Suikoden VI

Chapter Three: Part Two

Part Two

"Daunte?" Priscilla held the bars of her cell between her hands and looked towards Daunte's cell worriedly. "Daunte, are you okay?"

Daunte held up the grate as best as he could and pressed himself flat into the floor. He began to wiggle through the opening. Though his time away from the Dark Chasm allowed for him to get a healthier appearance, he was still rather skinny. Still, he felt the walls around him tear at his clothes as he pushed himself through. He moved carefully and kept his breathing even, and he listened for the sounds of anyone approaching.

Thankfully, the guard still hadn't returned by the time Daunte managed to squeeze himself completely through.

"You're out!" Priscilla almost shouted, but then she slapped a hand over her mouth. "You're out!" she hissed as Daunte approached her cell. "You have to get me out of here, please!"

"Check the corner," Daunte said as he tugged on the door to her cell. Like his own door hers wasn't budging. "There might be a grate in the corner you can squeeze through."

Priscilla nodded and disappeared into the darkness of her cell. Daunte watched the stairs warily, very much aware of the seconds ticking by. He was called away for a reason. Maybe there's a meeting going on? Hopefully I can get out while everyone is distracted.

"Daunte!" he nearly jumped out of his skin as Priscilla came back to the door. Her violet eyes were wide with alarm. "Daunte, I don't have a grate or anything in my cell! I searched all the corners and didn't find anything!"

Daunte looked at her for a long moment, and then looked towards the stairs. "I..."

"Don't leave me here!" Priscilla reached through the bars with both hands and grabbed fistfuls of Daunte's vest. "You can't leave me here, you can't! Please promise me you won't leave me here!"

Daunte was alarmed by the fear in her voice and her expression. For someone who'd spent the last few days acting carefree and nonchalant, Priscilla now looked scared out of her mind and on the verge of tears. Daunte swallowed thickly, and nodded. "L-Let me see if I can try and break the lock, okay?"

"Thank you, thank you!" Priscilla let him go and stepped back. "Please hurry!"

Unfortunately, Daunte didn't have time to ponder over the lock. He started looking closely at it when the sound of voices at the top of the stairs startled them both. "Get back to your cell! Hurry!" Priscilla hissed at him.

Daunte didn't need to be told twice. He ran back to the grate and banged his head on the bars as he pushed himself through. He felt the walls dig into his sides even more this time, but didn't pay any attention to it. He managed to pull his feet inside when he heard footsteps descending the stairs. He shoved the crate back in front of the grate, and hastily reset his overturn bed. He flinched as two shadows crossed in front of one of the torches, and Daunte looked up. He breathed out a sigh of relief as he recognized their guard and a second soldier, neither of which gave him a second glance.

No, their focus was on Priscilla.

"I'm here with an important announcement for the harlot," the second soldier announced tartly.

"That's me," Priscilla said, returning to her nonchalant demeanor.

Daunte stilled. Harlot? And those scarlet robes...don't tell me...

"I'm here to deliver your sentence from Mlkwt Alsmwat," the soldier continued. He unrolled a length of parchment and held it up high. "Priscilla, you have been tried and found guilty of your sin."

"Tried?!" Priscilla said incredulously. For a moment she looked stunned. Then she snapped a sultry smile on and leaned suggestively against the bars. "My dear, I have not had a trial nor have I been allowed to face my accusers. So how could I have been found guilty?"