Dragon's Keep

Chapter Eight: Rebirth of Logic

She didn’t know how long it had been since her heaving, ragged breaths had returned to normal. She did know that her throat was still raw and her cheat ached. But the cathartic release, while curing some of her despair, was not a practical solution to her upcoming…problem.

   The rest of her Creed were as imprisoned as she, with their equipment to be returned after her death. So the King must be storing the gear somewhere safe and hers would likely be included. She had no way of searching the castle and no idea where the items would be held. It was more likely she’d be re-captured before she could even begin to find it. No doubt the Commanders, while in disagreement with her sentence, would not want to do anything to compromise their own positions. They were as likely to drag her before the King or throw her back in this grimy, filth stained cell than help. 

    Maybe Bersaba is searching. Sabeline scoffed. If she was, then she was a fool. King Falon was unpredictable now, Bersaba would not escape his wrath if caught. Not when he’d apparently gone to such extreme measures to ensure her death by the dragon. She could only hope Bersaba would not wind up next to her, in another forgotten cell.

     Her mind continued to race through logic and reasoning, but a solution? It evaded her with each new thought and situation she conjured. Perhaps there really is no way out of this. If that was the case, then she would go proudly. She wouldn’t give anyone or anything the satisfaction of seeing her cower. No, she would march with her back straight, head up and the definite glare she’d already decided to adorn her face with. I’m finally ready.  

    It had been hours (she deduced) of tumultuous thoughts, sickness, shock and horror. Each thing rolling over her like a great wave of the Eastern Sea, before retreating similarly to the tide, only to wash over her again with the same force moments later. No more. I will decide how my last hours upon Idrelas will be. Despite the fate coming for her, Sabeline felt more like herself than she had since the King’s proclamation.

    Footsteps greeted her ears for the second time, though her hearing detected more than one set. Both were not as hurried as Bersaba’s had been, they were slower and had a more cautionary edge. Even the goddess damned noise from the gate seemed to be lingering, hanging in the mould ridden air longer than it had a right to. Sabeline rolled her eyes, setting her sights on the left side of the entrance to her cell. Of course they’re here for me. I wish they’d move it. It was strange how her fear had evaporated with her decision. Maybe that awful persistent dripping had driven her mad after all.

    Eventually, shadow obscured figures shuffled in front of her cell, avoiding looking at her directly. They were guards that much she could tell from their willowy shapes and legs a war horse would be envious of. Guards were used more for chasing intruders or criminals, rather than capturing them. That part was usually left to the Commanders or Knights.

“What is it?” Sabeline asked, tired of their silence. Each guard jumped shocked, as if remembering the reason they’d been sent down to this goddess forsaken part of the castle. One of them cleared his throat, standing up a bit taller.

“Bringer of Truth, we have been tasked with escorting you to the bathing chamber. There you will be prepared for your noble duty and with great honour, protect the people of Idrelas following this.”

So King Falon is portraying the same line of thinking to the people as he did to me. Does he really believe that, or is he working toward some other purpose?

   Sabeline hauled herself up from the dirt infested floor with surprising agility. “Well in that case,” she responded to the guard who had spoken, crossing her arms confidently in front of her. “We’d better not keep the beast waiting then.” The King or the Dragon? Whispered her thoughts.

The female guard approached the bars, not as confident as the other to address her and reached out to grab Sabeline’s wrists through the metal. Securing them in one hand, the guard quickly and far more effectively than Sabeline would have given her credit for, brought heavy iron shackles down over her wrists, clipping them into place. A thick chain connected the two in the middle, adding even more weight. 

   Now suitably restrained, the guards adopted a new but still nervous confidence. The male guard who’d spoken procured a haggard key from the thin silver loop affixed to his belt and slid it carefully into the lock. She stood silently, watching as the key screeched with the full turn being forced upon it.  The guards pulled the barred door open and wrapped their hands around each or her arms, hauling her forcibly out of the cell. Sabeline stumbled slightly from the unexpected force, but quickly regained her footing, walking steadily ahead. The guards fell into step either side of her, casting worried looks at each other.

“I’m not going to hurt either of you.” Sabeline sighed, their behaviour putting her on edge. It had been a long day and she could do without any more emotional distress, especially as she’d just dealt with the bulk of her own.

“Oh erhm we know that Bringer of Truth.” The female guard uttered, using her voice for the first time since Sabeline had set eyes on her.

“It’s just that…” the male guard carried on “If you escape on our watch…”

“Well it doesn’t look very good…on us.” The female guard continued sheepishly.

Goddes save me. “I understand. Do not worry, I won’t do anything to compromise your positions.” Sabeline answered them dryly. Not that she could anyway, the negatives of trying to escape already outweighed the positives. Mainly for the reasons she’d ran through her head earlier, but now she was heavily shackled. The weight would slow her down and she’d have to break them on something to escape effectively, costing more time. Time she’d likely get caught in with the whole castle searching for her. Then she’d end up getting forcibly prepared for her own death surrounded by armed guards watching her in the damned bath. No thank you.

    “Oh you’re most gracious Bringer of Truth.” The male guard murmured, relief coating his words.

“Yes, so gracious.” The female guard nodded emphatically with the same tone. Sabeline was surprised the guard’s helmet didn’t fall of with the force of the movement.

“So now that’s been established, shall we go?” she motioned towards the stairwell entrance with her manacled hands, the thick chain connecting them rattling as she did. The guards, now seemingly much more comfortable knowing she wasn’t going to bolt the second she was out of the dungeons, escorted her towards the main entrance. Hurriedly they opened up the doorway and wrapped her arms in their grip again, “for appearances.”  

   As she was led up the stairwell and into the upper corridors, Sabeline turned her head towards a small unremarkable arched window that captured her attention. From this angle, her eyes latched onto the golden sun descending slowly behind one of the distant hills of the Great Green Plateau.

   They had come for her at dusk, just as Bersaba said.