Iron

7

Aune sniffed the air. It smelled different and strange. Almost... fishy? Aune barely remembered eating fish, but she remembered the horrible smell that penetrated her walls for days. It did not help her headache.

Suddenly, the horses stopped. She looked up in surprise. There were voices, arguing up ahead. Deep ones. Then a creaking and rattling like a giant metal door, and the horses moved on. Aune could hear shouts, but no words were distinguishable. She guessed they were about their arrival and the fact that Andras had been captured.

Mere moments later, they stopped again and the riders dismounted. Aune's head was pounding now. She felt the ropes that tied her to the horse being untied. She thrashed and tried to kick. It was pointless. She was grabbed by the rider and thrown over his shoulder. Angrily, she twisted in his grasp, knocking off her gag.

"Let me down!"

He ignored her. Aune reared back and swung her legs down. He caught her and threw her to the ground. Aune slammed face first into the dirt. Coughing, she tried to rise, but was shoved back down. She felt a knee on her back.

"Don't try that with me, y'hear? You don't got the training I do, and you couldn't go nowhere, nohow. You wouldn't make it ten yards." With that, he jerked her to her feet by the ropes. "Get up."

Aune was not able to walk with the ropes, but rather was dragged unceremoniously into a grand entrance hallway, and from there into an interior courtyard. Aune lay still, scared and panicked. When they stopped, she was hauled to her feet and she was forced to kneel. Next to her, none of the Blackwolf were kneeling or bowing their heads. Aune's head was up, and it was roughly shoved down by Nor, who had ended up next to her.

"Your Highness, Prince Aonghus, will you take us to your father?" Kaye's voice spoke, softly, but with power. "We believe we have captured Andras and a partner, but we need to use the truth potion to confirm our suspicions." Aune's head swam. Truth potions? They don't exist! She shivered.

"My father, King , will not provide you the potion." Prince Aonghus spat. "He does not deal with petty criminals and their captors." Aune risked a glance at him. Lead. He was dressed in robes of royalty, the pavonine colours flaunting his status. He's solid and unbelieving. He turned his head and his eyes met Aune's. Anger and displeasure radiated there. Then he blinked and stared at Aune. She locked gazes and glared back.

"Take them to the prisons. And you," He spoke to the Blackwolf. "will be escorted away while I meet with my father. He will see fit to do as he pleases." He had caught the Blackwolf off guard, their tense posture suddenly relaxed. They had been expecting a fight, Aune realized. But the Prince had changed his mind when he saw her. Why? Then she knew. The prince could see the metals.

. . .

Her foot bindings were cut and she was escorted down, deeper and deeper into the depths of the castle. It grew wetter and colder. Aune shivered, but at least the headache was beginning to disappear. They passed rows of cells, most with gaunt, hollow-eyed prisoners. One rattled the grate on his door. "Jus' how long d'ya think ya'll keep me here?" He caught sight of Aune. "The cells are 'most full, ya'know that." He looked like death itself: wasted and exsanguinous. The guards hurried on.

Aune was thrown violently into one of the cells. She hit a stone wall, and the door slammed shut. She heard the key grate in the lock. Aune curled up in a ball, her arms still roped together.

It seemed like forever, but Aune heard footsteps in the distance. They echoed in the gloom, drowning out the dripping water and rustles. She turned her face to the grate. Torchlight barely illuminated the figure striding down the hallway. Robes swished against the figure's legs. Pavonine robes.

Aune gasped and threw herself back into a corner, huddling. Panic had completely overtaken her, but she did not know why. The footsteps drew closer. They stopped. A key turned in the lock. Prince Aonghus stood in the doorway.

"Come out. You are to present yourself to the King." Aune curled up into a tighter ball.

The prince wasted no time in striding over and grabbing her shirt. "Get up." Shaking, Aune obeyed. He pulled out a dagger and sliced the ropes that bound her arms. The guards rushed forward in order to protect the Prince, but he was in no danger. Aune glared at him. He matched her gaze with as much ferocity as she.

"You're Iron." He beckoned her from the cell, every blade focused on her. She did not respond.

"Have you ever met an Iron person before? I have never."

"No." Was her tight-lipped response.

"I did not believe so."

They began to walk up the corridors, Aune ignoring the Prince's presence. He was not worth trouble. If she wanted to present her case, the King would be a better audience.

"Where do you come from?"

Aune returned his question. "I thought you said that you don't deal with petty criminals."

"I do not, but my father called for you because it is very odd indeed that someone such as Andras would travel with a young girl."

Aune refused to say. She did not like his tone. "That is my information."

"Yes, I understand that, but we need information to continue our fight against Andras. Your story is a good place to start."

Aune grit her teeth. "I know you are unwilling, but perhaps a dose of truth potion would help." Prince Aonghus prodded. "You are not from here, and by your hair and light skin, you are from Teclare. Start there."

"Yes, I came from Teclare. I was given away. I ended up with Andras. Are you satisfied?"

"No." He turned and gripped her hand. His voice lowered to a whisper. "We need to talk, alone. You're hiding something from me, I know it. Look at your face. It is not the face of a commoner. Come with me after my father has met with you."

He hasn't said all he needs to either. Aune thought, surprised. It was almost as if he were hiding something from his own guards, but he was willing to share it with her... No. Impossible. I'm imagining things. But even so... She pushed the thought away. "I..." She broke off. What would Zahra say? Aune knew the answer before she had finished the question in her head. Go, but be careful, and learn all you can.