Calysse felt her feet ache as she slid away from Callor’s cell. As she inched away, she felt as if she was leaving a piece of her heart back behind her. It wasn’t that she felt anything towards Callor as a person, it was what he had gone through and all he had yet to go through just like all the others in all the prisons of all the cities of all the nations. She hadn’t bothered to make him any empty promises of escape, or rescue, both of those options would result in making Nesami an enemy, and in result, the whole Tyzalian nation. Besides, her mind was set on rescuing only one soul tonight. No other prisoner spoke to her, and if they reached out to try and snatch at her, she’d fend them off with the torch. Her breathing was low and quiet, but it seemed so loud in such a dark place. The middle passage was a bit brighter but she still kept the fire close. How far would she need to go before she reached Aislin? Now that Callor had confirmed that there was a wolf down here, she could only hope Aislin was that wolf.
Calysse suddenly felt her foot graze a cold metal blade and she lowered her light. An axe? What had gone down here and why had this weapon been discarded? She assumed that her questions wouldn’t be answered, as just her presence down in the dungeons would send Adian fuming. With a sense of caution, Calysse reached down and snatched the weapon by the handle. If any guards came along, she wouldn’t have to hope her claws decided to show up, they’d already be out cold.
Though her steps were slow, Calysse still made good time as she used the axe as a grip. The only downside to the technique was that every time she swung the weapon to lodge a dent in the ice, it made an insufferable snapping sound, as if the earth itself had opened up. The creak of a cell door made her stop in her tracks. It wasn’t the thought that a prisoner was banging on the door, it was the idea that if a cell door creaked, then it was being opened. Was a guard down here with her? Or maybe she’d just imagined the sound. Her finger grip on the axe tightened as she moved forward. There was a flash of movement ahead, she hadn’t imagined it. Whoever was in front of her, Calysse knew it wasn’t a guard. A guard would have made themselves known already.
Calysse lifted the torch, sure enough, the tip of a horn came into view. But as soon as she allowed herself to see the captive, they saw her. There were ragged nails at her neck before she could blink, already digging into her skin. She dropped the axe on the floor with a clatter of metal.
“Where did they take her?!” She was yelling with all the rage that showed in her eyes, her golden, big eyes. A half-breed escapee, this was interesting. There was a fiery detestation in her voice that strained and twisted her tone. The half-Tyzalian was young, maybe about the same age as Calysse judging by her skin and voice. How much of her 20-year life had she spent down here?
“I don’t know who you are or who you’re trying to find but I assure you, I’m not who you want to ask.”
“Then why are you down here?” She was still shouting, Calysse clasped her fingers around the girl’s arm, wrenching herself free from her grimy grip. Maybe she should have turned back, waited for Nesami to release the wolf. What if she didn’t even have Aislin and Callor had lied?
“I’m looking for someone,” Something would have been a more accurate word. Something flashed in the girl’s golden eyes as she stepped back. Her legs were wobbling, as if she’d struggled to ever get this far on the ice. When she listened hard, Calysse could almost hear the girl’s heart beating in her chest.
“You won’t tell anyone I got out, will you, or that I am looking for my sister?” Her voice shook as she slid a few steps away from Calysse. The girl had said too much. The Venefica just nodded, which was enough for the escapee. Then Calysse did something that she never thought she’d do. She handed over the torch.
“There is a drainage pipe straight down the middle passage near the exit through a flight of stairs that probably leads outside the castle. If your sister is anywhere, it’s not down here.” It was foolish beyond words to give up her only means of sight, something so foolish she wondered if she’d lost her senses. The girl breathed deeply before nodding in gratitude and taking the torch from Calysse. How stupid.
She didn’t speak as she shuffled along the ice, the light slowly getter farther and farther away before it disappeared altogether and left Calysse in the dark. Without a light, Calysse stumbled around in the dark, trying her best to keep going straight. Through the clanging of the bars, she could almost hear a low growl. A savage, low rumble from the throat of a beast. Calysse reached out in the direction of the sound, her fingers skimmed a frozen bar to a cage and she pulled herself towards it. Her heels dug into the ground as she peered through the dark. The growl was louder now, it seemed to be echoing all around her. If she didn’t feel the hot breath of the wolf she might have wandered around forever, or at least until she was found.
“If you bite my hand off you’re never going to get out of here.” Calysse muttered just loud enough for the animal to hear. Aislin just grunted and sniffed at Calysse’s knuckles. She’d need to find the strength to slash through the cage. As Calysse tested the material of the cage, it was noticeably weaker and smaller than the actual cells. After seeing the misery of the captives, she’d found some way to bring out her powers, but not for long. It was anger. Fury and terror were what brought out the literal worst in her, and now she’d have to summon it again.
She had a lot to be fuming mad at and a lot to be frightened of down here, but what she did think of was the anguish and desolation that reeked from every crevice in the dungeons like an odor that would never pass. Calysse breathed out and peered into the pitch blackness. What could the wolf see? She’d heard the Indignor wolves could see in both light and darkness clearly, which meant Aislin could guide her out. A strange pain seared through her as her claws unsheathed. It was nearly unbearable and Calysse felt herself toppling over in agony. When it did pass, Calysse sat up on the ice and placed her hands on the edges of the cage. With a yell, she drew her claws over the metal. The material let out a screech of protest and didn’t buckle. What? Calysse hit at it again and tried to pry the bars apart, but her efforts were wasted when her claws slipped, sending her sprawling across the floor.
If she couldn’t open it and Nesami killed Aislin or kept her down here while Calysse was in Indignor, then she’d be truly alone. Adian and Narunis weren’t to be trusted. They were just as bad as vile Nesami of the Tyzalian. It wouldn’t have been wise to trust and Indignor wolf over two of her own kind, but here she was. A wet bead of liquid traced down her cheek and hit the floor. Was she crying? Calysse scowled and swiped the back of her hand against her eyes. No, not getting Aislin out wasn’t even an option. She would free Aislin. She’d come a hair-length away from killing Prince Tavion, she’d run this far from people who lived for her death, she’d talked back to the snake queen and lived. She wasn’t about to give up.
With her sense of mettle restored, Calysse slashed her nails across the cage. When it didn’t break, she did it again. Her blows were relentless, and with each jab the metal began to give way. Calysse huffed and her chest heaved as she hit clean through the steel, leaving a cut out opening in the cage. Aislin limped out, her muzzle coming an inch away from Calysse’s chin. Calysse closed her eyes and breathed. All she could do was hope that the wolf didn’t strike out at her and run.
“Now you’re going to lead me straight down that passageway until I can see again, okay?” Calysse reached out and felt her hand brush Aislin’s pelt. As the wolf grunted, she stood and took hold of her side. Aislin had trouble walking at first and slipped up multiple times, but as Calysse learned to support the animal’s weight, they made good progress. She learned to block out the screams and to focus on the black void ahead of them as she grasped onto Aislin’s fur. The lids of her eyes were shut tight when she felt Aislin stop. It was then that she realized how she was clinging onto the wolf like a child to a blanket.
Aislin shook her pelt, sending Calysse tumbling to the floor. She whimpered as her shoulder hit the hardened floor. But Aislin hadn’t forsaken her. The wolf had taken her directly down the middle of the path past all the cells and back to the beginning of the staircase. The light that peeked down from the torches was blinding.
“Good girl.” She whispered and crawled on her hands and knees to the first step of the stairs. Her eyes flickered to the tilted opening of the drainage pipe that lead into the prisons. If that girl had escaped through there, then maybe she could too. Calysse took a moment to estimate whether or not she could fit Aislin through her, and the probability of getting her face ripped off when the wolf didn’t want to go down here. If she were caught coming from the dungeons with the wolf, Nesami would likely reconsider her demands. The sewer was hidden in the shadows but not very high on the walls, the wolf could easily leap into it. Aislin flashed her a look of pure reluctance and snorted as Calysse twisted the entrance to the sewers open. The girl had done the hard work of prying the bolts from the frame, all Calysse had to do was get Aislin through.
“I don’t have all day Aislin, I’m getting out of here with or without you,” It wasn’t necessary to leave this way, but it seemed like the path of least resistance from guards or anyone else they might run in to on their rendezvous from the dungeon. The wolf tipped her head and padded forward stealthily, the crystals that lined her pelt reflected the faint torchlight from stairwell. It gave the predator an even more intimidating appearance as she kept getting closer.
“Go in first.” Calysse demanded, motioning to the now open sewer gate. The wolf stuck her tail between her legs as she bunched her haunches. Her muscles tensed beneath her pelt as she sprung, clearing the entrance and landing square in the muddled water. Calysse struggled to stifle a laugh as she placed her hands on the rim of the gate, hoisting her legs up and over the metal. Once she was fully inside, she turned and fastened the gate behind her. With Aislin’s tail in her face, Calysse coaxed the animal through the wide pipe. She wasn’t very good at being relaxing or soothing, but Aislin seemed to react to her voice. Of course, the animal had been trained to do so.
Soon enough, Calysse felt just as dirty as she had been when she walked into the castle. Muddy water had penetrated every portion of her skin, not to mention her mouth. Aislin’s fur was matted down and stained with the brown liquid. There was a faint light in the darkness of the pipe. Calysse hissed under her breath as Aislin began to scamper towards the sunlight, splashing the muddy water into her already brown robes. As her strength faded, Calysse felt her claws sink back into her skin.
By the time the Venefica caught up with the wolf, Aislin had her jaws locked around the bars of the already loose sewer gate. Calysse worked her way between the brutish animal and her freedom from the gloomy prisons. Her mud-caked hands wove through the bars and unfastened the latch holding it to the wall. With a triumphant laugh, she climbed down onto the grass. Nothing had ever felt so good in her life. While Aislin leapt down, Calysse was wallowing in the heat and smells of the plants. Even after spending such a short time in the dungeons, it was a relief to be free from the ice prison.
She became aware of Aislin’s stare when she realized the wolf had gone silent. Calysse cocked her head to face her companion and frowned. It was the same mockery she’d seen when she fell into the lake, the same spark that made Aislin seem all the more like a conscious being instead of a killing machine. Was this a battle technique to bait the enemy into feeling compassion and then strike? Calysse had reason to believe the wolf wasn’t going to kill her, at least not now.
“What are you looking at? I bet you have at least a dozen fleas under that mane of yours.” Calysse stared into Aislin’s silver eyes. The wolf looked a bit insulted, her lips curled back into a growl. Calysse stood and wiped a bit of mud from her arms. When she looked around, she felt a smile tug at her lips. Wide hills dotted with clusters of trees lay in the sunlit fields before her. At the height she was at, she could see over the short wall that surrounded the castle into the scenic outer rim of the city. When had the forest ended? She could remember when she thought she would be traveling through the trees forever. It was then when it occurred to her that she didn’t have to go through with Nesami’s demands. If she ran right now, she’d live out in the wilds with Aislin and her pups-to-be, she’d never have to bow to anyone. And then she remembered why she was even doing Nesami’s bidding. When she became champion, she could do all of that and more. Calysse could do anything she wanted.
“Come on then!” Calysse barked and strolled down the hill. Aislin followed her like a shadow, close and silent. There were a few guards posted at the side gates, but she’d handle them. Calysse barely noticed when the wolf began to stray to the side of the castle, leaving her to walk straight into a fight. She cursed colorfully under her breath and stalked back to the entrance of the sewers. A chain from the gate caught her eye and she unscrewed the broken bolts that attached it to the wall.
“Aislin!” She called, the makeshift collar in her hand. The wolf wouldn’t be happy, but if she was going to get her out, she’d need a collar. Sure enough, Aislin came sauntering back without even casting a glance to the chains. Calysse knelt down so that her head was even with Aislin’s snout. Her hands interlaced the chain behind her back.
When Aislin came close enough, she lunged, wrapping the collar loose enough around her neck so that it wouldn’t smother her.
“There, now you won’t stray.” The wolf huffed and bit at her hand, only to be unsuccessful as Calysse jerked at the chain. They would have stayed hidden if Calysse had listened to her gut and not turned around when she heard the sound of clashing metal. But she didn’t. She pivoted on the heels of her feet, on hand poised in a fist. Aislin tugged at the chain as Calysse registered what she saw before her. By the wall, a horned figure fought a brawny guard, it was the girl. The girl she’d seen in the prisons was going to be taken back if she didn’t do anything. Calysse didn’t consider herself the helpful or empathetic type, but the dungeons had broken something inside of her that she’d never be able to fix. With swift strides, Calysse ran over the grass. Her hands, clawless as they were, were prepared to plant into the jaw of any warrior that opposed her. The mud on her shoes scraped off into the dirt as she loped, Aislin followed close behind. They were too busy interlocked in their battle to notice the girl and the wolf as she approached. Out of the corner of her eye, Calysse could see a squadron of men rushing across the clearing to assist the scout. They noticed her.
Their shouts and hollers were drowned out by the sound of an ax hitting a sword. Calysse caught a glimpse of the girl from behind the scout. She was smaller than the Tyzalian guard by a long shot, but how she fought reminded her of a savage animal. She clearly had no idea how to fight, but she was scrappy and full of grit. Calysse didn’t think twice about leaping up from behind her attacker and knocking his helmet off with her fist. Aislin lunged, pinning the Tyzalian to the ground as the squadron approached. Foolish, how could she so stupid? She’d made a rash movement to help the doomed girl and now Nesami would know.
“You followed me?” The half-Tyzalian spat, her feet planted into the ground as she readied her weapon. The guards were upon them faster than a scared rabbit. Aislin had no choice but to release the scout and defend herself from the rain of pikes and spears that poked at her pelt. Calysse went back to back with the girl, her teeth bared as she hissed at the men.
“That’s the girl Nesami and Narunis wanted.” She heard them whisper.
“We’ll bring them in soon enough.” Another voice muttered as they circled around the trio. They were outmatched, utterly outmatched. How much had she just bargained and lost to the snake queen? All for a wasted shell of a living being.
“I’m not going back.” The girl mumbled just loud enough for Calysse to hear. This was not the time to be indecisive. She could either fight until she had no energy left in her bones, or let them take her and face the inevitable wrath of Nesami. With a quick glance to Aislin, who was posed in a defensive stance with her lips curled back, Calysse came to a decision.
“Neither am I.”
ns 15.158.61.6da2
