It was easy enough to get past the two frightened nurses. They ran into their office the moment Emmaline began burning off her restraints on her conjuration. Getting out of the stronghold could prove to be more difficult than getting into the Dark Knights' lair if she was careful enough. Honestly, she had been training nearly her whole life for this and knowing the stronghold brick from brick didn't hurt.

Stalking around corners and making the least amount of sound was key to getting her sister. The voice of her mother and uncle stopped her in her tracks.

"Olympe, we can not possibly bother the Peers with this nonsense."

"What do you suggest, Arber? I've lost my husband to the likes of him. I won't lose my daughter."

"How do you even know if Emmaline is telling the truth?"

There was a pause. Em wondered what kind of face her mother was pulling at this moment because the next words uttered by her uncle were weak.

"Y-You know. I'm just thinking of every plausible scenario, Olympe. If this turns out to be untrue, the Peers will have our heads for it."

"My daughters never once gave me reason to not trust them."

"What are you talking about? You didn't know that Maiolaine was sneaking around the likes of the Dark Knights-"

A sharp sound stopped Arber's words. Em could not help the smile that came across her face, knowing that her uncle received a well-deserved slap to the face.

"You will do well to watch what you say about our family."

They spoke no more words as Em heard the clacking of her mother's heels going down the hallway.

"Stupid bitch," Arber muttered under his breath.

Without a moment's thought, Emmaline came around the corner, delivering a blow to the back of her uncle's head, rendering him unconscious.

"No one calls my mother a bitch, you stupid asshole," Em spat.

She looked up and found the window that she was searching for. She climbed out of the window and ran towards the forest. The sky had a pink shade painting the dark blue of the night. Dawn approached, and she needed to make her moves fast so that she could go undetected.

Em took off in the direction the carriage went. She had been running for a good twenty minutes when she saw the white tree and cemetery. Investigating every tomb, she finally found a mausoleum with the name Briar etched on it.

She approached the tomb tentatively. If this was the entrance to the Dark Knights' lab, they would surely guard the building. An eerie feeling came over her that sent prickles down her spine. The stillness of the area set her nerves on edge.

Why isn't there anyone here guarding this tomb? Em thought to herself. Did I get the right tomb? Briar, right?

She surveyed the area before setting foot inside the tomb itself. The structure had a single burial chamber in the center of the small room. It looked as though it had been untouched for centuries. Em looked for any sort of clue why Mai had given her this vision. 

She stepped towards the coffin. A faint chill brushed against her arms. Em crouched down to inspect it closer, and she felt a slight breeze on her face. 

This must be a secret entrance, Em thought to herself. She gripped the top of the tomb and pushed as hard as she could. The top tumbled to the ground with a loud thud. A short ladder led to a stone floor below.

The Paladin tossed a rock down the opening and held her breath, waiting to see if she could hear anyone in the area. She could hear only the echo of the rock. Weird. She descended the ladder and surveyed the area. Torches lit the stone staircase that went down quite a way. Still, there were no guards.

Em could feel it in her heart. Her instincts were telling her that this was a trap. She should turn around and wait for the Peers to come up with a plan to get her sister back. But there was another part in her heart that pushed her forward. A part of her that wanted to rescue her sister now. She would not let her sister suffer one minute longer than she had to.

Her feet took her down the stairs as swiftly as possible. At the bottom of the stairs, a steel door loomed over her. She thought for sure there was no way this could be unlocked. Em approached the monstrous door and gave it a test push. It moved without a struggle.

"This has got to be a trap," Em whispered. 

She squeezed her eyes shut. Em had always prided her cool head. She always thought first before striking. It was her responsibility as a Paladin to have a plan before going in guns blazing. 

Em unsheathed a couple of her daggers and twirled them in her hands. 

"Well, I guess there's a first for everything," she said as she pushed the doors open.