She turned her attention to Theodren who remained still on the bed. “At least I’ll have my consolation prize.” She smirked. Grabbing Theodren by the collar, she yanked him from the bed with surprising strength. It was all he could do just to stay limp in her grasp. Like a misbehaved puppy, Theodren was dragged from the room by his scruff, Madame Black barely struggling with his weight as the door swung shut behind her, leaving Reina and the child, alone.

  The silence boomed throughout the room as Reina slid to the floor, hyperventilating. That damnable man had gotten himself captured! And that woman! Theodren was a truly massive man, to be picked up like that woman had done would require an unnatural strength.

  Reina heard the thudding of Theodren being dragged down the hall. She cursed, rising to her feet she tiptoed to the door. Cold and shaking hands gripped the handle as she opened it as quietly and as cautiously as she could, just in time for Theodren’s boots to disappear from the top step of the stairs.

  The shadows still wrapped around her in a way that she could not explain, enveloping her in the surrounding darkness, muffling her steps. It was the only reason she was not also in the Madame’s grip.

  Finally at the bottom of the stairs, the innkeeper dragged Theodren to the kitchen, just barely out of sight from where Reina hid. The sound of rusted hinges rang out along with quiet commands that she couldn’t make out.

  Reina eyed the stairs. The memory of each creaking step filled her with trepidation as she planned her escape. Reina’s eyes turned to the banister, calculating the distance between the railing and the floor below, she nodded to herself and leapt over the side. Leaving her free hand outstretched, she caught the bottom of the railing post, slowing her descent before landing on the tavern floor in a crouch.

  Reina winced at the barely audible sound of her feet hitting the floor, and she waited for a minute that felt like an hour before she continued her path to the door. The sound of the kitchen door swinging open met her ears just before her hand grasped the front door. “There you are.” Barked Madame black from behind Reina. She turned in place, eyes wide with fear as she clutched Theviana to her chest.

  Madame Black pulled a shining silver carving knife from the carcass of whatever it was that she had added to their stew. “You’re never where I need you.” She chuckled, turning back toward the swinging door, cleaning the knife with a clean rag as she went. The Madame paused as something out of place caught her eye. The front door was open, Swinging carelessly in the faint evening breeze.