Great Escape

“There is no time left, it must be tomorrow night.” Prince Cadfael’s expression had sobered, not a portion of the levity he had possessed when they first met remained.

“I’m not complaining, but what’s happened to make it so urgent?”

“Haven’t you noticed the sky?”

An image of the sunny training field forged itself in Yuji’s thoughts, those wispy clouds instead of heavy dark nothingness reminding what an oddity a clear day was.

“In three days, there will be a full moon in a clear sky and that will be the day of the ceremony.”

A buzzing irrupted across the nerves in Yuji’s chest. “So, what’s the plan? How do we get her out of here?”

“Nocturn as you know is walled on all sides. It only has two ways in or out. However, the sewer has exits all across the city that pass beneath the walls. They are of course barred, but things can be gotten round if handled correctly.”

Taking a scroll, Prince Cadfael spread it on a table he had brought in, it was covered in winding lines that lead in and out of each other all throughout a large portioned off area.

“This is a map of the sewers that run throughout the capital. Most of these pipes are too difficult to access to be used for our purposes. So, we’ll focus on the largest and most direct routes. As you can see there are three main sewer lines on both the west and east sides of the city. Our starting point being here, we would want to pick those nearest the north. It will reduce the time in the sewer system and hopefully limit their means of guessing the potential escape route. You will, of course, have a map at your disposal, but you must keep it on your person at all times.” He indicated the closest exit. “This is the one we are aiming for. It is the nearest and easiest to access.”

“Alright, and after we’re out?”

The prince overlayed another map that displayed the city as well as its surrounding territories. Yuji’s heart sunk.

“There’s no forests on the north side. When we get out, we’ll be in the open.”

“Your right, the forested region doesn’t start until about halfway through the city. If you make it through to the designated section there will be horses waiting for you. If you wish to try and go further, then you’ll have to manage on your own. I would like to say your possibility of victory increases if you remain subterranean, but the elves have a lot of tricks up their sleeves.”

Yuji could see the distorted eyes of Lord Dain, the fissures across his face, and his ability to shoot what to Yuji’s mind could only be magic bullets that seemed to turn into bombs when they made contact with something.

What they gave him couldn’t possibly be the only thing they have up their sleeve. We’re just not that lucky.

“Just because I’m not with you down there doesn’t mean I won’t be working in your favor. I have already set up several distractions for the elves. How long they will delay them I cannot say, but the effort has been put in.”

“And what about getting her out of the palace?”

A third map was rolled out. “The Centauri Seren is located here. It is a special wing always kept in use. It is also where most of the elves are housed, to include his excellency. His room is right here. Now the access point to the sewer is hidden in the garden outside her personal rooms and we do have one of her maids working with us.”

“Which one?”

“I think her name is Rosafiere.”

“I thought it might be her.” Yuji could still see her expression as she handed him the note within a note.

“She will assist with the Centauri Seren entering the sewer. As for the horses, they will be fully equipped with everything you’ll need for your departure.”

“Let’s go over everything again.” Yuji peeled back the maps to the sewer lines examining the twisting interconnected tunnels.

-*-

Lady Menodora walked through the garden Rosafiere leading her slowly through the hedges. They were visible from every window facing out toward the garden. There was almost nowhere to hide here, even the small amount of privacy she had in the margrave’s fortress seemed perfect freedom in comparison.

“My lady.” Rosafiere’s voice was hardly a whisper.

“Yes.”

“We mustn’t go that way this time. This way.”

Lady Menodora allowed her maid to lead her behind a thick sculpted bush that took up a large space in the garden. With a swift movement Rosafiere pulled her through its branches to an intimate clearing hardly large enough for the two of them and the great ornate stone slab set near its center. There waiting for them was a change of clothes near a near the stone slab, its fine lines incrusted with dirt.

“My lady forgive me, but you must change at once.”

Lady Menodora didn’t fight as her maid stripped her and helped her dress without even waiting for her consent.

“Please forgive me my lady for my next sin.” Taking the strands of silver hair Rosafiere cut the length up to her mistress’s shoulders, tying the remainder up in a black cloth. Assured of her work her maid smeared dampened ash all over her face, neck, and ears to dull their vibrancy.

Rosafiere stomped on the surface of the large stone circle. A moment passed and it rose and shifted out of place, revealing a dark hole from which Yuji looked up at her.

“Come my lady, we have to go.”

She took his hand allowing him to lead her down, waiting beside him in the stillness while he and Rosafiere replaced the covering, sealing them inside. Frightened and sense of depth perception lost she stood frozen in the darkness, too startled to speak. A hand took hers and with a slight tug encouraged her to follow after.

“Must we proceed in the dark?” Her voice was small and intimate.

“You can only use fire to cast light and the methane in these systems is flammable. It’s safer to go in the dark. Don’t worry, I know the way. Now we have to be quite so you can’t speak until I tell you.”

“Alright.”

I don’t need a light when I’m with you.

Lady Menodora couldn’t help a soft smile, the transient emptiness of the space around them grounding only because of the floor beneath their feet and the foul smell emanating around them.

I would go anywhere you lead me. Anywhere.

-*-

“What do you mean she’s gone!” Drazhan paled.

“Just that, she can’t be located.” An elf stated from near the door of Drazhan’s apartment.

“When was this noticed?”

“An hour after she went for a walk in the garden.”

Drazhan paced staring into nothing, his expression astringent. “Who went with her?”

“Her maid Rosafiere, I am afraid to say she was found dead in her room.”

“Was there any evidence of where she might have gone or who she might have gone with?” He stopped suddenly. “Auderic, see if Lord Till is still in his chambers and if he isn’t find out if there is any word of where he might be. Hartwin, have you searched the garden?”

“We have but there is nothing out of the ordinary, we have sent for the gardener who tends it regularly, but it is taking time as he is a part of the staff seeing to the eastern palace gardens. There was another gardener that was handling some of his work yesterday and today, but we can’t locate him and even if we do its unlikely that we will find him in better condition than her maid.”

This can’t be happening.

“What about Prince Cadfael?”

“He has already been interrogated and has revealed nothing.”

“Did you apply pressure?”

“We did and still nothing.”

Drazhan stopped near a large window that took up most of the wall on that side of the room. Twilight was fading. In less than three hours the moon would be at its optimal height. They could extract at another time, but the potency of the magic would be hardly worth the energy it took to fetch it.

Going to an ornate white gilded cabinet he retrieved the holly wood box, the very same one he had in his final meeting with Lord Dain. Opening the lid he exposed three stones. Each were perfectly round and glittering, containing an inner light that flashed like opals.

“You’re not seriously considering using another one?” Auderic stepped deeper into the room.

“What choice do we have?”

“Those came at a great price to our brothers and sisters. They shouldn’t be used flippantly. Surely one girl and her irritating companion cannot be worth such a loss.”

“She is not just one girl, she is the Centauri Seren, an idol of our making. It was short sighted of us to fail to promote her complete worship. And as for that boy, he has proven to be more of a problem then you are rightfully estimating. He managed to withstand an echo blast.”

“But those stones are our brothers and sisters you can’t just simply use them because you cannot be patient for an answer.”

“If we lose her, it is possible, we shall have to use them anyway. Have you forgotten the war we had to fight to take this land? The only reason we have it now is because we’ve worked hard to reframe the minds of the citizenry. If we lose control of them, then we have lost control of everything and likely, with as few as our numbers are now, we will have to utilize their crystals anyhow, either to survive or to suppress.”

“I still protest.”

“Protest as you like Auderic, it is not your decision to make.”