Seeing that the "guard" was, in fact, a woman, the duke's tone softened, "Is there a reason you're wandering alone, mis—soldier?" he asked, narrowing his gaze at the untimely and unusual sight before him.
But she didn't answer him, she only pressed her lips together looking at him sharply.
"This sector's off patrol duty," the duke said moving closer in slow steps. "No guards are scheduled here at this hour. And you don't exactly walk like a soldier." There was something about her features, a strange sense of familiarity tugged at him as if he had seen that face somewhere.
But before he could ask another word, the woman darted to the side and bolted. He reacted instantly. His hand shot out catching her wrist before she could take another step. With a swift motion he turned, folding her arm behind her back and pressing it firmly against the wall, trapping her facing him, between the cold stone and his frame. He now stood close looking down at her, the torchlight near them now made her face more visible.
"Release me!"
The lady spoke looking a little irritated but he was too busy looking into her emerald eyes.
"You...?" he breathed.
"Release my wrist at once, sir." she intoned, looking a bit angry and twisting her hand in his grip in an effort to break free. "You won't like the consequence if you don't."
But his grip held firm and the intensity in his gaze only deepened.
"Who are you?" he demanded quietly.
She lifted her chin to answer, "You would not bear the truth of who I am, sir."
However the moment broke at once with a voice echoing from above.
"Eli?"
It was Callisto standing on the upper floor, were the duke had stood earlier. His hands gripped the railing as he stared down at them with a face displaying both surprise and disbelief.
At the sudden intrusion both the duke and Eli looked up. He immediately loosened his hold releasing her arm from behind, though his hand still lightly gripped her wrist. He also stepped back a pace putting a small but deliberate distance between them.
Callisto looked worn out from the long night; his usually neat coat hung loosely over one shoulder and a few strands of his hair had fallen out of place. Yet somehow, he still carried the same composed charm of a protagonist. Of course he does, Eli thought giddily. Protagonists always do.
"Of all the places to sneak into…..and at this hour.." Callisto said looking down at her with both disbelief and a tinge of anger "....Really?"
"Uh… good night, brother?" as Eli replied, the duke who was looking at Callisto, his head snapped toward her with his eyes widening in disbelief, all the while his hand still gripped her wrist. Meanwhile Eli gave a sheepish smile hoping that Callisto might overlook her very obvious intrusion.
Callisto sighed rubbing a hand over his face as his sister's attempt at innocence began to wear down his irritation. Eli was six years younger than him and in his eyes, she still remained the same mischievous toddler who used to trail after him through the palace halls dragging her little fox plushie, Arlo, tightly by the paw.
"What.....," he said flatly, "are you doing here, Elinessa?"
"Ummm....I suppose, I missed you. I barely saw you past few days, " she blinked her eye multiple time knowing well this might calm him "I was just… wandering here!"
Callisto narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced by whatever excuse Eli was spinning.
"Do you truly expect me to believe that?"
"Wait," he said to himself. Due to late night fatigue his mind was sluggish to calculate that something quite didn't add up.
"How did you even get in here, Eli?" He asked this while stepping back from the railing and his voice echoed faintly as his figure vanished from sight, descending to the lower floor.
"Oh sh*t!" Eli muttered under her breath, yanking her wrist free from the duke's grasp before glaring at him and darting toward one of the tunnels. Over her shoulder, she called out with sarcasm "You can keep the helmet, sir! For your great service!"
Callisto landed on the lower floor and his eyes immediately found his friend alone, the duke was still standing there with an amused expression, arms loosely folded behind his back as if he'd merely been watching a play unfold.
"Why did you let her go?" he hissed in frustration.
"Would you have preferred I detained your sister, Your Highness?" Callisto heard the reply as he broke into a run with his face shifting from disbelief to exasperation.
"Wait...Elinessa!"
Callisto's voice echoed through the tunnel as he and Eli broke into a frantic chase. Eli suddenly skidded to a halt and spun around to face him. "Brother, I really have to find something of mine," she said "I didn't mean to cause a fuss."
"This is no place to wander alone! Come back this instant!" His eyes narrowed as they fell on Eli. "And what is with that tacky outfit? Wait… did you steal it from my chamber?" he added, realizing the outfit Eli wore was the spare he kept for his disguised ventures.
"Umm....maybe! " she shrugged, " And I am not coming back, besides, nothing will happen to me, not with so many guards around!" Eli shot back, taking few step backwards. "You won't tell Father, will you?"
"You think I'm your keeper, Elinessa? I will not lie for you. But I won't tell him this instant, if you turn and come back now."
"Oh, yes you won't…...unless, of course, you want me to tell him about someone sneaking out of the palace four times last month to meet a certain Lady Mirabel under the guise of 'night inspections'." Eli retorted with a mischievous glint in her eye, though she had taken bribes to keep such secrets, but in this moment, who cares. "I believe your exact words were 'If anyone asks, say I was meditating in the chapel. 'Very pious,' really." she said mimicking Callisto's tone.
"Gods, why do I always let you talk me into things…" he exhaled slowly pinching the bridge of his nose like this was giving him an early headache.
"Because you love me?"
"No, because you're a menace and you're impossible."
"Eli… fine! Come back here and give me an explanation. I'll let you go after that. Okay?"
She shook her head. "I can't. But I promise," she continued softly, "I won't cause any trouble. I'll explain everything tomorrow. I swear it." She looked at him as if she was upto no good and he stared at her a second more.
Still, after a moment, his expression softened with reluctant resignation. "Fine. You have one hour. We leave soon, and you're to be back in the meeting chamber before we do. And I swear, Eli, If you're not, I will drag you back myself."
"Understood, Your Highness." Eli replied with an exaggerated salute of fist to her chest adopting the stiff posture and tone of a palace guard.
He was not done. "Take a pair of guards at least."
Eli rolled her eyes "Very well, Your Highness, send someone." she said, though she didn't wait for a response and bolted before Callisto could assign someone.
"Elinessa!" he shouted hoping to make her halt.
"Callisto!" she echoed his words in same pitch.
Some guards arrived there drawn by the commotion.
"Immediately! Follow the Princess, keep her safe and ensure her return within the hour," Callisto commanded, pointing towards the direction where Eli disappeared.
"At once, Your Highness!"
Meanwhile the duke leaned casually against the wall with his arms folded in front, a faint, amused smile playing on his lips as he watched Callisto's frustration with Eli unfold.
"Never have I ever imagined someone could trouble the great Callisto," he said teasing his friend and pushing himself off the wall to stand straight, "more so having the similar face as him."
Callisto let out a long, weary sigh, pressing his fingers against his temples. "Let's move, young duke. We have much to discuss." and turned away towards the council.
The duke followed him crossing his hand behind his back, but his fingers were idly twisting a feminine gold-and-red bracelet around his another wrist and a gentle smile never left his face.
***
Eli right now walked in a lonely corridor, her eyes darting everywhere as the flame of the candle she held flickered with every step she took. Since she was found out, she had long discarded the ill-fitted guard's uniform and was only moving now in a simple black shirt and fitted trousers and her hair were tied back in a neat, long fishtail braid. As for Callisto....well, he could find himself another set.
"Where the hell is it?" she muttered in frustration running her hands along the walls searching for any hint. How was she supposed to find anything in this huge maze with no clue to start with?
She remembered how, earlier that evening a strange message had flickered out from Arlo's leftover eye:
"Tutorial started: Scenario 1 — ARLO IS LOST! Find Arlo in Blackridge Hold."