Chapter 176: Never Forget Her Name Again
"What do we do?" Rhaegar asked, his voice betraying his concern. To his surprise, Lorelai’s face remained calm, her expression brimming with confidence once again.
"We’re not far from the passage now," she said, grabbing his hand firmly. "I’ll help you get there, and then I’ll handle the rest."
"You will?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. "What are you planning to do?"
"Don’t worry," she said with an audacious grin. "There’s always something that can be done!"
Without hesitation, Lorelai reached for one of the few candelabras attached to the wall and yanked it free. With a swift motion, she hurled it onto the long, narrow rug stretched across the hallway. The rug ignited almost instantly, flames racing along its surface in a fiery orange dance.
"Let’s go!" she urged, her voice sharp yet steady. "This will keep them distracted for a while!"
Rhaegar was stunned by her bold actions once again, but there was no time to voice his admiration. Lorelai was already running ahead, gripping his wrist and pulling him along. How he wished their roles could be reversed!
The barking of the dogs grew louder, echoing through the halls and signaling that they had reached the fire. Lorelai cast a quick glance over her shoulder, her delicate features shadowed by a fresh frown of concern. Yet she didn’t falter. If anything, her pace became even more determined.
Finally, she skidded to a stop in front of a colorful tapestry hanging on the wall. Its intricate patterns seemed oddly out of place amidst the palace’s grandeur. Placing both hands on her knees, she bent over slightly, catching her breath.
"It’s here," she said, nodding toward the tapestry. "There’s a door behind it. Push the tapestry aside, and you’ll see it."
Rhaegar quickly stepped forward, tugging the heavy tapestry aside. Just as she’d said, a small square door was hidden behind it, though it looked more like a darkened window than an entrance to a secret passage. He frowned, tilting his head to get a better look.