Chapter 388: Free man (1)
Elijah rushed to the palace dungeon to see for himself who the king had captured.
Elijah wasn’t surprised to hear that the Monroe brothers were the cause of what happened today. They were both stirring up trouble, starting with Cassius’s carriage colliding with Penelope’s and then trying to court her.
The guards made way for Elijah to enter the dungeon.
On his way inside, Elijah saw Tobias walking out.
The king’s head was down, and it was evident he gripped his sword in anger.
What happened?
"Your Majesty," Elijah greeted Tobias. "I am here to aid you. Who did you bring here?"
"Quinn Monroe, but you just missed him. He is partially free," Tobias said, angered by what came out of his own mouth.
Elijah stepped back, confused by Tobias’s decision. Though he was angry, Elijah knew not to lash out at the king while guards were around.
"I hope you have a reasonable explanation for why you released the man who helped attack Rue. Those brothers work together, and you just let him leave. Do you not care for Rue?" Elijah asked, trying to understand Tobias.
Elijah came to the dungeon not only to find news for Rue but to have a hand in torturing whoever was captured.
News of Quinn being released was not going to sit well with the Callahans. It didn’t sit well with Elijah.
"Go bring the duke and the commander to me," Tobias sent his guards off.
Tobias waited for the guards to leave to say, "Though it doesn’t show that I am boiling with anger, it is how I feel. It pains me to have to let that man go, but I have made an order that palace guards are to be with him until he is arrested again."
Tobias took a deep breath, settling his continuing growing anger. "What I tell you now mustn’t get out yet. I have already ordered the guards who listened to stay quiet. Quinn is the one we have been searching for. The one behind all the kills."
"Forgive me for not understanding why you would release him. If that is so, you had all the more reason to keep him here in the palace dungeon," Elijah argued.
Elijah thought of whether he would be able to catch up to Quinn now and kill him.
"If we had any idea where his victims were, then he would have been long dead. I’ve already received word from your father that nothing was found," Tobias said, hoping Elijah was listening instead of plotting death.
Tobias didn’t believe all that was said today, but he believed Quinn when he said more victims would show up if he was kept in the dungeon. It was very risky, but Tobias had to avoid more of his people dying.
Tobias’s hands were tied. He could keep Quinn captive and eventually kill him, but then there was no telling how many of his people Quinn still had hidden away. Who else was Quinn working with?
"For all that he said, I wish he were dead, but I must find his victims, or this may continue. We do not know who works with him or how many were taken. He has succeeded too well for this to be his work alone. It pains me," Tobias said, touching his forehead.
Tobias didn’t expect everyone to understand the position he was in.
"Quinn is still imprisoned, as I have placed palace guards at his side, and they will surround his home. I faced a grave decision. Do I kill him and let his victims, who might be alive, die? Or do I keep great watch over him and search for my people?"
Elijah sighed. He was still angry, but he understood Tobias’s position.
"It should be the latter, but if someone else turns up dead while he is being watched, we must kill him. He will not speak regardless," said Elijah.
"And I intend to do so, but what troubles me is who follows Quinn. If we kill him, would this person and others go on a killing spree? We must know where Quinn frequents and search every corner of it. I need his coachman," Tobias said.
"Though I understand you freed him in fear that others would die, I cannot say for certain everyone will be pleased by this. Once this reaches Tyrion, he will return as well. Rafael will not be pleased," Elijah said, knowing a storm was coming.
"I have thought about this already. I have to calm them and make them understand we cannot waste time arguing amongst ourselves. We need to find Quinn’s victims. Have you seen Rue?" Tobias asked, needing something to take his mind off of Quinn.
"I have, and she is well, but I assure you that she is not going to be happy about this. You must hope she doesn’t write to her mother," said Elijah.
Tobias’s mood dampened from the mere thought of Annalise coming to Lockwood. "We must both hope for it," he said.
Elijah stopped and stared at Tobias. "I didn’t free Quinn."
"No, but you’re the one trying to court her daughter. You should be more scared of her than you are of Rafael. My wife and your mother speak a lot, so we husbands have to endure it," Tobias explained.
"Rue’s mother coming to Lockwood isn’t something that I fear. Getting Quinn is my only concern. What happened to his brother?" Elijah asked, hoping Cassius wasn’t released.
"Cassius is dead. He was shot by his own flesh and blood. Quinn sprouted nonsense about killing a man wanted by the king, but we know it was to hide his secrets. It seems Cassius was nothing more than a servant to his brother."
"Do you feel sorry for Cassius?" Elijah inquired, not caring that Cassius was dead.
"No, I feel sorry that events of the past placed them in a position where they became like this. Had their mother come to the court instead of going into hiding, I would have helped her. I don’t feel sorry for the men I faced today," said Tobias.
Tobias led the way out of the dungeon to wait for Edgar and Rafael. As he walked, Tobias glanced at Elijah.
"You got here quite fast. Did you fly here, and why aren’t you with your father?" Tobias asked, now realising Elijah’s mistake.
"I could have been here much sooner if your guards hadn’t hidden Rue and Julie’s location from Reed and me, but that isn’t something to be discussed now," Elijah said, trying to avoid the king’s teasing.
Being teased by the queen was enough for one day.