Bryan stared at the Queen for a little too long

Bryan stared at the Queen for a little too long.

"Hello." He said, rather awkwardly.

"I've got the keys. You're getting out." To prove her point, she jangled the keyring in her hand, making a tinkling sound.
"Pardon me, Your Highness, but...why wait until now to set me free? You could have decreed it at any time..."

The look she gave him was earnest and slightly guilty. "I didn't want my people to think me soft. You did a bad thing, but I don't think it was that bad. Obviously, I'd be happier if nothing had happened, but I don't think it's a crime punishable by execution."

"Well, thanks, then. ...But won't people wonder how I've suddenly gone missing?"

"I'm sure they'll figure something out for themselves. Daddy always told me that if you're going to lie, or even just hold back the truth, to your people, best to let them come up with their own explanation. Then you can go with that, and the people will believe you, because it was their idea all along."

Shocked, he said nothing. Instead, he got up, itching to help in some way, but the Queen had done everything that needed to be done. The key clicked in the lock, and she yanked on the heavy iron door, trying to get it open. It budged a little, but it was a tight fit.

Finally! Something to do. "Look out. I'm going to bash open the door."

After making sure she had moved out of the way, he rammed his shoulder into the iron panel of the door, where the key went in. It creaked a little, but opened.

"OK. You're out. Do you know the fastest way out?"

"I know the way I came in, but I doubt it's the fastest or safest way."
"It isn't. Follow this hall along until you come to an intersection. Take the right passageway. Then, keep taking rights. It was cleverly designed..."

"...Very cleverly. What then, or am I out?"

"You'll come to a room, by the very edge of the palace. It used to have a plinth on it, but a previous king or queen smashed it for some reason. Pull up on the tile exactly four from the doorway. Use the passageway beneath it to escape."

"Thanks. Anything else I should worry about?"

"Not that I know of, but of course, you'll be a hunted man. Flee!"

And he did, following her directions perfectly.

In one of the corridors, about halfway along, he almost ran into a guard, but he managed to lie his way out of a sticky situation, saying that he was an apprentice to the jailkeeper, and that he was going to get food for a prisoner.

Had he thought it out a little more carefully, he would have realized that his lie was full of holes, but luckily for him the guard wasn't all that bright, and he got through the trap door fine.

The tunnel was small, cramped, and smelled of peat, but he got out with no major problems.

Opening the panel at the end was harder than he suspected, for it had been years since it had been opened last, and the grass covering it had formed a mat, which he had to rip through.

Before he opened the trapdoor fully, however, he surveyed the area to make sure there was nobody around. It was almost dark - that deep blue color - and everyone was at home. He was alone.

Now he was faced with a problem - what to do, and where to go.

He knew he couldn't stay in Del - guards would undoubtedly be searching all households door-to-door tomorrow - so he decided to hit the road.

The Forests of Silence were considerably safer these days, but not safe enough for him.

Instead, Bryan turned west, and headed for Jaliad.