Skyrim V: Shadow over Markarth

Chapter Nine: A Plan

  "So, he's the one who tells the guards details?" I asked Uraccen, as we used our pickaxe's to mine into the tunnels. Deep blisters cut into my palms, but I grit my teeth through the pain.  My ear still pounded from the pain, dried blood plastered on the side of my face. Uraccen nodded. "Aye, he's the pet of the Silver-Bloods. He tells their guards everything." He smashes into the stone and he grits out, "The guards aren't even the city's watch but it's the Silver-Bloods' own bounty-hunters." 
  "That explains all the abuse." I say, and Uraccen nodded. "It's worse that you and the elf are here."
 "Why?" I ask, fearing that I know the answer.
"The men who work here love to hurt the weaker, especially a woman such as yourself. And a half-breed at that." Uraccen used his arm to wipe his brow as he said, "And the elf.... any chance for them to abuse a former member of the Thalmor gets their blood pumping. You're lucky he is with you, or he would be dead already." 
I set down my pickaxe, and suck on my teeth in pain, one of the blisters had broken open. I stare at Uraccen in the eye as I say, "I am lucky he's with me. And I need to find a way to cure him. If we are going to escape, he needs to be well enough to move." 
Uraccen shook his head, "That will be hard." 
"Why?"
"Because the only people in this prison who have medicine to take care of something as severe as what he has, is the guards. And they won't give you any help over their dead bodies." Uraccen said, eyeing the dried blood on the side of my head. I nod, "Alright."
"Alright? Is that what you are going to say?"  Uraccen said, looking at me in surprise. I nodded. I had to make a plan to help save Arodil, but I wasn't going to say it out loud. I didn't want these men to hear anything in case something worse would happen. No reason to put them in danger as well. 
   I picked up my pick axe, and ignored the pain in my palms as I started to hammer away into the silver mine.

    I didn't even know what time of the day it was when Uraccen told me to go get some sleep before we were to meet in the dark of night with the rest of the prisoners. The blisters on my palms have all split open, now stained with dirt and blood.  I walked into one of the cells that was opened, and saw that Arodil has been moved there. I walked over to the extra mat by his side when I saw his eyes blink open. "Tanii?"
I look at him in surprise and lean forward, "I'm here." 
 He coughed and winced in pain and said, "What happened to your ear?"
"It's fine. It's nothing to worry about," I say, secretly really scared and concerned. "How are you doing?" 
  "I'm alive." Arodil said, weakly.  I nodded. 
"Where's Sinding?" He asked and I turned. "He's somewhere with Madanach, I believe."
"The King in rags." Arodil hacked. 
  I nodded, "He's my family, if what he says is true." I say. "He's my grandfather on my mother's side. Obviously." I winked at my brother who gave me a pained smile. "I don't know what I think of that. He's been saying I am the 'Princess of the Reach'." 
"And you don't like that?" Arodil tried to sit up but winced in pain. I gently pulled up his shredded shirt and saw that while his whip stripes were healing, they were very hot and oozy. "That's really not good." I say, and Arodil shakes his head. "I'll be fine, once we get out of here."
"You really think we will?" I ask, my hands shaking.
Arodil looked up at me, and saw that tears now gleamed in my eyes. He took my hand in his and said, "I do."
  I feel my lip tremble as I say, "I miss my children. Lucia, who probably thinks her mother is always gone and Aaiden, only three weeks old without his mama." I roughly brush my tears away and say, "I'm sorry." 
But Arodil squeezes my hand and says, "We will escape this. I know it." 
"Ancano nearly had you killed." I say, "What if he makes good on it next time."
 "From what I was hearing, Ancano has left the city of Markarth and headed back to Winterhold's College." Arodil said, "Leaving Ondolemar in his stead." 
"And is that supposed to make me feel better?" I ask, looking at my brother's striped back. 
Arodil nodded, "Yes, because he isn't half as good as a politician as Ancano is.  I think once the Jarl knows you are missing, he will look for you." 
I nodded, "I hope so."
 "I think you need to rest, Tanii. You look horrible, and I don't want Sinding to blame me for keeping you up." Arodil said and I smiled. "You don't have to tell me twice." 
 I slide down into the bed roll, and lay on my side. I look out the barred entrance of the open cell we laid in. I prayed to the gods, the Aedra and Daedra alike, to help us escape and get back to the family. 
..................................................................
  
  We used one of the old abandoned mine shafts in one of the jail cells. The cell door had been wrenched from it's hinges, but was hanging on by a portion of metal.  Sinding and I had to help Arodil to his feet, so he was leaning on us both for support, one arm of each of our shoulders. In the center of the room was Madanach, with Borkul the Beast as his guard. The other men of the mine, the ones I recognized- Braig, Odvan, Uraccen, and a man who I had only seen but never spoke to-Duach stood together. Grisvar was no where to be seen. Which seemed to be good. 
Madanach crosses his arms as he says, "The time is at hand, where we, the Reachman will regain our freedom."  
  "Is it time, sire?" Braig asked, leaning forward. Madanach nods. "Almost. I have received letters from two of our own from outside of these bars, Kaie, my lieutenant who is keeping a small army in Karthwasten, and Uaile, your own daughter, Uraccen. They have told us to wait until the new Blood Moon rises.  It is now the half moon in our sky as what we have been told. We have four days until we touch freedom." 
  The men clapped, and Madanach held out a hand. "I have two conditions, one is that we have to over throw the guards. There is a locked jail cell besides my quarters. That way has been locked due to it leading to a secret passage way. Once we overthrow the guards, we can take the keys and escape."
 "Sounds easy enough," Borkul said, cracking his knuckles. "What's the hold up?"
Madanach smiled, "Grisvar will need to die first."
 I look at Sinding in shock, and say, "Why is that necessary?" 
I could see Borkul the Beast's eyes light up in anger but Madanach holds up his hand to stop the orc. He gestures for me to come over. I look at Sinding and Arodil and they nod. So I walk over the King in Rags. He takes my hands in mine and says, "My dear, you are not used to these ways...." 
  I look at him, thinking about how  much death had been on my own hands but I listen. "Grisvar is the reason so many innocent men are here.... including yourself and your family."
I look around and my voice drops to a whisper. "How? He was already a prisoner when we were locked up."
"He's not really a prisoner, but he's an undercover snitch for the Silverbloods and now the Thalmor."  Madanach said, "We are not free until he's dead." he gently brushed my cheek. "You are not safe until he's dead and neither is your family." 
  He turned from me and said, "I need a volunteer on who would do the job, once he is dead, are plan is in motion. We have four more days." 
  The room is quiet when Borkul says, "The elf should do it."
"No!" Sinding said, shaking his head. "He's very sick."
"Have him prove that he too isn't a snitch to the guards." Odvan nodded, his little rat like face was curious with morbid curiosity. The other men echoed their opinions. 
  Madanach raised his hands up, "Peace, my brothers." 
 Arodil's gold eyes met mine and he shrugged off of Sinding, giving him a clap on the back and he said, "I'll do it. Prove my loyalty, kill this Grisvar."
"Arodil-" I say, reaching for him as he limps over but he shakes his head. "Tanii, I was a Thalmor soldier, there are many horrible things I did while employed by them, let me do this. For you, for freedom." 
  I look at Arodil and shake my head but he ignores me as Madanach smiles. "Excellant, I knew I liked you."  He turned to the Breton man named Duach. "Duach, give him a shiv." 
 The Breton who had long dark hair and a dark beard nodded and pulled out a small blade from his shirt near his heart. He handed it to the elf, blade out. "A word of advice, friend." he said, "Stick him in the gut first, and just don't stop."  I felt the blood drain from my face as Arodil swallowed, "I understand. Once he is dead, I'll let the King know." 
Madanach crossed his arms, a huge smile on his face. "Smart man."
.....................................................................................

Vilkas.