Two Loves of a Gypsy

16. Escape

I couldn't sleep; I knew I would die the next day and I wasn't going to spend my last moments sleeping. I prayed to god, I thought about all the sins I had committed and I tried to squeeze though the bars of the cell. I tried to loosen the bars. I tried to pick the lock on the door. I tried to fake a need for help, the guard didn't even bother coming to the cell.

I was sitting in the dry corner of my cell banging my head on the stone wall when I heard a yelp. I stopped banging my head and I watched the light grow brighter on the walls. I went to the bars and watched as the light when between cells. The keys jangled as the guard let everyone out. They all ran like maniacs. Some idiots started yelling and screaming as they ran for the exit. The people started calling out for the guard. Arms shot through the bars as they tried to grab him, their finger off by inches. In my tiny cell by myself I too put my hands out. I waited a long time; I was the cell furthest away. The light stopped at the cell next to me.

"Hold this" he told one of the hands. The hand held the light obediently. The door was unlocked. The man took back the torch. The people rushed out past him to the exit. The light illuminated his face. He had chocolate brown hair and a smile I would once have called cocky but now kind. He had green eyes which sparkled in the torchlight. He handed me the torch. He tried each key until the key fitted into the lock. He unlocked the door and opened it. He took the torch back.

"Valerie" it sounded like a sigh. A smile spread over my face. Then I wiped it off.

"I would have been fine by myself" I said haughtily.

"Yes, I see your plan to get out was succeeding beautifully," he laughed back.

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, Gabriel" I said while folding my arms, "I don't need help from a soldier. You betrayed my trust"

"I never betrayed anything and you know it. I never said I what my job was or who I was, you just assumed. If anything you betrayed me, you're not a merchant." Gabriel said with the same haughtiness I had showed before.

"What did you want me to say? By the way, I'm a gypsy, surprise! Please burn me at the stake now" I held my arms out towards him wrists together.

"No but..." Gabriel said then hesitated.

"But what?" I questioned moved my hands to my hips.

"You kind of said that in the marketplace yesterday afternoon" Gabriel said shaking his head. I ground my teeth; I didn't like it when he was right.

"I was angry" I said trying to defend myself.

"Yeah and your parents are worried about you again" Gabriel contradicted, "Why don't you stop to think about your actions?"

"I do, afterwards" I said, "look are we going to leave or stay here until another guard comes?" Gabriel growled and grabbed the arm that wasn't bandaged and pulled me along with him.

"It took me most of the morning to convince your parents that I was there to help them and you. I got them out of town, they're at the mansion." I knew he was talking about the mansion in the meadow and I let out a sigh of relief. We passed a guard who was passed out on the floor and climbed the stairs to the entry of the jail. There were four guards on the floor snoring like babies. Two of them were the two men who escorted me around that day. I was amazed at how skilled Gabriel was.

"Gabriel, did you knock out these men all by-"

"I thought you were lost down there" I heard another man say. My head whipped around to look at him. He had the chocolate brown hair like Gabriel and was much older. He had misty bluish grey eyes and a worn face. His clothes were plain but of a good quality. He was a little shorter than Gabriel but seemed to be the one with more control.