PRESENT
One strike. That’s all it would take. One strike in the correct place and the idiot would drop his torch. It would tumble down into the depths of this abyss.
Then the dark would take us.
Of course, my hands would still be bound and I’d also be trapped between these the brute in front of me and the one behind me on the narrow staircase. Before the torch hit the stone, the one behind me would run me through with his longsword.
No, death was not acceptable. Next scenario.
There was no other scenario. A master thief I may be, but there was little I could do in this situation. It was the end of the line for me. Best to enjoy the last moments of “freedom” I would likely ever have.
Atop the narrow stone stair, a single light beamed through an open doorway. Compared to the dim torch, it was as bright and brilliant as the sun. But even its golden rays did not reach the depths of the gloomy abyss I was descending to.
Those were probably going to be the last rays of daylight I would ever see.
“Look forward!” Snapped the rear guard, giving me the slightest tap in the back with the point of his drawn longsword. It was awfully sharp; best not to anger him, lest he take my life now.
Like an obedient little prisoner, I looked forward into the blackness below.
Just in time too, for we reached the bottom of the long staircase. At the bottom of this stair, the narrow stone brick wall dived outwards, bringing us into a place I presumed to be a very large room. Yet how was I to know? It was so dark down here. Even my acute eyes could not pierce the gloom. But I did not need to know what this place looked like to know where we were. A dungeon.
What gave it away? The fact that I was a prisoner, of course, but also the taunting of the forward guard as he lead me through this depressing place.
“-Do you know the name of this place, Lady? We call it the Av Telorras, the Place-Where-Light-Does-Not-Reach. Only the most dangerous prisoners are thrown down here to rot in the dark and reflect upon their deeds. None of those prisoners have ever escaped-” Spoke the guard, his voice sounding as threatening as a wolf pup attempting to growl. “-we’ve heard of your various escapes from elsewhere, so we’ve prepared a special place for you. Here it is, Lady of Ravens.”
The guard gestured ahead, to where to corridor ended in a large door of iron. In the flickering light of the torch, it was a brownish red hue. Whether that color was from rust or blood, I did not know or particularly care. What I did concern me, however, was the foul stench wafting lazily between the cracks surrounding the door. As it swung open, the scent only grew stronger. It was like a putrid slap in the face, one that nearly made me retch out of disgust.
By the looks on the dimly lit faces of guards, they weren’t liking this stink much either. I suppose that explained the reason why the rearguard, who’d been so kind not to impale me with his longsword, shoved me into my new prison. As quickly as they had marched me down into this place, they now left.
Without the weak glow of that torch, I was left alone in the total blackness.
Never before had I been afraid of the dark. It had always been my friend, a companion when all others were gone. When those nearest and dearest had a change of hearts and turned coats, the blackness and shadows had welcomed me back with a loving embrace.
The dark down here was different though. It came at me, angrily, shadowy tendrils reaching eagerly to grasp at my throat. There was no defense against them, for though my hands attempted to swat the tendrils away, the shadows were intangible. My hands passed through. Tendrils curled around not only my throat, but also the rest of my body. They were dragging me down, towards the ancient cobblestone ground. Then I heard the voice.
“Is someone there?”
The shadows paused, caught mid crime. I admit, I did also stop struggling for a few moments. Despite the fact that it was obviously dark and I couldn’t see anything, I looked around for the owner of that voice anyway. Quickly remembering that fact, I looked back at the shadows, only to find them gone. Had it all been a hallucination?
It had sounded like a bear would if they could talk. Gruff and deep. It was also quite nearby; within the same cell probably. I was free to investigate this, what with my shadowy friends being gone now.
“Who are you?” I called out. As usual, my voice was as cold and sharp as ever. Good. It will help to instill fear in my cellmate.
“Who am I? Certainly more than whoever you are, little girl.” Answered the voice with a cruel chuckle.
So this is how he wanted to play, hm? I could do that.
“Little girl? I am no little girl.” I replied.
Once again, the voice broke out in laughter. Had it not been so menacing, it might have been jolly. “That is what you say, but I can see what you are.”
“Oh?” I said, “What do you see then?”
“I see a foolish young woman, hardly more than a child, cowering in a black cloak by the door.” He described.
The voice was dead on. Except for the cowering thing. However, I didn’t want to let him know that he had guessed correctly. Time for a subject change?
“You never told me who you are,” I stated.
The voice took a considerable time to pause and think before answering me. “What I was before I ended up down here is… not important anymore. But if you need something to call me, then I suppose... Teneb will do for now. You are?”
“The Lady of Ravens.”
“The who?” Questioned the voice.
“The Lady of Ravens. You know, the infamous thief. The one who’s been terrorizing Westmarche City of late. That’s me.”
“You? An infamous thief? With that waifish figure of yours I doubt you could even steal from a drunkard.” Teased he.
“You’d better believe it, Teneb, I was up there with the best of ‘em.” I said proudly.
“If you were one of the best, then how did you end up down here?”
Just like that, the pride I’d felt only moments ago faded. In remembrance of past events, I clenched my hands into tight, angry fists.
“A betrayal,” I said, trying to keep my cool, “quite an interesting tale to be honest.”
“Then do tell me more.”
“It’s quite a long story. I’ll have to start at the very beginning if you want to understand it all.”
“We have time.”
I sighed softly. He really did want me to tell my tragic story, didn’t he?
“Well, like all terrible adventure stories, it begins in a tavern…“
ns 15.158.61.51da2
