The Mechanics of Magic by W.B.J. Martin

Author:W.B.J. Martin [Martin, W.B.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-28T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

THE THRONE ROOM was on the ground floor of the east wing. They’d toyed with it as an option, Oliver never being the type to have only one plan, but Matthew hadn’t seriously thought he’d have to use it. A single line of text via the burner phone they’d set up was all the notice his Tactician would get: Plan B.

His father had shown him the passageway as soon as he was old enough to receive the knowledge with the severity it deserved. A way out, should they ever find themselves in danger or under siege. As far as Matthew knew, it had been there since the palace was built though had never had the chance to serve its purpose. With luck, that was now going to change.

Obstructing their path was the palace’s main entrance; the same tiled foyer Matthew had passed through to reach the garden party. There was no avoiding it without heading outside or to a higher floor and, as Matthew feared, the area was swarming with guards rushing up and down the twin staircases.

They were relying on Tamara’s authority to get them through, and it was a pleasant surprise when barely anyone turned their way. Apparently, someone had attacked a guard and set off an alarm near the state rooms upstairs. Matthew sent silent thanks to Roy as they left the melee behind.

The halls were quiet after that. Every step they took brought with it memories from Matthew’s childhood, and he was oddly grateful for the tense silence in which they were making the trip. Alex was burning with unasked questions; Matthew knew his son well enough to know that, and he was sure he would feel the same were the roles reversed. But answers would have to wait.

He reached out to his son as they walked. The hand he grasped matched the size of his own, no longer the small hand of the boy Alex had once been. Alex allowed the squeeze but pulled away quickly. Still upset with me, then.

As for Eira, he still wasn’t sure what they were going to do with her once they got out. Oliver’s plan to send her home had been scuppered by the knowledge she now held.

A pair of familiar double doors blocked the end of the wide corridor.

“This is it,” Matthew said. He slowed his pace as they approached, reaching out with both his own magic sense and through the natural magic that flowed from the ground beneath his feet. The room beyond seemed empty.

Ahead of him, Tamara placed a hand on the door. It clicked open and Matthew realised she must have high-level access to all areas of the palace.

“That’s a relief,” Tamara breathed, turning back to them with a smile. “I’ve never been here before, so wasn’t sure I’d be able to get in.”

He still wasn’t entirely confident in trusting her, but Alex seemed to, and she’d got them this far.

“Tamara…” Matthew shifted his feet. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have threatened you—”

“Don’t worry about it.

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