“I meant to do that,” I groaned as I pushed myself up onto my elbows. “That was totally planned. Yay me.”
Empty cells stretched out on either side of me, torches lit on the walls, water dripping from the ceiling. The dungeons were cool and dank, and it felt so good to be back home. But I had little time to appreciate it, because I had a hand to lop off for daring to touch Ryan Foxheart.
The hand, as it turned out, was attached to an arm, which in turn was attached to a hooded figure that held Ryan Foxheart against one of the jail cells. Ryan’s back was shoved into the metal bars, and he was kicking his legs to no avail, the hand tightening around his throat.
I stood up slowly, trying to keep the gold and green at bay. The moment I let it out, the moment I called my magic to me, Myrin would know I was here, and we’d be screwed.
I pulled myself to my full height, sure I looked extraordinarily badass and intimidating. “You would do well unhand him,” I said grandly. “Before I unhand you.”
The hooded figure snorted.
Ryan stopped struggling. “That… didn’t make sense.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Uh, yes it did. I’m going to unhand him, meaning I’m going to relieve him of his hand.”
“That’s not what unhand means.”
“It made sense in context.”
“Are we really doing this now?” Justin asked, sounding incredulous as he came through the doorway. “Seriously.”
“He’s just jealous because I have awesome catchphrases,” I told Justin.
“That’s not a catchphrase,” Justin said.
I squinted at him. “Are you sure?”
“Do you even know what a catchphrase is?”
“Uh, yeah, dude. It’s the thing you say when your robes are billowing and you’re looking all daunting and shit. Trust me, I would know. I often find myself with billowing robes and looking daunting and shit.”
“It’s good to know that even when your appearance has changed,” the hooded figure said, “nothing else about you has. Even after all this time. I assume this is the Knight Commander I have bested?”
“Bested?” Ryan growled. “Set me down, you mothercracker, and I’ll show you bested.”
“Since I would know Sam’s inane prattling anywhere,” the stranger continued, “that leaves the rather portly fellow as the Prince. I expect him to have you beheaded for such a thing when this is all said and done.”
“I’m considering it,” Justin agreed. “But since you know us, it’s only fair that we would know you. Reveal yourself before I have my wizard end your life.”
“Best friends 5eva!” I whispered fervently.
“Your wizard,” the man said slowly. “Truly?”
“Damn right,” I said, standing next to Justin where I belonged. “I’m his wizard, and you’ve got my boyfriend by the throat. I’m going to straight-up murder your sorry ass if you don’t let him go right this second.”
“Ah,” he said. “Is that right? I’d like to see you try.”
I frowned. “Really? Because I wasn’t being serious. I mean, I will if I have to, but killing people is bad, you know? I would rather you just let him go, and then he can hit you upside the head or something.”
“Or something,” the man echoed.
“Who are you?” Justin asked.
“A master of disguise, apparently,” he said dryly. “Either that or you’re all still a bunch of idiots. Which, both are most likely true.”
And I knew.
Because no one insulted me like he did.
I remembered the last thing he’d ever said to me, and I—
I will do what I can, but he will be stronger than me. You must do what is right, Sam of Wilds. You must do what is necessary, even if your heart is breaking.
“Is it you?” I croaked out, taking a step forward. “Are you real?”
He chuckled as he took a step back from Ryan, dropping his hand. He turned toward me, reaching up to pull the hood back and— Randall stood before me. His eyebrows were as wild as ever, looking like furry monstrosities hell-bent on consuming his forehead. His bulbous nose held memories of once being turned into a dick by a horny teenager with penis on the brain. The wrinkles on his face were more pronounced, and he looked like he was on the verge of complete exhaustion, but I didn’t think I’d ever been so happy to see him as I was right then.
Which explained why I took three steps forward and wrapped my arms around him without thinking much about it. He grunted in surprise as I held him as tightly as I could, my hands clasped behind his back, my forehead on his shoulder. I was breathing heavily, trying to keep myself together, but I was shaking and couldn’t stop.
For a moment he didn’t move, remaining stiff and unyielding. But then he sighed and did the most remarkable thing.
He hugged me back.
Out of all the hugs I’d received in my life, it was probably one of the worst. He was thin and bony, and he smelled like mothballs and cherry-flavored hard candies. I could tell he was uncomfortable and was probably humoring me, at least as much as someone like Randall could.
But it didn’t matter.
Because while it was one of the worst, it was also one of the best.
He was here.
He was alive.
Maybe a little worse for wear, but that didn’t matter. We were together again, and maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.
“You’re embarrassing yourself,” Randall said gruffly near my ear.
“Maybe,” I said with a sniffle. “But I notice you’re still not letting me go.”
“Someone once told me that everyone knows hugs should last at least a minute. It’s only been thirty seconds.”
“Smart, that.”
“I always thought it was ridiculous.”
“Uh-huh. And now?”
“Now? It’s not so bad.”
I hugged him just a little bit harder.
Eventually I pulled away but kept my hands clasped on his elbows.
His eyes were bright as he looked me up and down, then over my shoulder at Justin standing behind me. “Shaping magic?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Ain’t no thing.”
He scowled at me. “Frivolous. You know how I feel about it. It’s nothing more than street magic, a trick to appease the masses.”
Moment over. “It’s our disguise,” I retorted as I dropped his arms. “It was part of our rescue mission.”
“Really? Your rescue mission. To rescue whom, might I ask?”
“The King.”
Randall rolled his eyes. “So you bring the Prince into the castle that’s crawling with Darks? You truly are an idiot.”
“Hey! I tried to leave him behind, but he was all like, ‘Sam, it’s my father we’re rescuing, and I’m going, and if you say no, I’m going to make you poop in a bucket for the rest of your life, even though we’re best friends 5eva.’”
“I didn’t say it like that,” Justin retorted.
“Kind of,” Ryan said.
“Thanks, babe. You’re my favorite person here, because everyone else sucks balls.” Then I frowned at Randall. “What are you doing here?”
“Rescuing the King, obviously.”
I gaped at him. “What do you mean obviously? And you can’t rescue the King. We’re rescuing the King.”
“Maybe we could all rescue the King,” Ryan said.
“Godsdammit, Ryan.”
He shrugged.
I clapped my hands. “I’ve just had a really great idea. I think we should work together, seeing as how we’re all here.”
“Isn’t that what I just—”
“Ryan, now is not the time for whatever you were about to say. We need to save the King.”
He sighed.
I ignored him. “The plan is that we need to take out whatever Darks are guarding the King. I was thinking that I should be the one to do it since I’m super cool and technically the hero of the story—”
“Already done.”
I gaped at Randall. “What.”
“The Darks,” Randall said slowly. “I’ve already taken care of them.”
“You did? But… I was going to do it.”
“Is he here?” Justin asked.
Randall glanced over my shoulder. “He is. I was in the process of trying to get the door open when I heard you bumbling fools moving like a pack of fire geckos in the passageway. You do understand the meaning of stealth, do you not?”
“I’m the stealthiest person in the world,” I said.
Ryan patted me on the arm. “That’s literally not true.”
Then, from farther down into the dungeons, came a tremulous voice. “Dad?”