“I hate traveling by foot,” Andreas muttered as Raphael led the way to the Argeno stables. Raphael couldn’t help but smirk at that. Seeing Andreas in such a weak state made him immensely happy. He almost regretted having agreed to the truce to save Lana first; this would have been the perfect time to strike and finally get rid of Andreas.

“We aren’t traveling by foot, we are taking a carriage.”

“Might as well be traveling by foot.”

“You, my friend, are spoiled.”

“Why do things the hard way when they can be done more easily?”

Raphael sighed in exasperation. This was going to be a long trip. He only hoped he could get through it unscathed while resisting the urge to rip Andreas’ throat out. He knew Andreas preferred to teleport everywhere he wanted to go, but they couldn’t teleport into the palace with the wards in place. At least, that was what he wanted Andreas to believe.

The spell that was put around the palace was one Raphael had helped put in place. He and Eric had worked on it together; it was the final project Eric had to do before completing initiation into the Followers of Light. The Followers had made a deal with the king: they help protect the palace from magic users, and the kingdom leaves them alone. The king had agreed and thus ensured the Followers of Light safety from the laws of the palace. It was one reason Raphael was so bent on gaining more followers. If he could just get everyone with magic to join, they would all be safe.

Even though he had agreed to put the spell in place, he left an escape in it if the king ever broke his promise and went after one of the Followers. He and Eric were able to have full control of their magic once inside the palace walls. His plan to save Lana was already in place. But he needed a distraction and that was the only reason he brought Andreas along, he told himself. He didn’t want to admit that he needed Andreas.

He pulled two horses behind him and hitched them to the carriage. His lips curled into an amused smirk as he watched Andreas pace with impatience. “Relax, I’m sure we have plenty of time to get there. It’s only noon.”

“Which means the trial is probably over and they are making preparations for her death. Time is one thing we don’t have.” Andreas’ eyes had darkened. Raphael took a step back, but was careful not to give Andreas a reason to believe that he was afraid of him. Raphael didn’t want to acknowledge the dark aura surrounding Andreas. He had heard rumors of people claiming they had seen tangible darkness around Andreas, but he hadn’t wanted to believe it was true. Now he was seeing it with his own eyes.

He hated to admit it, but Andreas had a point. The king wasted no time in convicting magic users. They needed to hurry if they were going to save her in time.

Raphael gestured to the carriage. “Get in then.”

Just as he, himself, was about to get in he was halted in his tracks by a frantic voice. He turned to see a man running up to him, an anxious expression on his face. “Are you Raphael?” he asked when he reached the carriage. Raphael stepped down and approached the man.

“That would be me, yes.”

“I need your help. My sister, she’s in great danger.”

“Who is your sister?”

Andreas stepped out of the carriage. “We really don’t have time for this,” he said, his voice low, but more menacing than had he chosen to scream.

“Lana, my sister’s name is Lana Eleanor. They are going to execute her at nightfall.”

Andreas and Raphael exchanged a look. “Funny you mention that, we were just on our way to stop that very thing from happening,” Raphael commented.

Zane looked between the two of them, not sure what to think. “Who are you?” he asked Andreas.

“A friend of your sister,” he answered, his tone not lightening.

“This is Andreas,” Raphael replied, exasperated.

Zane stared at him wide eyed. “So she was telling the truth?” he said more to himself than to them.

Andreas made a show of glaring at Zane. “I haven’t known her for lying. But enough of this, we need to get going or there will not be a Lana to talk about!”

Raphael nodded and ushered them into the carriage.