"Lantsov?"

I questioned confused. I know the name was of the Royal family. But I thought the Darkling had renamed it. Maybe on the lines of Kirigan Gardens or something. The thought made me laugh.

"Have you never heard of the Lantsov family, love?" Sturmhond asked. Raising a brow.

"I've heard they're the Royal family but I don't know what happened to them in the past month. All I've heard of is the Prince."

"Prince Nikolai?" He said the Prince's name. It sounded a little foreign.

"You knew him?"

"Not personally. But he was a Privateer. A pirate, who would occasionally steal from other ships for his crew." He briefly explained.

"Anyway, we'll make our way outside of the Palace by going in the secret passage ways. They lead down to the stables. All we have to do Is go out in the back exit of the palace, round up near the stables, check the all clear and go into the tunnel underneath the ground, which would lead into the prison cells."

Sturmhond explained. Confusing me. How did he know so much about the palace exits and how did he know there was a tunnel under the stables? How did he know of the secret passage ways? Could be because he's been here before?

I excused my questions, for now.
Sturmhond, and I. Made a brake to the old library, close to my room. It had a hallow wall near the fifth bookshelf.

Sturmhond peeled away at the walls and I saw the faint outline of the tunnels. I summoned up some light and lead the way for him and I. Seeing the elaborate twists and turns, we kept referring back to the map. Getting closer to the exit, getting closer to Mal.

***
As planned, we found the exit from the tunnels and saw the stables near us. The tunnels exit was covered by a giant stone slab. It took Sturmhond and I a while to tear it down. Sturmhond apparently had a pickaxe in the bag he had with him.

He said he learned how to mine during a mission on the seas. I've always wanted to see the ocean. To see its crystal blue waters glisten under the Sun light. I would bathe under the sun light, letting it tone my skin and read a good book as we head out for sea.

I told Sturmhond of this and he laughed gently. He promised to take me to sea one day. Hopefully the Narrow Sea, where the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros were. Away from Ravka, Fjerda and Shu Han. It was all on the other side of the world. Perfect getaway from the Darkling and all or any Grisha matters.

After the Stone slab was broken down, we looked around for any of the Darkling's soldiers. None were around, some heart renders past by. I was careful to ignore them and make my way to the stables, with Sturmhond behind me.

Covering the tunnels behind us with branches and wood, we made to the stables. I knew everyone else would see the tunnels and alert the Darkling, but not right now, not at night. If he ever found out, I would make sure he believed I did all of this on my own-to get Mal out. I knew he would punish me, but I knew he wouldn't kill me, as he would have done that the night he got me back at the Palace. I will use that to my advantage.

The stables were partly deserted, only four horses were present. Sturmhond found the precise tunnel that lead us down into the prisons. It was freezing in there. Sturmhond helped me get down, there was a ladder that lead to the ground but was a couple centimetres down from when we opened the hatch. I had to step down carefully, Sturmhond held my hand and then he followed me down.

I was so surprised, how come the Darkling never found out about these tunnels? But Baghra knew of the tunnels on the Little Palace.

It took a couple of twists and turns, to get into a clear dungeon. Right under the Palace-we were so far away I decided it would be best to shout out.

"Mal!"

My voice echoed down the stone-cold dungeons. "Mal."

 A weak voice soon called out to me.

"A-Alina!" I heard faintly. It wasn't that loud but I could hear very well. He wasn't far away.

"The voice came down from that hallway." Sturmhond pointed out to his left. We walked in that direction-it had chains and cobwebs handing in ever area. Stained blood on the walls and that when I figured out. This wasn't a prison, this was a torture chamber.

Walking past, I saw the dungeon where Mal sat in. His condition frightened me. "Mal, it's me. I'm here."
He looked up to me. I saw his beautiful, blue eyes petrified but seeing me. His eyes sparkled with hope. Hi clothes were tattered and it looked like he was beaten up by the Darkling. The thought made me want to kill him.

Sturmhond opened up the dungeon doors and I minded my head to step inside. I stepped down to his level and tapped on his elbow. He moved out of his knees up position and caressed my face.

"Alina, is that really you?"

Tears started to dwell up in my eyes.

"Yes it's really me, see." I held onto his hands over my face. "Oh Mal, what did the Darkling do to you?" I whispered gently. Letting a tear fall down my cheek. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you earlier. He had me under surveillance and made me his slave."

I started to explain to him. Sturmhond must have entered the cell with me because Mal had his eyes wide open behind my head. His eyes were filled with fear, Sturmhond is no one to be afraid off.

"You were never my slave, Alina!" A calm, terrifying voice called out. "No." I whispered, looking behind me. I saw him, I saw the Darkling stood before me.

***
Pasted/Started-11:13am 28/11/21
Back-17:25pm 29/11/21
Finished: 19:22pm 29/11/21
Published: 16:00pm 30/11/21