"Prepare the horses," Alaric ordered. "I don't care about what the Emperor has planned. We're moving him now, and as soon as we get back, make preparations to leave for the North."
Kaelen nodded, a flash of relief crossing his face as he heard they would be leaving for the North right away.
They had stayed in the capital for far too long, and trouble somehow seemed to find them at all times.
"Understood, Your Grace."
They spoke for no more than two minutes, and then, Alaric turned back into the room. But what he saw made his entire body go rigid.
His heart sank instantly, vanished into a cold, hollow void.
The bed was empty.
The heavy blankets were tossed aside, trailing onto the floor. The spot where Julian had been lying was empty, and he was gone.
"Julian?" Alaric's voice was a low, disbelieving breath as he called out to him.
He spun around, his eyes wild as they scanned the dim, firelit room. "Julian!" he roared, the sound echoing off the vaulted ceiling.
