//Chapter 69//
1102 Words
After twenty or so minutes, I extracted all the needed information from Seth and Kor.
They were currently debating whether they should remain here with me or go and join the others who were preparing for an experiment to form on Relach. As he was the oldest among the prisoners, having lived for one hundred and twenty eight years, he had been assigned for it without his consent. I knew what they meant by that. They dragged a powerless unconscious man to a lab room. I did not want to freak myself out by imagining what he would be going through in near future or right now.
From what I gathered, I was in the same building, but was way underground than I went before. I calculated it to be at least ten ro twelve levels, judging from the conversations I just had. Resh and Bran were also here on this level. I was especially isolated in a room with a wall of insfi stones so I won't be able to use my Elf powers to the fullest.
And then I asked them where the insfi stones came from. I had almost lost my control and destroyed their minds when I heard the answer for that.
Unnel had been smuggling insfi stones here for the past two years. According to Seth and Kor, Daniel was helping him, along side with Nave and another powerful person they did not know of.
And the reason they needed the stones here?
I did my very best to stay still in that time. They had needed more hands to build Plycin. What better option was there than Elf slaves?
Daniel was trading slaves with Unnel in exchange for information. There were at least a hundred Elves here in the city right now. They had been here for the past two years, building this marvelous place in another kingdom.
I could feel the tears threatened to fall out of my eyes. If I had not run away, if I had faced them early on without worrying about a dream or anything, they won't be going through this. They would be free citizens under my rule and all these troubles would be over if I had been brave before.
I gathered myself. It's always better late than never.
-
Unnel was standing before Seth and Kor. We bowed to him in unison. "Master."
"How is the princess?" He asked. "Awake yet?"
"No, my lord." Seth said. "We have been observing her for a while. She is still not conscious."
"She is pretending." Master said. Seth widened his eyes as Kor gasped. His face told one thing. I knew it.
"I am so sorry, master!" Seth bowed. "I should've been more careful. Even after Kor warned me... I had let you down."
"It's okay." Unnel said, standing up. "I have a plan. She is probably going to escape sooner or later. I'm willing to bet she is already planning it. I need you to pretend to help her in escaping."
"What?!" Kor asked, voicing Seth's thoughts.
"Pardon me, my lord," Seth calmly responded. "That is ridiculous. She can't escape now in those shackles. Who knows what she would do-"
"Are you trying to tell me what to do?" Unnel asked, matching his calm tone. "Do not speak when you don't know anything. I was not done talking."
Seth was taken aback. "Sorry, my lord." He said. Kor frowned, but did not say anything.
"I will go away from here in a minute. You wait till she stop pretending and wake up. Then you can act like you support her. One of you stay with her and the other one come to me. I'll give you the key. You set her free and bring her to where the others are held."
"That sounds risky." Kor said.
"I want her to feel the fear, the pain of losing someone just like I did." Unnel said. "She will be powerless. We are giving her the hope and then we destroy it infront of her eyes. Do you understand now?"
Seth and Kor nodded. "Yes, Master." They said in unison.
-
I opened my eyes, pretending to regain consciousness just then. I gasped as if I was in pain and tried to break free from my shackles, putting up a good show for Seth and Kor.
"Look, she is awake." Seth said. "Princess, are you alright?"
I was taken aback. Did he just talk to me nicely? I nodded, confused.
Kor neared a straw to my mouth. I drank it and tasted the tastelesssness of qater in my mouth. "Princess, I am glad to see you alright. We are here to help you escape. Could you please come with us?"
I laughed, almost spitting out the water from my mouth. The water tickled down from a corner of my mouth. Kor wiped it with a paper he found who knows from where.
"I am not stupid." I said after swallowing the water. "Actually, I was awake this whole time. I heard everything you said before I opened my eyes."
It was not easy to see both of them looking down at me with faint smirks and fake concerns in their faces. I truly felt vulnerable.
"We knew you were awake, Your Highness." Kor said. "We were told that having an intriguing conversation would wake up anyone, so we tried lying to you in your dreams."
I stared at him, not believing him at all. Damn, who knew he was such a liar with a cute face? He looked like he was in his mid twenties so I guessed he would be around age four hundred or more. The years must have taught him how to lie like a pro, just like Nave.
I rolled my eyes. "If you say so. I honestly say, I hardly believe you. Get me out of these shackles and I would trust you."
"Okay. I just have to get- steal the key to locks from Lord Unnal." Seth said. "You guys wait here. I will be back in short."
He left the room and Kor stared at him. I talked to him. "How stupid are you to stay here without getting the key first? By the way, were you sent by Savin?"
Kor nodded. "Yes, we were sent by his highness."
"Good." I said. "I'm going to rest till he comes. Everything hurt in my body."
Kor hummed.
I closed my eyes, focusing on Seth and the thread of power I stuck in his head, leading me to Unnel.
The first step of my plan was a success.
- Writer
