Bound by Dusk and Embers

Chapter Fourteen - Embers Of Defiance

Amberlynn leaned against the cold stone wall of her cell, the rough surface biting into her back, but the discomfort was the least of her concerns. She had barely slept since her last conversation with Riven, her mind too occupied with their whispered plans for escape and the gnawing worry that time was slipping through her fingers.

The flickering torchlight from the corridor outside cast long, wavering shadows across the floor, dancing in sync with her chaotic thoughts. The air was thick with the musty smell of damp stone, mingled with the faint scent of something darker—an ever-present reminder of Lady Eira's suffocating magic woven into the very fabric of this prison.

She couldn't afford to fail.

Her hands, still bound in heavy iron cuffs, were scratched, and bruised from days of trying to work them loose. Every minute felt like a battle against time, against the chilling inevitability that Lady Eira would act soon. Amberlynn knew, deep in her gut, that Lucaerys might not make it in time—if he was even still alive.

In the cell next to her, Riven was watching her from his own darkened cell, his sharp blue eyes glinting in the torchlight. He was leaning casually against the bars, his tall, wiry frame relaxed despite the gravity of their situation. His messy, dark hair fell into his eyes, and a jagged scar ran from his temple down to his jawline, cutting through the stubble that shadowed his face. Despite the scruffy appearance, there was something about Riven that screamed danger, like a blade kept hidden but always ready to strike.

He caught her staring and smirked, the expression tugging at the corners of his lips. "You look like you're about to chew through the bars."

"I might, if it means getting out of here faster," Amberlynn muttered, pushing away from the wall, and pacing the length of her cell. The cold iron cuffs clinked softly with each step, a constant reminder of her captivity.

Riven's smirk softened slightly as he watched her pace. "Patience isn't your strong suit, is it?"

She shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "I've been here for weeks, waiting for something to happen, waiting for someone to come. Patience feels like a luxury I can't afford."

Riven's gaze flicked toward the corridor, his expression growing more serious. "I get it. Trust me, I've been here longer than I'd care to remember. But if we're going to pull this off, we need to stay calm. You can't let the panic win."

Amberlynn stopped pacing and met his eyes, the weight of their plan settling over her once again. The plan—escaping through the ancient tunnels beneath the prison—was their only hope. But it was risky. Incredibly risky. If Lady Eira found out, if any of her guards caught even a whiff of what they were planning...

"We need to time it perfectly," Riven said, his voice low, cutting through her spiralling thoughts. "The guards change shifts every few hours. If we can create a distraction—something big enough to draw their attention—we might have a chance to slip past them and reach the lower levels."

Amberlynn nodded, chewing on her bottom lip as she considered their options. "What kind of distraction?"

Riven grinned, the mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "Leave that to me. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."

She raised an eyebrow. "Tricks? You've been locked in a cell for gods know how long."

His grin widened. "Let's just say I've learned a thing or two in my time here. You'd be surprised what you can do with a few loose stones and a well-placed fire spell."

Amberlynn's heart skipped a beat at the mention of magic. "You have magic?"

Riven shrugged nonchalantly. "Enough to make things interesting. It's nothing compared to the power Lady Eira wields, but it'll be enough to get us out of here—if we play it right."