Veil of Shadows

Chapter 45. Rebel of You Yet

Wolf studied the glass calligraphy pen. The handle was made of red glass, twisted into a quickly tapering spiral. The tip was sharp, so much so that when she pressed it against her palm, blood welled. The wound healed in moments.

Something wasn't right about it. With Shadow, nothing was as it seemed - and she was fairly certain this glass pen had a different purpose. She tapped it against her hand, deep in thought.

Minutes later, she stood and walked from her room, heading to the right and down a few stairwells, then down a long hallway - down to the dungeon. A few guards straightened to attention as she passed.

She ignored them completely, instead stalking past the numerous iron doors. In the darkness, she was glad the guards couldn't see her shiver. Prisons brought back bad memories.

Not entirely sure what her own motive was, she stopped just outside a cell door with a faint energy pulse coming from the inside. The energy trace of an Ender. The two guards outside the door watched her curiously.

"Who is in this cell?" She asked them.

"The former Ender Prince." The first guard replied. "He's been mostly quiet for a while. I'm surprised he hasn't tried to escape yet. He certainly has the ability to."

And that was just what Wolf wanted to talk to him about. He wouldn't risk the rebellion and the lives of his people in one foolish gamble. So what scheme did he have in motion? "Open the door and let me speak to him."

The guards exchanged an uncertain glance. "We're under orders not to open the door for anyone-"

"Well, you're under new orders." Wolf interrupted, slipping off her darkened sunglasses, revealing her glowing white eyes - the trademark every Brine was graced with. "Open the door."

The first guard took a step back, and the second went deathly pale. "Of-of course." The first stammered, pulling out a key and inserting it into the lock. Upon hearing a faint click, he pulled the door open and stepped to the side.

"Call when you want to come out." He said, and Wolf didn't bother to acknowledge him as she stepped into the cell. She knew the guards wouldn't try to lock her in - they were too concerned for their safety to try anything.

Shadow was leaning against the wall, nearly asleep. When he saw her enter the cell, he became more alert, watching her warily. The iron door closed, and the lock clicked again.

"So will this be interrogation, torture, then death - or am I getting the order wrong?" Shadow asked, meeting her gaze evenly.

"None of the above." Wolf replied, tilting her head slightly to the side as she held out the glass calligraphy pen. Shadow's gaze flicked to it, held there for a few moments, then went back to her.

"Judging by your reaction, this means something." Wolf said. "I was curious as to what purpose it might serve. Notch doesn't know I'm here, and apparently doesn't approve of me visiting the dungeons either. Nothing you say will be reported to Notch."

"You're hardly a loyal follower of his, I see." Shadow said, shifting ever so slightly. "You're right, though - the pen has a different purpose. Let me see it for a moment and I'll show you."

Wolf handed the glass calligraphy pen to him, completely prepared to blast him to pieces if he tried anything. Shadow simply twisted the bottom section of the handle clean off, leaving behind the tip and a portion of the tapering spiral.

Holding it out again, Shadow said "Feel it. You'll know the moment you put it in your hand."

Wolf took the remnant of the glass pen in her hand. It was perfectly weighted; the tapering spiral balanced out the tip. Shadow was right. She knew what it was the instant she felt it - how well balanced it was.

"A makeshift knife." She said. "I take it you have some kind of plan to escape this place, then."

"Perhaps I do. Perhaps I don't. Doesn't matter much now, either way, considering I don't have the pen anymore." Shadow replied, leaning back against the wall and half-closing his eyes.

"Such a shame." Wolf said, then turned and tapped the door. Moments later, the lock clicked, and the door swung open. She brushed past the guards and left. Before he even had time to contemplate the opportunity to escape, the door slammed shut once more, leaving Shadow alone in the cell.

Then he noticed something on the floor of the cell, and reached out for it. He knew what it was even before his hand grasped the smooth glass handle. Smiling faintly, he whispered "I'll make a rebel of you yet."