Chapter 9: The Great Escape

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The Captain basked in the glory of the crowd's applause and ovation. He circled the lashing post to take in the spectacle from every angle, leaving me to take it all in on my own before I faced the same fate. I silently prayed for my father's and brother's forgiveness, knowing that I must have let them down completely.

I couldn't cry anymore; I just went numb. It felt like Brutus had loosened his pull on my extension chain, so I turned around to see what could have changed his mood. I was utterly shocked to see the scruffy man from earlier, the one who unwillingly lent me his sword before subduing me, standing beside Brutus and whispering in his ear.

I knew I had recognized the voice of my instructor in battle...

I couldn't blame him for what was happening, despite the fact that he was the one who delivered me to the Brixen guards. He didn't kill the orphan boy, and it wasn't his actions that signed my death warrant.

This was my fault.

My attention turned back to the Captain as he spoke, "It's time for our second lashing! Cuff the boy to the post!"

As the guards began to remove the orphan boy's dead body from the shackles, Brutus came around to pull me forward.

But something unexpected happened; Brutus quickly unlocked the shackles around my ankles and then dropped the keys into my hands before yanking me towards the lashing post. I was beyond confused, so I turned back around to see if the scruffy man had any advice for me this time. He looked me right in the eyes as he covertly mimed using the key to unlock the shackles around my wrists, and then nodded to make sure I understood. I returned this gesture before turning back to my hands. I briefly fumbled with the keys before I figured out which one fit into the hole. There was a click as the shackles around my left wrist fell free. I looked up to see how much farther we had to walk; we were no more than five feet from the post. My heart began to race as I slid the key into the other shackle.

Click.

I grabbed the chain and swung the heavy shackles across the back of Brutus' head. He fell to the floor with a huge thump. I couldn't tell if he was unconscious or faking it, but I wasn't about to wait around to find out.

The Captain and guards moving the body turned when they heard the cries from the crowd.

I dropped the shackles and began bolting towards the scruffy man, but he was already gone.

Enraged, the Captain yelled at his guards, "Stop him!"

They dropped the orphan boy's body, drew their swords and chased after me. 

I pushed my way through the crowd; some of them tried to stop me, but I was too fast as I slipped out of their grasp. I could hear the guards close behind as I pushed through the last row of spectators. I disappeared around a corner and scrambled through the alleyway in search of sanctuary. I tried every door that I passed to see if they were unlocked, but no such luck. I turned down another alley, and then repeated the process to no avail. The guards were getting closer as my head began spinning in exhaustion and terror.

I had enough time to make it around one last corner undetected before the men saw me. I sprinted around it before smashing into a hard surface and falling to the floor. I looked up to see what it was.

The scruffy man towered above me. He held out his hand and whispered, "Follow me."

I obeyed without question, grabbing his hand so he could lift me off the ground. He made a swift dash through an open door, yanking me in behind before slamming the door shut. I watched from the window, hidden by a curtain as the guards rounded the corner and ran right past the house. They continued down the street before turning another corner.

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