Dragon's Keep

Chapter Seven: Dungeon Dwelling

The dank air hung heavily in the shadowed cell she’d been unceremoniously thrown in. Sabeline imagined the guards had wanted to get her incarceration over with as quickly as possible, uncomfortable like everyone else at the turn of events. All the scenarios that had run through her head, the apprehension on what awaited her, she never in her wildest nightmares thought it would be this.  

   Death. He had sentenced her to death. A chill coated her skin as the reality began to sink into her being. She wasn’t going to live. She conceded the king’s order might have been easier to process, if she had at least been granted an honourable death. Instead she was to be sacrificed to that goddess damned monster. The world was cruel indeed, she knew this, but today had shown her just how torturous it could be.

   A constant dripping echoed around her dishevelled form. Her eyes traced the sound to a c***k in the stone wall, watching as droplets of water fell and splashed to the ground in a rhythmic pattern. It created the kind of noise that once heard, would be difficult to ignore. Maybe insanity will get me before the dragon does.

  How had it come to this? She’d had a distinguished career as a Knight with a reputation that spoke for itself across Idrelas (and maybe some of the other five kingdoms, she wasn’t too sure). She’d killed the dark manticore of Plyhaven for goddess sake? Did all her achievements count for nothing? Did this one failure eclipse all that she had done? It wouldn’t be a failure if she had been given more time. But despite her reasoning, the King had been unwilling to listen. He had already decided the outcome before her audience and was not going to be swayed by anything or anyone.

   Sabeline turned her attention to the thick blackened metal bars, preventing her from escaping. They made up a grated door, typical of most dungeon cells and the only way in or out. There was the usual large, imposing lock merged into the metal, a glaring reminder of “prisoner” status. It was a damned shame they’d stripped her of all her gear, otherwise she could have picked the lock. She threw her head back against the wall. Of course that’s why they had procured the equipment that she kept on her person. Knights were legendary for their skill set. That reputation was only earnt by being prepared for every situation, including the opportune moment to escape an enemy dungeon should capture occur.

    I’m going to die. No matter how she tried to distract herself, the reoccurring thought slammed into her mind. Nausea boiled in her stomach each time her brain kindly reminded her. Sabeline had known being a Knight could result in her death each time she faced a monster, a battle or departed on a mission. She’d accepted that. The fact her own King had offered her freely up to s*******r? That was something she couldn’t accept and she never would.

    When the dragon came for her, Sabeline would be ready. She’d defiantly stare down at King Falon, the man she’d once respected and show that a Knight could not be broken. She could not be broken. Even at the end. Clenching her fist, she let the anger flow through her blood. She needed something to hold onto in this disgusting cell and anger was as good as anything right now.

   Hurried footsteps sounded eerily in the air, coming closer with each step. Clanging accompanied the sounds as squeaking, rusted metal was opened. Her position obscured her view of the dungeon as a whole, but Sabeline knew someone was entering this place via the main gate. Once through, the footsteps continued at a slower pace and Sabeline imagined whoever had entered was peering into each cell. Were they trying to find her?  

   A silhouetted figure appeared in front of her cell, the lingering shadows making it difficult to see the person clearly. The figure crouched, becoming level with Sabeline’s sitting form. From the new angle, the vague murky light illuminated their face just enough for her to determine it was Bersaba.

“Sabeline?”

“Who else?” she replied back grimly, shuffling closer to the other Knight.

“By the goddess…this is not right.” Bersaba whispered, properly taking in the conditions Sabeline had been forced to endure for the last several hours. Or had it been a day? Time had become irrelevant down here.  

“Trust me, I’m very much aware of that.” Sabeline sighed. “What are you doing down here Bersaba? I have no doubt in light of current events if you’re caught down here, you could end up on the other side of the bars with me.”

“It was worth the risk.” Bersaba stated. “The others continued to protest fiercely against the King’s decision, but he could not be swayed. Since your imprisonment, he has ordered them to remain in the tower until your execution. Each in their own rooms. Under guard.”

“What!? Has he lost all reason?!” Sabeline voiced aghast.

“I managed to slip away while being escorted to the Tower, but they’d already stripped us of our gear. We can have it back after your execution.” Bersaba spat disgusted.

“He’s methodically removing any possibility of my escape.” The realisation came to her. From a practical perspective, she would have done the same when faced with a gang of criminals. From a personal perspective, they were the kingdom’s best warriors and were currently being treated like horse dung. She knew of no Knight that would stand for it, but they were smart and not adverse to paying the long strategic game if needs be.

Bersaba nodded. “It appears so. But I had to come. King Falon refused to say anymore after his decision, but I heard The Hand whispering about “dusk”, “reconsidering” and “it was too soon.” The King merely replied “the sooner the better.” I think that is when they will come for you. Whatever death he’s planning for you, it will be tonight.”   

    Great. She swallowed thickly. “Thank you for telling me Bersaba.” She let out a sad chuckle. “I don’t know what’s worse, the knowing or the not knowing.”

Bersaba didn’t say anything but reached a hand through the bars. Sabeline grasped it firmly.

“We will stand with you until the end. It is the least we can do in this madness.”

She ignored the fact her eyes were developing a glossy sheen at the words. “Thank you Bersaba.” She gave her hand one last squeeze and released it. “Now go, before they find you and throw you in here too.”

The Knight was reluctant, but after a moment nodded and dashed away, leaving her with her tormented thoughts. Once she knew Bersaba had gone, Sabeline threw her head back against the wall for the second time. Suddenly she released a blood curdling scream, pouring all her anger, rage and sadness into it.

   The scream continued to resonate through the castle as she descended into choked sobs.