Breaking Free

It took some time to avoid the soldiers, pirates, and even some leftover guests in Brinn's movement around the outside of the castle. She could make herself invisible for short times, but she was hoping to save up her magic to use only in dire emergencies.

Fortunately the short spurts of windy jumping that she was doing were only minor magic. Brinn had done such maneuvers for hours on end when patrolling through the trees. By comparison, this was easy.

Coming to Xander's balcony, Brinn jumped slightly short and landed lightly atop the railing. With her hands and feet, Brinn balanced on the polished wood. She froze, listening for any sign of life within.

It seemed like Xander was not inside. No one was. He might have still been in the infirmary tending to his broken hand. Brinn smirked slightly. Stepping onto the cold marble floor of the balcony, the elf moved quickly through the shadows to the other side. There was always the chance, however small, that she was wrong about someone being inside. Brinn sighed in relief when she reached the far end without a problem.

The next part would be the trickiest. The closest window was the one that would lead to Alvar, yet it was unusually small. It was also raised and had no ledge, so she would have to jump and catch the inside of the windowsill with her fingers. This was clearly a window for the purposes of letting in light only. No one but a giant would be able to look out.

If Brinn missed, the fall would be unpleasant but not fatal thanks to her magic. However, the likelihood of getting back up without being seen was slim. She had one real shot.

'Don't think about it too much. It's just like a tricky tree branch.' To gain a little height, Brinn stood on the balustrade on the opposite side of the balcony. Then, without pausing, she jumped.

Her first hand missed, but her second hand gripped the thick wall of the window sill with all its might. After a brief panic and a wild swing that nearly dislodged her, Brinn was able to grip the sill firmly with her other palm. It was a close call.

Pulling herself slowly into the room, Brinn realized the space was completely dark. Only the minimal light from the starlit window allowed her to see a figure slumped, unconscious, on the floor of the room.

Brinn hurried over to the door and pressed her ear against it. The men outside seemed to be gambling. She could hear the toss of the dice along the floor and the exclamations of glee and anger that came afterwards. They were not expecting trouble. 'Good,' the elf nodded her satisfaction and returned to her fiancé.

Even in the dimness, she could see a bump on Alvar's—or rather Renat's—head. He had been roughed up quite a bit.

"Wake up," Brinn whispered as she unbound the other elf. He groaned, and she shushed him. Alvar settled back with his eyes shut and said no more. "Come on you lazy bones. We have to get out of here," she hissed. "If you didn't already have a bump, I would be tempted to give you one now…"

Alvar still did not stir. The princess leaned down and tilted up the he-elf's chin. She did the only thing she could think of: kissed him passionately on the mouth. At first the action seemed to have no effect, but then Alvar wrapped his arms around his love and he pulled her down.

Caught up in the moment, Brinn gave into him. But the reality of the situation hit her and she moved away quickly. "You fool. Just tell me you are awake!" The spymaster scowled.

"And miss that chance? Now I can die happy." Alvar sat up and kissed her again quickly, causing her scowl to melt away.

She hit him lightly on the arm. "You may yet die if we do not get out of here. We still need to rescue Alaron."

Alvar's face went from amused to confused. "The crazy elf said what just now?"

Tucking her hair behind her ear, Brinn whispered quickly, "Alaron is still being drugged. He may have been crowned today, but it was not his choice. If we can get him out, we can cut off the beast's figurehead."

Alvar took the she-elf's chin between his thumb and forefinger. "You should have just escaped on your own. Instead you came after me which was risky, and now you want to go after the boy. That is practically suicide! Why do it?"

"I cannot leave you or him behind..." Brinn averted her gaze. She hoped the darkness hid her sadness.

"You care, my princess. You hide behind that mask of sarcasm, but you care what happens." Alvar ran his finger along her jawline.

"I do not! I just like the adventure and challenge. You can stay here and die if you like." Brinn moved toward the window and placed a stool below it. It was one of the few pieces of furniture in the room. She stepped up on the stool to leave, but Alvar caught her around the waist.

"You can be your crusty self to everyone else, but please let me in." Alvar pleaded softly.

"This is not the time..." the elf brushed him off.

"Please..."

"Fine, I care. I care about you, that boy, Aurora and this whole Empire. It seems I am the fool," Brinn huffed. Alvar released her waist and put his hands together to give her a foothold in order to reach the window.

"No, you are perfect," Alvar said honestly.

Brinn paused midway through her step to reach the window. "After this is all over, I am going to marry you, you hear? No more stalling."

The he-elf's face split into a wide grin. "Yes, ma'am!"

It only took a moment for Brinn to slip back through the widow and drop herself to the ledge on the floor below. She had no desire to go back toward Xander's room, and there was no need.

"I am stuck!" Alvar grunted from the opening above her. His frame was too wide for the window.

"Shift to something smaller." Brinn advised him. She clung to the building, unable to help.

"Renat is about as small as I can shift." Alvar whined. Since the shifting was merely a bending of light using the wind magic, there was a limit to how out of shape he make himself without 'inconsistencies'. He remembered the lady-in-waiting he had pretended to be. She was more slender than Renat. He changed quickly and was able to slide through the opening.

Alvar hurried to the ledge next to Brinn. He bit his lip.

"What is it?" Brinn asked, noticing his nervousness.

"Nothing. Only I hope the gnomes rebuilt the palace well. I do not like the feeling of being unsteady," the he-elf admitted.

Brinn smirked. "Then you may want to rethink who you are marrying. I plan to always keep you on your toes. Now let's go!"

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Getting up to Alaron's room from the outside was tricky, but two elves were better than one, and the feat was done smoothly. The lights were out in the New Emperor's bedroom. As expected, Cafer had already moved the boy into the Empress's suite. The more feminine decorations were replaced with earth tones. The bed was the same, though the sheets and blankets had also been changed. The elves, however, could not appreciate the differences in the dark.

Beyond the bedroom, two voices were talking in a low mumur. "What do you think he is doing in there? The Emperor should be asleep already."

"Be patient, Captain. Cafer has his own way of doing things."

Brinn and Alvar froze in the balcony doorway as a flood of light filled the room. Cafer stood by the lamp he had just lit with a furrowed brow.

"May I ask why a servant and a lady-in-waiting have completed the impossible task of climbing up onto the Emperor's balcony? If you are looking to climb the social ladder by seducing him, that will not happen on my watch." Cafer looked at the two others' surprised expressions.

Alvar realized he still looked like a woman, which was likely the only reason that the gnome had not yet attacked. Brinn, in her servant's disguise, recoiled at Cafer's statement. "Ew!"

"If not to entice His Majesty, why are you here?" Cafer was growing increasingly suspicious.

Brinn sauntered over to the gnome with a devious smile. He was not human and she could use her persuasiveness on him without consequences. It had never been an option before as it would risk her identity. And it used a lot of magic. But it was now or never to escape, and the elves had no weapons. Brinn just needed to touch Cafer to help

control his thoughts.

"I came to see you," she said sweetly, only sparing a glance toward Alaron. He was sleeping peacefully and showed no signs of waking. "I have something to tell you," she added in a honeyed tone.

"I know that voice," the advisor's eyes widened. "You—!" He yelled as Brinn lunged forward to cover his mouth and speak her thoughts into his head.

"What's going on in here?" Xander asked as he, Baak and a handful of guards filled the room with drawn weapons.

Brinn turned around and smiled coyly, wiping her lips as if she had just been kissing the gnome. She tilted her head and whispered in Cafer's ear, careful to hide the magical flash of her eyes.

The advisor smiled broadly, "There is nothing to see here, gentlemen. Sorry to disturb you…"