CHAPTER 158: THE PRISONER'S KNOWLEDGE

Sara and Palwin sat in a dimly lit room.

The candles flickered against stone walls, casting dancing shadows across the small space. They had come to Sister Korra's modest house to meet Alice, to see if she could muster anything useful against Malachar. Every advantage they could get, they needed to get. And before presenting an ex-criminal's words to the King they had to review them first.

"Sara." Palwin called her name.

But Sara was still in deep thoughts. How to deal with fake Aldric. How to find the real Aldric. How Marcus and Tom would return. Keeping all those secrets was taking a toll on her mind. The weight pressed down on her constantly.

When Palwin pulled her sleeve Sara finally came to her senses.

"Sara?"

"Yes Palwin." She returned to the present and forced a smile.

"Do I need to be here?"

"Palwin you are a valued member of our group..."

"Sara you don't need to..." Palwin cut her words and mustered some strength. Her voice was firmer than usual. "Sweet talk to me. Am I useful here?"

Sara paused to think. The question deserved an honest answer.

"Palwin..." She reached out and held Palwin's hands. They were cold. Trembling slightly. "You are my sister. I... I... feel weak these weeks. You give me strength."

Palwin nodded slowly. "You give me strength too."

Sara hadn't realized until that moment that pulling the emotionally fragile Palwin everywhere wasn't just for Palwin's benefit. She needed her friend to stay strong herself.

"Plus you might see in her things we don't. You never met her before."

"Is she evil?" Palwin asked.

"That is the thing. I don't think she is. She was just tricked into believing the best way to protect Drakmoor was giving Malachar what he wanted."

The door creaked open.

Sister Korra entered first, her white robes seeming gray in the dim light. Aluro Starweaver followed, her warrior's posture tense. And behind them, hands in chains, thin as a branch and looking older than her older sister, came Alice Brightshield.

Prison had not been kind to her. Her cheeks were hollow. Dark circles ringed her eyes. Her hair, once lustrous, hung limp and tangled.

When they were all seated Sister Korra began.

"You being my sister won't bring you any freedom. But if you cooperate we will ask the King to lower your sentence."

Then Aluro continued. Her voice was measured but the pain beneath it was clear.

"Your actions directly helped Lord Varek and his ambition to get rid of our nation's hero Thymon Starweaver. But I will not hold any grudge." She leaned forward. "Please just give us something. Because Malachar is marching with nearly five hundred thousand people. Even if all of Drakmoor could fight against it, which they can't, there is no chance against his seasoned and magical army."

Alice sighed. Her eyes moved around the room, taking in all four women.

"When did the cleaner at Thorne Shop rise to the level of save-Valdris meetings?"

Sister Korra's face darkened. Her jaw tightened with barely suppressed anger.

Sara cut in before things could escalate.

"Sister Korra no need to start arguing. I understand her. Or at least I try to. When all hope seemed lost she thought giving up might save us. But now we have a chance. Marcus..."

"Marcus is a child!" Alice screamed. The chains rattled as she jerked forward. "He doesn't even have any power! You are all going to kill us!" Her voice cracked. "Just surrender. Varek told me Malachar needs the mines in our mountain. He won't kill the population. He'll just make us work. Like our stupid King already does."

Everyone listened quietly to Alice's rant. She had been locked away for nearly two years now. Honestly she was starting to lose her sanity. The isolation had worn her down.

"Marcus has a way to cancel Malachar's mind magic." Sara said calmly.

Alice's withered and hateful face turned confused. Her mouth opened. Closed.

"How?"

"Doesn't matter how." Sara's voice hardened. She leaned forward, meeting Alice's eyes. "Until he comes back we need an advantage. If you have anything in mind. If anything Varek blurted out. Tell us now."

She held Alice's gaze without flinching.

"This is your last chance."

The room fell silent. The candles flickered. Somewhere outside a bird called.

Alice stared at Sara. At the young woman who had risen from nothing. Who had fought in the siege. Who now sat across from her demanding answers.

Something shifted in Alice's eyes. The defiance cracked.

"Varek talked when he was drunk." Her voice was quiet now. Defeated.