The Forest Behind Bars

Chapter X: The plan

Aster stirs as I sit crossed legged on the floor. 

How long it will take for Chief to find his prized possession gone? He was in a wild mood yesterday, so with any luck, still a couple of hours before he finds out. Or maybe even closer to a day.

His eyes open and find me sitting in the dark looking at him.

''Do you have a plan?'' He asks as he sits up against the wall. Not what is the plan, but is there a plan. It's a good question.

''I think when Chief notices Tuebor gone, he will come here angry and we can lure him out. When he foolishly unlocks my cell to get his dagger back, I will overpower him and lock him in here. We'll just have to partly freestyle it.''

The dagger hisses. I'm not his dagger.

I know, but he believes that. As you know, Chief is not the brightest human. I'm not sure how he ever got into a position of power.

A pleased curve of the dark, glittering presence in my mind.

''Wait- Tuebor? The dagger has a name? How do you know?''

''It told me so.''

''Told you? What, I thought it was just an enchanted dagger?''

''When a lot of powerful magic gets put into a certain place, in this case an object, it can create a conscience. And now it can, among other things, speak into minds.''

His brow furrows with a crease. ''Why didn't it tell Chief it was getting stolen then?''

I open my mouth to answer, but close it again.

Why didn't you?

Because I wanted you to. My power shouldn't belong to some insignificant human who doesn't even realize the power he holds. And besides, it adds with a dark tone; it is time for the forest to roam free again.

I smile; it seems Tuebor and I will get along just fine.

I repeat to Aster what the dagger told me.

Aster nods, ''At least we can count on the dagger to help us then?''

''Yep,'' I confirm. ''But I'm not sure how long it will take for Chief to look for it here. It could be five minutes, or five hours.''

Keys clatter in the lock of the big metal door. Aster jumps up, wide eyes turning to me.

I shake my head, already have heard the wheels squeaking. ''Food.''

Two guards walk in with a dark metal trolley. They pick up one tray and half shove, half throw it into the cell of the first prisoner.

There is a small horizontal gab at the bottom of each cell. Too small to be useful for us, but big enough so they can shove food inside.

They continue their path in silence and once they have thrown each prisoner a tray; they turn and leave once again.

Aster breaks the silence by saying, ''I was wondering what the deal was with food down here.''

He looks disgusted by the drab that sits on the tray. It is disgusting, but there isn't a choice on whether to eat it.

''They bring it if they remember. Around once a day. Sometimes once in two days. Depends.''

As we consume the unpleasant food, silence settles back in.

When I first got here, I was sceptical of the food. They could easily add poison to it. I thought I would escape this place before I needed food.

I was wrong.

After days of hunger and thirst, I gave in.