The Keep (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #4)(84)

“Looking for someone?” a voice called from the end of the hallway ahead of them. The voice was too low to belong to the person Alex wanted it to be, but he was pleased to see the familiar face of the warden, regardless.

Alex nodded. “Alypia is on the loose.”

“Ah, I see,” Caius murmured. “Most unfortunate… My apologies for not being around when the fog was released. I would have come to check on things sooner, but I was seeing to some duties in the core of the keep. It’s hard to hear anything down there, and I was in the middle of something I simply couldn’t step away from,” he explained, flashing a conspiratorial look at Alex that confirmed his fears about the flapping bird and what Caius had been doing behind the locked door. “Now that I am here, I shall help you in your search. As we go, you can keep me abreast of your plans.”

Jari sniggered, receiving a stern, disappointed glance from the old man. It quickly took the smile off Jari’s face, his gaze trailing toward his feet with mild embarrassment.

“Do you know where she might be hiding?” Alex asked.

Caius frowned thoughtfully. “I have a few ideas.”

“And you think she might still be here?”

Caius nodded. “If you’re still here, then undoubtedly.”

With Caius taking the lead, the group followed him dutifully, keeping their eyes peeled for any sign of their quarry. Alex couldn’t get used to the fact that, everywhere Caius went, the inmates fell suddenly silent. There was an air to him that frightened them, and Alex couldn’t blame them; they did not have the advantage of inside knowledge.

After half an hour of walking, Alex noticed that Caius was beginning to tire. It began with a slowing of pace, and then there was a slight jerk in his gait, and finally it flowed into an even more noticeable limp as he leaned heavily onto his cane. Now and again, he would pause to catch his breath, resting against the wall of the prison, though always out of sight of the cells. It made sense that the warden didn’t want to show weakness in front of his prisoners. Still, Caius never complained as they moved from hallway to hallway, checking empty cells.

Gradually, Caius began to fall behind.

“You should seek out the eastern quarter—it’s where she is mostly likely to go,” he said breathlessly.

The group halted.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked, resting a hand on the old man’s back.

“Fine, fine, just a little out of breath,” Caius admitted. “I’ll be better in a second. You go on ahead.”

“We can stay with you,” Alex insisted.

Caius smiled weakly. “Honestly, you go on ahead. I wouldn’t want you missing her on my account.”

There was no way Alex was going to leave the old man alone in the halls of the prison, even though he knew it was Caius’s domain.

Alex turned to the others. “I’ll stay with him and catch you up when he’s feeling better,” he said firmly. “If you find Alypia while I’m still here, shove her into the nearest cell and turn the key, okay?”

“Will do.” Demeter grinned, jangling his keys in a self-important fashion as he beckoned for the others to follow.

For a moment, Ellabell hung back as if she might stay too, but thought better of it at the last minute and raced off after the others. When it was just the two of them left, Alex sat on the floor beside Caius, letting him rest awhile. There was a rasp in the warden’s breath every time he inhaled, and it concerned Alex.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

Caius nodded insistently. “Just old age, I’m afraid. You’ll find out one day,” he chuckled.

Alex smiled, and the pair of them sat in companionable silence for a short while. At any moment, Alex expected Alypia to come rushing around the corner, but, as the minutes ticked on, the hallways remained empty and still. It was almost peaceful.

“Shall we?” Caius suggested finally as he began to stir, the rasp of his throat lessened.

Alex nodded, eager to be on their way. “After you,” he replied, helping the old man to his feet.

“I’ve got an idea,” Caius said suddenly, a childish look of glee on his face. “Come on, there’s no time to lose!”

With that, the old man took off down the corridor at remarkable speed, even with his cane. Alex hurried after him, wondering where the warden’s exhaustion had gone. Perhaps the rest truly had done him a world of good, Alex thought as he caught up, the pair of them walking along at a brisk pace, turning corner after corner. It seemed as if Caius knew precisely where he wanted to go, and all Alex could do was follow as the hallways become gradually more familiar.

Eventually, they came to rest at a room Alex recognized as the old guard room where Agatha had attacked him. Caius drew a hefty ring of keys out of his pocket, though the door appeared to already be open, resting slightly ajar. Something else fell out of the old man’s pocket too, but Caius stooped quickly to snatch it up and put it back, giving Alex little chance to see what it was. As far as he could make out, it was a small silver box, though what its purpose was, he had no idea.

Suddenly, Alex felt nervous. Something wasn’t quite right, and, as Caius pulled open the door and shoved Alex unceremoniously inside, he realized what it was. But it was too late.

Sitting in the armchair by the fire was Alypia, daintily holding a cup of tea in her hands. She scowled as Alex staggered into the room, skidding to a halt before he got too near her.