A Truelove of Turtle Doves

Chpt 38 - Red Blossom

I reached the town in record time, just as it started to drizzle. The small raindrops fell from the darkened sky like tiny capsules of ice, doing absolutely nothing to solve the permanent shake I had acquired due to the already cold night air.

Finding the prison was my first goal. I dismounted (H/N) as soon as the forest path merged into the regular cobblestones of the town streets, and I sent her galloping off in the opposite direction - back through the woods. She'd find her way back to the stables.

I ran through the narrow streets until I reached the main road, looking around for any sign of where the prison was.

Despite my constant visits to Ringmore, I didn't know where the prison was located. It wasn't exactly a place I ever had to go to.

But I needed to now.

I didn't have time for clueless running. I had to get there, and fast.

Think! Where would a prison be?

I spun around, desperate for a sign or some sort of clue to at least point me in the right direction.

My eyes landed on the church's clock tower. I stopped. The church was near the town hall. The policemen couldn't have been following me all night; they would have been seen, especially in uniform. But they had to be able to get to Francis and myself quickly.

So there was a good chance that the prison was somewhere near the town hall.

I took off in that direction. I had no time for second thoughts - I crossed my fingers while sprinting, praying that I was right. I had to be.

Passing the town hall, I saw a wide street that ran next to it, and I could just about make out that it turned right. Let's see what's down here then.

I ran past shops and houses, hope clinging to me, until I turned right, and there, about 30 feet in front of me, was an averaged-sized, stone building, with a guard standing next to the large double doors. Skidding to a halt, I scampered back behind the last building I'd passed, making sure I was hidden from sight.

That must be it. No other buildings would post guards.

I spent a few seconds catching my breath, my chest heaving with the exertion of running. The only good thing about my impromptu exercise was that it had warmed my numb body up a bit, and I was no longer shaking from the cold despite being more than a little damp from the rain. Slowly, I peered around the side of the building, squinting in the darkness at the guard as I tried to make out their uniform.

Definitely a policeman. How was I going to take them out?

The thought that I would have to possibly fight the police had slipped my mind. I wasn't equipped for a fight, especially when these people had pistols. Two hair pins were definitely not going to cut it.

Alright. I'll just have to sneak in instead.

Checking to make sure the guard wasn't watching, I ran to the small shop opposite me and slipped into the tiny alleyway that was next to it.

I could use this to go around the back of the prison, and find a way it through there.

Staying as quiet as possible, I hastily moved down the cramped alleyway, the whole way along until I reached a high stone wall instead of a back entrance to a shop or a house. There were two small windows about 10 feet above me.

This must be it.

Thank the lords above that I'd spent a good thirteen years climbing walls. I scaled it quickly, peering through a window in order to make sure no one was in front of it. There was what seemed to be a wide wooden landing, with a waist-high wooden rail along the edge (probably in order to prevent anyone falling off) and narrow stairs leading down to the ground floor on my right. I couldn't see anything apart from that.