Calliope - I

She sat beside her parents atop the high stairs of the throne room. Above, the light of the rising sun pierced through the glass window subdivided into seven sections and spread sprays of colored light across the mosaic lotus embedded on the floor. The light also shone upon the portraits hung along the walls, giving each person depicted in the piece a radiance beyond this world. With just a quick glance, Calliope could pick out Hilton, Meira, Dawn, Taka, and Evelyn. They were her favorites, after all, painted by Lady Daina herself. The girl could never take her gaze away once she looked.

It looks so real, thought Calli as her eyes moved from one portrait to another. There was always a perfect balance in the usage of different kinds of edges, Calliope noted. Daina’s choice of color ranges to represent the intensity of light and by extension, shadows were also good, too good. They gave each of her paintings a feel that they contained a whole different world behind those contours and shapes, and a single touch could suck Calliope into them.

and she wished she could just do just that and escaped these talks of marriage.

“I don’t want a husband just yet.” She had told her Lord Father and Lady Mother countless times, but they had insisted that they could not simply turn away the other party until they had met and discussed the matter.

“So what do you think? Your Calliope and our Robert.” The father of her suitor said.

Calliope didn’t let her mother speak, “With my utmost respect, Lord Robedo, I do believe your son is better suited for my sister Lilian. They are both four-and-ten, and she is a lot prettier than I am.” Can’t imagine if Lilian was the elder.

The boy was decent enough. He had hairs the color of autumn leaves. His bright blue eyes had met hers more than once, but he was always the one losing the staring contest. Calliope found the oval face of his rather fitting for his features, all but that overly sharp and small nose that seemed to disappear when seeing edge-on.

The Lord of High District did not seem to be pleased with her proposal, “Age isn’t a problem, my Lady. I myself married a woman five years my senior.”

She found her best smile and said: “I would gladly accept your proposal, under one condition.”

The Lord’s face lit up as if he had stumbled upon a gold mine, but that soon faded once Calliope stated her condition: she would give up her right to inherit the Seat of Oracle. Cali looked at the Lord of the High District with half a smile.

“If you want my parent’s seat, then perhaps you should ask for Lilian’s hand. She’s learning how to play the harp right now I believe.”

Her mother cleared her throat, “It seems our eldest daughter is a little bit… hesitant on this match” Her lady mother said with a smile, “Please accept our apology. Perhaps our younger daughter would be more willing?” She turned and asked her husband.

The Lord of High District raised, “My son is not meant for some younger daughter.” He grabbed the boy and walked off.

Her Mother stood and slammed a hand on the chair handle, albeit not too violently. It was more of a graceful motion than a violent outburst.

“Lord Robedo.” Mother said with icy courtesy, “You come here and ask for our daughter's hand, and we agree to hear your proposal, so I expect you to be respectful and hear what we have to say.”

The Lord of the High District stopped dead in his tracks and turned around with an apologetic bow. His son did the same, “Please forgive my rudeness, Lady Shadolltheon.”

Her mother sat down, “I understand you are here for our eldest daughter’s hand. I shouldn’t have brought Lilian into this.”

“Mother, why not?”

“You will not speak until you are told to, child. Let the adults discuss the matter.” Mother said with a frown.

“There’s nothing to discuss, Mother. We are done here. Just let them go. Don’t we have petitions to hear?” Calliope turned over to her mother.

“Do I need to repeat myself, young lady?”

Her father turned to her and signaled with his eyes that she should stop.

Calliope took a very deep breath and said: “No, mother. I am sorry.”

“Good.” Mother said, then turned to their guests, “Ellenor’s a stubborn girl, but she will come around eventually.”

“I like her, Milady.” Said Lord Robedo, “A wife should be obedient to her husband, but sometimes as much as we men hate to admit it, a woman does know better.”

“I appreciate your honesty, Lord Robedo, but I will have you know that your son is not the only suitor out for Ellenor’s hand. Other houses have sent letters expressing their interest.”

Wait, they sent letters? And She didn’t even bother telling me?

The discussion went on a bit later, though Calli paid little attention to it. She was too upset to care at this point.

When the Lord had taken his leave, Calli was about to complain, but the Lord of Oracle cleared his throat and interrupted her, “How about a contest?” Father said, to everyone’s surprise.

“A contest?” Mother asked.

“Yes, a contest to see who earns the right for your hand, daughter, and make it so that anyone interested can enter.”

Wait, anyone? “YES!” Said Calliope.

“NO!” Lady Shadolltheon followed.

They both stared at each other while Father laughed.

“Dear, have you forgotten what happened?” Mother said.

Father shrugged, “What happened brought us together, Mari.”

Mother let out a groan, “Please, and what’s this about letting anyone partake? What if a commoner wins?”

That only made father laugh, “Then we should take him in and train him so he can join the rank of the mages. We are in dire need of men anyway, and someone that could beat the best mages the nobles could find is invaluable.”

Mother did not find that amusing. She only stared at her husband, who let out a sigh, “Mari, you always worry too much. It’s not like any commoner has a chance against the highly skilled Mages of the Nobles. Besides, a very important person is coming to the city for the first time in… decades? Don’t you think a contest like that is the perfect way to welcome her?”

“Wait, who's coming over?” Calli turned to her father.

“We haven’t told you, have we? Mage Evelyn is planning to return to the city.” her mother was the one to answer.

Her eyes widened, “Evelyn? That Evelyn?” She pointed the portrait of Evelyn up on the wall.

“Evelyn the Eternal, None other.” Father said, “And Get this, Daughter. She is bringing with her a boy. He’s a blood bearer, and a very talented one as well according to her. That’s not something one of the First Mages give out easily.” Father’s voice was full of excitement, “You should get to know him a little, Calli. He will be new, so he’s gonna need someone to show him how things run around here.” Father blinked at her.

“I get where this is going.” She leaned back on her chair, “Oh I am so excited for that one kind and caring commoner to steal my heart away from me.” Calliope put a hand on her chest and pretended to act like a lovesick girl, then she gave Father a mischievous smile.

Father had a good laugh out of that while her mother shook her head and sighed, “We will discuss this another time, now we have work to do.” Her mother said.

They proceeded to hear petitions afterward. Her parent’s Council was the first to arrive. Only four out of five were presented, not atypical of any petitions hearing. Next came the Nobles and Blood Bearers from the High District, gathering around the room as crowded as a marketplace down at the Ground Level, among them the Lord of the High District and his son. She also spotted people coming all the way from the low district to attend. Cali often looked at the paintings when the People of the High and Middle districts presented their cases as it were mostly reports of their properties being stolen by the notorious criminal known as the Apparition, however; from time to time, there would be reports of people mysteriously disappearing in the night, not unlike the lower levels. These were when the Battle Mages would be deployed, for the possible involvement of an Infected lurking near or within the city.

Though according to Lancer only a few cases were the actual work of an Infected, the rest, runaways… or worse, homicides.

There weren’t any new reports of missing people today, and on the matter of the Apparition, her parents promised the people of the higher districts that the Lord Enforcer and his men were working day and night to track down the criminal, but it seemed the aristocrat’s patience was running low. Some even came up with their own theory as to how to find this Thief.

“The people in the lower levels must know something. I said we throw a few in the cells and see how long they can hold the secret.”

“And why do you think that they know?” Father frowned at the accuser.

“They never get robbed by that wretched Creature! and not to mention that ever since it appeared, they live in way better conditions than they ever have the right to.” The man whose belly bulged from his doublet claimed, “I have heard people from the Middle and High Districts claim that they have seen those from the lower levels traveling up to their market to buy food and clothes. That’s ludicrous. Where did they find the money?”

“Are you suggesting that this thief’s giving the people in the lower levels money?” Father stroked his chin.

“Yes, Milord.”

She could hear People whispering even at the far end of the hall. Scheming whispers Cali thought, as the Lords and Nobles and Blood Bearers knew too well if this insane story were to hold true, they would have a just cause for a petition to expel the bloodless to the ground level.

Cali always found it hard to speak when there were this many people watching her, and today was no exception. She had to take a few deep breaths before the words could come out, “You can’t possibly believe that, Milord.”

When the accuser turned his attention toward her, she said: “Of course the thief never steals from those people, how much wealth do you think they have?”

The Lord could give her no answer, so Calli went on, “Besides, if you think about it for a few seconds, it doesn’t make much sense. From what we have learned so far, We know the Apparition has intimate knowledge of the Upper levels of Oracle, so that must mean he’s likely from the Middle Level or above. Why would anyone from the higher levels go through all that trouble to help people from the lower levels?”

“It could be a case of Dormant Blood.” Highscholar Pithon, one of the five members of her parents’ council, suggested, “But then again if the Shadows is from the lower levels, it’s unlikely he knows the nooks and crannies of the Upper levels well enough to… blink between city’s levels if the words of the Enforcers are to be believed.” The man stroked the invisible beard that he forgot he had shaved not long ago, “And that still doesn’t take into consideration the matter of why. Why would you choose a life of crime as opposed to just becoming a fully pledged Blood Bearer?”

They decided to lay the theory to rest on the basis of lack of evidence, “Those people probably just had a very good year.” Said Lady Shadolltheon as she waved the man away and summoned the next, and Calli went back to looking at heroes of the Order with her stomach starting to growl.

The cases from the people from the low district were a bit more interesting. A man was accusing a baker of using sawdust to make his bread. Father had to call upon the help of one of their family heirlooms. An artifact engineered by the brilliant minds of Evelyn and Daina that could somewhat detect someone lying. She had read about the artifact from documents left by Mage Evelyn herself, and apparently very skilled liars can trick it, and people who are under tremendous mental stress can also warp the results.

Wrapping the collar around the baker's arm, Father asked him if he was guilty, and the gem on top of the Artifact flashed red after The baker had told the court that he was innocent.

“I ask again, are you denying the accusation?”

There was a hesitation in the baker’s response, still, he denied having committed the crime. The gem flashed red once again.

“I have heard enough. The artifact doesn’t lie.” Said her father.

Does it now?

“Should we ask Lilian for her aid?” Lady mother suggested.

“I won’t border her with something like this. This baker is guilty.” Father looked down at the baker who fell on his knee and confessed, “For your punishment, you shall make and sell your bread at half the price until this day next year. Of Course, I expect no sawdust in those bread, and should you do it again, I will make sure that your bakery finds a more genuine owner.”

By the time father had passed that Judgment, her stomach was so growling so loudly that she feared someone in the room might have heard it, but if they did, they did not show it. Fortunately, there was only one ‘petition’ left, from a man at the ground level. In the past, petitions from the ground levels were often fast and straightforward, often reports of bandit raids. These cases were left to city enforcers to deal with. Calli always found irony in that. The reason there were so many outlaws in the first place was due to how rarely the enforcers patrolled the ground level, the one place that lacked a protective wall and the height advantage, and it didn’t help that most of these attacks occurred at night, so the search for the culprits often turned up with nothing; however, in recent years, the court had received fewer and fewer petitions from the ground level regarding the problem, and today was no exception.

The only man from the ground level walked in, leading with him a group of people whose hands were tied together by a long rope. He then bowed before Calli and her parents, “Milord, I bring you members of the infamous band of Outlaws that has been raiding the outskirts of our city.”

Lady Shadolltheon was the first to frown, “You expect us to believe you captured these dangerous criminals?”

“Milady, I… I never said that…”

“What proof do you have that these are who you claim they are?” Calli was the one to say that.

“I have it here, Milady.” The man pulled out a letter, sealed by a familiar black wax. A guard took the letter and handed it over to her father.

His face turned dark after he opened it, “Highscholar, You have studied the Shadow’s handwriting extensively, can you identify it?”

The Scholar stroked his non-existent beard, “I can confidently say yes, Milord.”

Her father handed the letter to Pithon.

“Yes… From the syntax to word choices… I can say with almost certainty that it’s him…” The scholar declared after a while reading.

“Can I see it?” Asked Calli.

The Scholar nodded, “If the Lady insists.” He handed a guard the letter to deliver to her.

To whom this may concern,

I will start by admitting that this is but a tiny step in solving the problems that have been plaguing your… less fortunate citizens, but it is a step regardless. The men I captured here are a part of a band of outlaws active in the area surrounding the outskirt of Oracle, and while I very much doubt they are solely responsible for all the raids suffered by your citizens, they undeniably played a huge part in them. From the little time I spent with the captured men, I have learned that the outlaws have multiple hideouts which they switch frequently to avoid detection from City Enforcers. Now you must forgive me for placing this responsibility on you, but I am only one man, and pursuing them alone is a task impossible even for the likes of me, so I leave you with these men. Use them well, and protect your citizens. That is the least you can do for now.

Your Most Loyal Subject,

The Apparition

“Huh, That is awfully nice of him.” Calli commented with a smile.

The crowd started to whisper the moment they heard that. She wondered what they had to say.

Mother was the next one to read the letter, and together they decided to not reveal its content, to the crowd’s displeasure, of course.

“You may leave now. A reward shall be granted to you for this delivery.” Father told the man from the ground level, “Take these men to the cell. We will deal with them later.” Father gave an order. He then raised a hand and said, “That is the last petition for today. This session is now over.”

When she walked out of the Throne Room, Lance was already at the door, leaning his back against the frame and waiting for her. She curtsied the Mage when she realized there were still people leaving the room. Calli then moved closer and leaned into his ear, “I am hungry.”

Lance chuckled and whispered back to her dramatically, “To the Kitchen, I shall escort the Hog Princess.”

She hated it when he called her that. They went to the kitchen, and Calli found herself four lemon cakes, a few pies, some bread, two sausages, and some slices of salted beef and a couple of thrilled fishes to chew on. They should keep her going until supper. After the quick snack, Lance escorted the girl back to her chamber where she would take a nap before she started her afternoon routine.

When she entered her chamber, Evelyn took out the pen and paper and wrote down a set of instructions. She then dragged Lance into her room and handed the paper to him.

“Give it to you know who as soon as possible.” Said Calli.

“I have been meaning to ask this: why don’t you just pen it? Wouldn’t that be quicker?” Lance said as he took the paper.

“Although It’s rather difficult, penning is traceable.”

“Wait… it’s traceable?” Lance's eyes looked as though they would pop out.

“In the book, Revolutions in Communication, Mage Thera laid out a possible way for a third party to trace, interfere and even manipulate the exchange, theoretically that is, but I don’t wish to take chances, however small.”

“I have no idea… Alright, I will give it to her then.”

“Thank you. Wake me up as usual.” She told Lance before he left.

Calli climbed on her bed and fell into a deep sleep the moment her eyes were closed.

When Lance woke her an hour later, it felt as if time did not pass at all.

Calli stretched and got out of bed. She left her chamber shortly after and made her way toward the library, passing by Lilian’s room on the way. Calli and her bodyguard stopped when she heard the sound of the Harp playing. Her sister was performing the Gentle Strings, a song by Mage Dawn.

Lance was so mesmerized by Lilian that he didn’t notice Calli silently walking away. She headed straight for the Library where she would spend time with her father, practicing the art of shaping her imagination into reality.

“Try this.” Father placed a sculpture in front of her.

“This is… your signature… You made this?” Calli said after studying the statue closely. It depicted a weeping woman with birdlike wings spreading wide behind her back.

Her father nodded and said, “You know who that is?”

She shook her head.

“Her name is Meilin. She was the Leader of the Group that would later become the First Mages; however, Meilin was infected by a vile medium from the Eastern Empire.” Father explained. That sounded familiar to her, but she did not recall when she had heard it.

“If she is bad, then why did you sculpt her?”

“I didn’t make it, so I don’t know. This is a replica of the original, and It was Evelyn who made the original sculpture. I did ask Pithon, and…” Father said then he cleared his throat, “From the record of the time, it seems Meilin and Evelyn were close, so perhaps she wished to honor her fallen friend.” He tried to imitate the Scholar and failed miserably.

His attempt made Calli giggled.

“Anyway, can you invoke a replica of the sculpture?” Asked Father.

Calli nodded, held out her hand, and drew an image of the weeping woman. Bronze, She thought, about fifteen inches in height, four in length, and in width.

“Accept this humble offer of my own life energy. Initiate Invocation.” She chanted, and in a flash of red light, what she had drawn in her head came into being, and fell into her hands, “Hm, a bit too big.” Calli said when she saw her creation.

“Can you hand it over?” Father gave her a hand. When he got hold of the replica, he took out a piece of iron and dropped it onto the construct. It hit the woman’s head and bounced off, “This is magnetized by the way.” He said, picking up the piece of black metal on the ground.

“So?” She asked.

“It does seem like Bronze to me.” Father said, studying the statue she made, “Pretty good on the details, even down to dents and chips.” Father put down the replica and gave her a satisfactory nod.

Father then instructed her to make sculptures again but with different materials. By the end, She had made the weeping woman with wood, stone, iron, steel, and even rare gems.

“Calli…” Father called her just as she was about to leave.

Ah here we go again, “I have told you many times father, I will not learn the gift of the blood.”

“It’s not that. It’s about your marriage…”

That got her attention, “What about it, Father? Don’t tell me mother has gotten through to you.” She raised a brow.

“No, Daughter. I simply want to know what kind of boys you like?” Her father asked.

That question came rather out of nowhere, and it left Calli at a loss for words, “I don’t know actually… never put much thought into that.”

“Maybe you should.” Father smiled.

She shrugged, “Maybe. I don’t know…”

An awkward silence fell upon them until she broke it, “Anway, I gotta go now.”

Father nodded and sent her off. Calli went back to her bedchamber. She saw Lance waiting by the door, avoiding eye contact with her.

Calli put on a mischievous smile, “Did you enjoy your fiance’s musical?”

“Ellie, just get on with your business.” The mage’s face turned very red as he opened the door for her.

Calli laughed, “You don’t have to stick around with me, you know. I am fine on my own. Go spend some time with Lilian.”

“I’m still your bodyguard. Anyway, wake you up in an hour, now go sleep.” Lance said, closing the door.

She sat down on the bed, thinking about her father’s question for a while, but in the end, she came out with nothing. Aside from Lance, the only other boys she ever got to know were those kids from the lower level from years ago. Thinking about them made her wonder what were they doing up until now. Maybe Hoi finally got to be a baker as he had always wanted. How about Ken? He wanted to be a chef, did he not? Maybe there were some restaurants somewhere down at the low level with his name on it, and then there was Kai… Cali used to ask the Lord Enforcer all the time if there was any City Enforcer with the name of Kai. The answer was always no though, and after some time, She stopped…

Maybe I should Ask Yona instead.

“You didn’t sleep?” Suddenly, Lance was in her room.

“It’s an hour already?

“Yeah.” Lance studied her face, “Something on your mind?”

She stayed silent for a bit before asking her bodyguard: “How did you and Lilie discover your fondness for each other?”

Lance took his eyes off her and scratched his head, “I have…” He paused, too embarrassed to speak.

“I changed my mind. You don’t have to say it.” She raised and walked toward the corner where she had put the canvas and the box of drawing equipment.

“I have liked her ever since we were children.” Lance said.

“Is that so? I never noticed that… What makes you like her?” She picked up the box and signaled her bodyguard to help her gather the canvas.

“I… don’t really know. There’s something about Lilian that just… I don’t even know how to explain it. It just happens.”

“Well, she is the prettiest maid in the city, and her music is just as beautiful. maybe it’s that.” Calli walked toward the door, Lance following right behind.

“Maybe… I don’t know, Ellie. You have to feel it to know it.”

What if you simply can’t?  if you say so. We are heading to the courtyard by the way.”

“I don’t think that’s where you are supposed to be.”

“It has never been, though it seems my mother and Lady Aina have given up hope on getting me to learn anything musical.” Evelyn grinned, “Come on, I am in the mood for some creativity right now.”

“Can I see your art this time?” Lance asked when they were heading to the stairs.

“Of course not.”

There atop the courtyard overlooking the terraced city of Oracle and the landscape beyond was where she spent her time letting her imagination bled onto the canvas.

She was drawing alone as of late. Father had been trying to hire some artists and even art philosophers, some of which were renowned, to tutor her, and while Calli appreciated the basics and techniques and perspectives on artistic creation that they had taught her, every single one of them never lasted long. All of them, especially the Philosophers, believed that every piece of art when created by the artist must carry with them meaning - symbolic or otherwise - often that which reflected the inner thoughts and voices of the creators themselves.

Calli didn’t agree with that. Art was art. Why should an artist be forced to give their creations meaning if all they wanted was to paint what comes to their mind? What if all they wanted was to paint without meditating on some deeper stories or symbolism? That was art for her, free, and perhaps chaotic even, a series of both surreal and real images stringed together by her imaginations. That was what she looked for as she let her mind bleed into the canvas, just to make art, to capture the mood, the emotions, the feels, not the meanings or things she wanted to say. After All, she was not a writer who looked for meaning in whatever she created, if she wanted to express something, she would use words for it, not paintings.

Calli put down the brush and looked at her creation. It depicted the night sky and the city of Oracle when viewing from up here. A Red, Cracked Moon hung over the city, and in between the cracks lined eyes as red as blood. Down Below, a solitary figure stood from where Calli was, looking down at Oracle. The Dark Crimson Light of the Red moon shone down at the terraced city, giving the illusion that it was made from flesh and blood.

When Calli was done reviewing her work, She yawned until her eyes were heavy and wet with tears. She stood and put a veil over the art before calling Lance to help her gather the drawing tools and canvas.

They went back to her chamber.

“Why are you hiding them?” Lance said as he placed the painting in the corner, next to the many that she had created, all veiled and hidden.

“It’s embarrassing.” Calli answered, lying down on her bed, “I always admire those with the courage to show their own creation to another person.” She turned to look at her bodyguard, “Like Lilian for example, she often plays the harp for our guests at feasts and tourneys, some of the songs are her own. I can never do that without choking on my own breath.” She sighed, “Anyway, I need to sleep.”

“Should I wake you up in an hour, or do you want to skip practice?”

“Wake me like usual, please. My sleep cycle is very delicate. Anything out of the ordinary will throw it out of balance.” She said, barely keeping her eyes open.

Lance nodded and went out of the chamber.

Sleep came to her as quickly as it left. When Lance came in and shook her awake, Calli struggled to open her eyes.

“Help me up.” She said in a sleepy voice and raised a hand.

She could hear her bodyguard sighed as he reached for her hand. Lance pulled her up as easily as lifting a bundle of hay.

Her head hurt as she stumbled her way out of bed, yawning and stretching, “Head down first. I need to change.”

Lance nodded and went toward her bed, searching the stone slab beneath its frame, and pressed it. The mechanisms inside the bed worked their miracle, lifting it up as if it was a straw mattress and revealing the staircase leading down a tunnel.

“I will see you in a bit.” Said the Mage as he disappeared down the tunnel, which closed off shortly after.

Calli slid out of her gown and put them away. For the attire she would wear, Calli chose a pair of black breeches, a simple white shirt, and a pair of high knee boots. She opened the entrance and slapped her face with both hands before entering the dark tunnel.

As Calli descended the stairs, the lanterns lined along its wall lit up with her approach, shining blue light down the twisting path, and faded when she was far enough away from them. She found Lance waiting for her at the bottom, in a chamber the size of the largest hall in the castle with a ceiling so high that even with the light of the lanterns lining its wall, she could only see darkness looking up.

“These things always fascinate me.” Lance said, looking at a lantern.

“They are basically torches that light themselves, Nothing too impressive.” Calli said, half-sarcastic and half-serious.

“It’s witchcraft for the common folk like us.”

Calli laughed, “Since when is a member of House Genesis a common folk?”

“When compared to you, Milady.” Lancer bowed, “We are but ignorant apes in the face of the great Calliope Ellenor Shadolltheon, of the Blood of God, Descendent of Lady Annievia, Heiress of Oracle, Protector of the Commoners, and Breaker of Hearts.”

“What? Where did the Breaker of Hearts come from?”

“From the many suitors that you did and would turn down.” Lancer grinned.

“Ah, those, my bad for not wanting to marry a man I know little about.”

“But isn’t that how it's supposed to be? I mean you do the marrying first and then you do the knowing later?”

“I dislike it.” It was not in her control, and she hated when things in her life were not decided by her. It was unpredictable and unknowable, “Besides, you know exactly why marriage doesn’t suit me well, Lance.”

“That’s true. No man would like an empty bed… Anyway, Shall we start?”

“Ah, I forgot to tell you. We are not practicing today. We’re going to the cell.” Calli told her bodyguard.

“I am fine with that, but may I ask why before we go?”

“I have a promise to keep.”

So they made their way to the Dungeon from the chamber, using a tunnel that connected directly to the tower that housed it. Many similar tunnels lined the wall of the chamber, making it something of a central hub. Some tunnels went deeper down into the heart of the structure while others connected to different nooks and crannies of the city.

When the stone trap door opened by the press of a slab, it revealed a spiraling staircase leading up the tower housing the Dungeon. Up there were cells reserved for honored prisoners - noble families and blood bearers captured during a conflict. The dungeon for lowly criminals was actually beneath the castle, locked behind three doors, one wood, one stone, and one steel. Three keys were needed to enter. In the past these keys would be in the possession of three gaolers; however, as of late, only one held all three. Calli very much doubted that was done for any purpose other than to cut the budget. After all, the dungeon was rarely used.

“So did we just go up to go down again?” Lance whispered in her ears as they went around looking for the Gaoler. It made her wonder if there was a more direct path to the underground levels of the Dungeon from the central chamber.

“Take me to the criminals brought in this morning,” Calli told Gaoler when they found him. He was a small man. Standing almost a head shorter than She was, and He reeked of urine.

The Gaoler nodded. He took them through three layers of doors and into the dungeon proper. They descended, passing nothing but empty cells until they arrived at the cells that held the criminals from this morning. Each of them had their own cell it seemed.

There was a guard posted in front of the first cell, and he bowed when they saw who was approaching.

“Lady Ellenor.” The guard said with his head down.

“So these are criminals brought in this morning?”

“Yes, Milady. Your Lord Father intends to question them sometime later.”

She walked closer to a cell and looked inside. Under the dim light of the torch she was carrying, she saw a man with long brown hairs that fell down his shoulder and a relatively light complexion, typical of that of Northern Terrycians.

“Leave us.” She told the guard and the Gaoler.

“Milady, your father ordered that we don’t leave until our shift is over.”

“You never did. I have never been down here.” Calli smiled at the guard, “Father will never know, I promise you.”

The guard hesitated at first, but he nodded and left in the end. The Gaoler followed after.

“Can we talk?” Calli asked when she and Lancer were alone with the criminals.

“Why would the Daughter of Lady Shadolltheon want to talk with us?” The Long-haired Outlaw said.

“Are you lonely, Girl? You should be when surrounded by these fat clowns who pretend to be men. Maybe we can help you to get to know real men a bit better” The outlaw from the next cell added, then he laughed.

“Watch your mouth, Scum. You are talking to The Heiress of Oracle.”

“That’s just a name, Mage. It doesn’t mean anything to us. If she has a pair of tits, she is a wench just like any others. Doesn’t matter from what cunt she came out of.” The Long Haired man said.

“You…” Calli had to intervene before Lance blasted away the door.

“Well, he’s technically not wrong.” Calli said, “That’s just another way of saying I am a girl like any others, albeit a very rude one.”

“You… What?” Said the long-haired man.

Calli leaned in closer to the cell and faced the long-haired man, “What?”

“That’s… not the reaction I was expecting.”

“What did you expect? That I would jump up and down and demand your execution because of a few words?” Calli had to laugh, “There are more important matters to get jumpy about.”

The man jerked forward and banged his head on the iron bars. Calli chose not to react to the sudden movement, but Lance did, reaching out a hand between the bars and grabbing the Outlaw by the neck.

“Lance, Let him go.” Calli said.

“But he…”

“What can he do to me? His hands are chained, and I doubt banging his head on the iron is gonna kill me. Let him go, please.”

Lancer sighed and let go of the man. He coughed violently upon release.

“You… What kind of highborn lady are you?” The outlaw said, coughing still.

“The kind who knows a thing or two about the Apparition that stalks the nights of Oracle.” Calli finally spoke the words.

A whistle came out of the cell adjacent to the long-haired one’s.

“You… You work for him?”

When she did not answer, she said: “I know what he promised you. Be truthful and Cooperative. Do that, and I will ask my father to be lenient in your punishment. Lies, and we will know.” Except that too is half a lie.

The long-haired man remained silent for a long while before saying: “How can I trust you?”

“Ellie, what are you doing?” Lance said when Calliope extended a hand through the bars and into the cell.

“Giving a Token of trust.” She said to both the outlaw and bodyguard.