The reflection of the Queen: Exile

Chapter 26: Free together

I jumped up, whereupon my chains clinked against the stone of the floor.

"What's going on?"

"I have no idea," whispered Alexin, who, although the fear was palpable in his eyes, maintained a firm expression. He pulled the dagger from his jacket, and advanced cautiously towards the door. Again, another crash from upstairs, with what sounded to me like screams.

"Have they found you?"

"Shhhh! Keep your voice down, damn it!"

I obeyed, so that I could better hear any sounds coming from outside the cell. I was more and more convinced that a fight was going on, but I wasn't sure if it was the rest of the mercenaries, who had returned drunk. My constant naps had made me lose track of time, but I had the impression that it was already dark. If not, the other option was that someone was confronting them; could it be the general's men, who had discovered my kidnappers' ploy and had searched the island for me? That idea gave me mixed feelings, and I surprised myself by thinking that I wasn't sure I wanted them to find me. If they took me to Jarnile, perhaps I would have a better chance of escape than on an island cut off from the rest of the Northern Continent, there might be hope... But the prospect of becoming a slave was unpleasant enough that I didn't really want Alexin and his companions to take me with them. In truth, neither of my options at the time terrified me any less than the other.

Fear pushed those thoughts aside as I heard what was clearly a whimper of agony, a terrifying sound that promised nothing good. My watcher paled, but showed no further signs of being frightened.

"Don't even think of making a sound."

"What?"

Alexin moved toward the cell door, firmly gripping his weapon.

"Wait, wait, wait, where are you going?"

"I said, don't make a sound!" he silenced me with a whispered shout. "I'm going to see what's going on."

As much as I disliked it, I didn't want him to leave me alone in that situation.

"What?! No! Are you going to leave me here?"

"I'll take the key," he replied, showing me the tiny key sticking out of one of his jacket pockets.

"No, wait! Let me take off my chains at least! Alexin!"

He ignored me, but pulled out from under his shirt a pendant from which hung a silver insignia with a symbol engraved on it that I could not make out. He put it to his lips and uttered in a low voice a prayer that I did not recognize:

"For my fellow soldiers, if this be the last, let death lead our souls to the realm of Octavia, and may she wrap us in everlasting peace. May the lords of eternity protect us, may Octavia welcome us, may Tamius bless our weapons in the fight, and may Elen, the all-seeing one, deem our destiny fulfilled."

Before I could ask him what were those names he was praying for, he came out of the cell with his dagger at the ready, closing the door behind him. I tried to stop him, but the chains on my wrists and ankles made me stumble and fall to the floor. Resolved, I got up and approached the wall, keeping my ear to my ear to distinguish all possible sounds from outside. My hands resting on the stone were shaking uncontrollably.

Whatever was going on up there, it was getting more and more serious. I heard the undoubted clashing of weapons, but it didn't seem to me that the attackers were too numerous. I could also hear a voice that sounded to me like the leader of the mercenaries giving frantic instructions. I turned away abruptly as those words turned into pleas and horrible cries of pain. I never heard that voice again.