The Golden Hour

Beginning of Book 2

Emory

I close my bedroom door gingerly, trying to make the least amount of noise possible. I do think it’s ridiculous that I have to sneak around the castle which I have come to see as my new home. Even when I was a prisoner here, I hadn’t had to be this careful with how I moved around. Much has changed since the first time I walked into this ancient and foreboding fortress.

I look around to check if the coast is clear. There have been guards stationed at my door for my protection, but I have spent days learning their blind spots. There is a guard change that gave me two minutes to escape. I walk briskly down the hallway, trying not to make noise and hoping nobody sees me. There are always servants walking around, but if I keep my head down, I might be able to get away scot-free.

This wing of the castle has many twists and turns like a labyrinth. Since this wing is connected to the wing where the royals are, it has been designed to be difficult to navigate for anyo