On day ten, Keri went about her duties but with a sense of nervous anticipation. If Althene had been right about how long it would take for the narcotic to work its way out of the prisoner's system, today would be the day she should be alert. Through either sheer luck or some mysterious working of the Goddess, no one had come to visit the prisoner in the last ten days. Keri picked up her food and water, slung the pole she used to carry them over her shoulder and slowly made her way back into the cell area of the prison. There were a number of new prisoners so Keri completed her tasks first before making her way back to the woman's cell.
Keri made sure that the guards were all occupied or near the entrance then snuck over to the cell. Fortunately the cells were all inside the upper cave system and not visible to the entrance. She bent down so that her face was right by the slot used to push the food and water through and, as loudly as she dared, spoke out. "Can you hear me? Please? Can you understand me?"
A weak voice responded. "Who are you? Where am I?"
Keri sighed with relief. "My name is Keri. You are in the Caves of Anliath, a prison."
"A prison," the woman coughed. "A prison. Well."
"Lady, I don't know who are and you probably won't believe me, but I was told to say that the Goddess Althene sent me to your aid." Even as Keri said it she realized how crazy that sounded. The odd laugh she heard from inside made Keri flush with embarrassment. She doesn't believe me. Who would? I sound insane!
"It's true! I know it sounds crazy but I promise, it's the truth!" Keri's voice shook as she spoke.
The gentle response surprised her. "Oh, I believe you. I wasn't laughing at you. It just surprised me that one of the Old Gods managed to find a way into this world. What did she tell you to do?"
"I stopped giving you something called a narcotic ten days ago and I was to tell you that I know a way out of the prison. She said you would do the rest?" Keri had no idea how an imprisoned woman could escape her cell. In nine years she had never seen anyone escape although she had seen lots of prisoners try.
"Indeed, I shall." The woman said. "Tell me, is it safe now? Will we be seen if I open the prison door?"
Open the prison door? Just like that? And I thought I would sound crazy! "No one can see us right now," was all Keri said, then she awkwardly backed up and regained her feet. As she watched, the handle area of the door began to change. Keri could see some kind of haziness as if the metal were losing its shape and becoming liquid. Then the metal actually ran down leaving a hole where the locking mechanism had been. The door swung silently open.
Keri could see that the effort of whatever the woman had done was too much for her. Stepping inside, Keri caught her with her good arm before the woman fell.
"Thank you," the woman whispered. "I didn't realize how weak I still am. Can you help me?" Keri nodded. The woman was emaciated from the months of starvation in the prison. Keri knew the food and water was just enough to keep the prisoners alive and the woman was skin and bones. That was a good thing, Keri decided, as otherwise she would have been too heavy for Keri to help.
"We must hurry," Keri said, "as I am expected back within a few hours and someone might decide to come and check on the prisoners. It is a long way to where I am supposed to take you. can you walk?" The woman nodded weakly.
