Empty Promises

The steps descended deep into the earth. I led the way with Vris close on my heels. Her position was no doubt to prevent me from running back up, though a darker part of my mind supposed I could overwhelm her if need be. I shuddered at the thought and pushed it away.

A bitter cold settled on my bones. The air was just shy of cold enough for my breath to fog the air. My teeth chattered and I hugged myself as we moved into a cramped hallway. The ceiling was close, claustrophobically so; if I wanted, I could stand on my tiptoes and press my scalp to the stone.

I was about to ask Vris how much further we had to go when the hallway opened up into a narrow room. The ceiling shot up so high, it was obscured in darkness. There were cells to either side fitted with both vertical and horizontal metal bars. What surprised me most was a lack of guards. The place was silent as a grave, the soft crackling of torches the only sound.

I slowed to a stop, unsure where to go. “Which one is mine?”

“The last one on the right,” Vris said.

I counted cells as I went. There were six on each side, a neat dozen holes for the Emperor to hide people in. I peered through the bars, trying to see if I would have any neighbours. The cells were dark and there was a complete lack of movement. Circumstances had placed me in unintentional solitary confinement.

My designated cell was open, ready to receive me. The bars in one area had somehow receded, giving me a gap the size of the average door to walk through. I stepped in.

“My lady, wait, please let me tend to your burns,” Vris said, coming to stand next to me in my cell.

I did as I was asked without complaint. She applied a salve to my palms and wrapped them in bandages.

“Am I allowed dinner?” I asked as I withdrew my hands.

“Some water and bread will be provided to you in the morning,” Vris said. Her face was apologetic. I’d been given yet another punishment for breaking that damned mirror.

I retreated into the darkness at the rear of my cell and sat down, resting my forehead on my knees. My energy reserves were depleted, all I wanted to do was sleep.

The distant sound of armor clanking drifted into the dungeon. I assumed it would pass us by, but it grew steadily louder. My head snapped up. Vris turned towards the sounds and frowned.

“—should have already been done,” one guard said, his voice gruff and annoyed.

“I already apologized, what more do you want from me?” the other guard said, her tone wheedling.

. Two guards breezed in, both looking like they’d rather be anywhere else.

“You drop off the Seer?” the female guard asked Vris.

“I did.”

“Then get out of here.”

Vris gave me one last look before scurrying away. Once she was out of the cell, the two guards positioned themselves to either side of my cell. I heard a chunk, then saw the bars elongate with several loud clicks until they locked into place, making it impossible to determine where the gap had been.

The guards turned and went to the cell across from mine. I saw that they each had to insert a key on either side of the cell, too far across for one person to reach, in order to open the door. The bars retracted to form a gap and the male guard slipped in.

“Get up,” the guard barked. I heard the jangling of shackles as they were fastened onto someone, then shuffling as the person either stood up or was dragged up.

Well, turns out I’d been wrong. I wasn’t alone down here. I crawled forward, curious to see who this other prisoner might be.

The guard dragged out an elderly person. Their grey hair was long and tangled, their skin sagging and spotted. They wore a sleeveless tunic that may have once been white and was now a dingy brown along with black pants that ended mid-shin. The person stumbled, clearly unused to walking. Their head came up and our eyes met.

The man, for at this point my guess was that he was a man, had dark brown eyes deep set in a lined face. He struck me as being at least eighty years old, if not older. A spark bloomed in his eyes as he saw me.

“Are you a Seer?” his voice cracked as he spoke.

I froze, shocked at being addressed.

“Keep quiet, old man,” the male guard said as he and the female guard locked his cell.

“Yes, I’m a Seer,” I said, pressing myself against the bars.

He licked his dry lips. “It’s happening. This is the moment.”

Without warning he ripped away from the guard and threw himself against the bars of my cell. I scrambled back, heart pounding.

“Don’t let them deceive you,” he cried, spittle flying. “Don’t believe their empty promises.”

“Who?” I asked, desperate for answers. I heard a soft thud, then a cacophony of armor plates sliding around as the male guard grabbed the man and tore him away. The guard slammed a fist into the man’s stomach. I winced at the impact as I heard all the air rush out of his lungs.

“I said keep quiet,” the guard growled. Whatever fight the man had was snuffed out. The guard tossed him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried him out of sight.

“Wow, outplayed by a decrepit murderer. You might need to hand in your resignation,” the female guard joked.

“Shut your mouth,” the guard shot back. The two continued to bicker as they left the dungeon. I let out a breath when I was sure they were gone. A flicker of light caught my eye. Right beside my cell was a small object. I squinted at it. A coin, maybe?

I reached through the bars and was just able to grab it. I brought it up to my face for examination. It looked like a coin, roughly the size of a 100 yen coin, but was much thicker than any coin I’d ever seen. One side had a mountain stamped on it while the other side was blank. It reminded me of the token Vris had presented to the guards to get around the palace, except hers had a sparrow on it.

I held the token up to the meagre light, trying to see if there was anything else I could determine about it. Maybe this belonged to the guards? Or had the prisoner dropped it?

I had to accept defeat when I realized there was nothing more to see about the token and placed it inside my pants pocket. They’d called him a murderer. I wasn't about to trust him blindly, but he was the first person who ran counter to the narrative everyone else seemed desperate to stick to. My temples were throbbing, exhaustion creeping in.

I crawled into the rear corner of my cell and was pleased to discover a blanket, thin though it was, and a straw pallet. I curled up on the pallet and closed my eyes. If I couldn’t have food, the next thing I needed was sleep.