Garrett slipped free from his restraints running for an open door. His pants fell off as he ran causing him to stumble. He caught himself continuing to scurry to the door. He heard voices shouting after him. He could make out Mazara’s voice but he doubted her giving chase as she hated physical exertion. Her magic made her lazy but he doubted that the guards had any such issue. His small feet pounded the ground as he heard thundering footsteps following close behind him. Garrett’s advantage of lacking heavy armor would not save him as the clattering noise grew louder.
Turning a corner luck favored him seeing a maid scrubbing the floor he knocked over her bucket spilling its soapy contents across the floor. Garrett kept his footing as he heard the crashing sound of cursing guards intermingled with the cry of the maid. He felt bad for the trouble he inflicted on her but necessity won out. His mind raced as he hurried through the halls drawing strange looks. His next decision whether to sneak out on foot or grab a horse to ride out on. On foot he would be a lot stealthier but a horse provided speed he lacked right now. Putting distance between him and the capital seemed the best course of action. Emeril had too many spies in the city. He headed to the stables slowing down to catch his breath.
Stable hands busied themselves with their work. Experience taught them not to interfere with that which didn’t concern them. They saw Garrett but ignored him thinking he might be a visiting dignitaries child. He looked over the horses finding the fleetest one. Making sure that no one observed him he slipped into the stall. The handsome chestnut stallion looked eager for the run Garrett would soon provide. He opened the stall. Garrett climbed the stall leaping on the horses back as he reached the top.
The horse hardly noticed weight change. He responded obediently to Garrett’s guidance. Years of horse riding aided him in leading the powerful stallion beneath him. He urged a gallop that the stallion zealously responded to. The sight of a boy in a man’s shirt drew stares but no alarm was raised. Garrett hoped that Mazara’s embarrassment at his escape prevented her from alerting others. Garrett breathed easier as he reached the capitals borders. Still he had no definite plan as to what to do next. No provisions left him in a precarious state along with his diminutive size.
