Zita's heart was racing as she joined Lord Hastings and the palace guards on the chase. They sped through the palace corridors, their footsteps echoing off the walls as they pursued Lord Arden.
As they reached the palace gates, Zita saw that Lord Arden was already making his escape. He was fleeing in a carriage, with several heavily armed guards surrounding him.
Lord Hastings shouted orders to the guards, and they quickly gave chase. Zita and Amina followed close behind, their hearts pounding in their chests.
The chase was intense, with carriages and horses clashing through the crowded streets. Zita's carriage driver was skilled, but Lord Arden's guards were determined to escape.
As they turned a corner, Zita caught a glimpse of Lord Arden's face. He was looking back at her, his eyes filled with anger and desperation.
Suddenly, Lord Arden's carriage veered off the main road, heading towards a narrow alleyway. Lord Hastings shouted orders to the guards, and they followed, their horses' hooves pounding the cobblestones.
The alleyway was dark and narrow, with high walls on either side. Zita's heart was racing as she realized that Lord Arden was leading them into a trap.
As they emerged from the alleyway, Zita saw that Lord Arden had disappeared. His carriage was abandoned, and his guards were nowhere to be seen.
Lord Hastings was not giving up. He quickly organized a search party, and they began to scour the surrounding streets.
Zita and Amina joined the search, their eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of Lord Arden. They knew that he couldn't have gone far, but they also knew that he was desperate and unpredictable.
The search continued into the night, with Zita's determination growing stronger with each passing moment. She was going to catch Lord Arden, no matter what it took.