Emerali: A War Song Tapestry

Chapter 16

Emerali ran through the streets of Sanctum as fast as her feet would carry her, cloak and skirts flying wide behind her. The people were but a blur as she hastened for the prison.

"I've got to see the Asmodian prisoner," Emerali wheezed to the warden when she had burst through the doors.

"Lady Emerali!" the warden exclaimed, taken aback. "Are you all right?"

"None of us will be if I don't get in to see that prisoner," she responded.

"Forgive me, my lady, but I've already breached protocol once. I don't think I can see my way clear to do it again," the warden protested.

Emerali shook her head intolerantly. She seized the warden roughly and with the force of her angry desperation, she tore the key ring off of his belt and rushed to the cells.

"Guards! Guards! Stop that Daeva!" she heard him crying out behind her. "The governor himself will hear of this."

"See that he does, Warden. Tell him I must speak with him," Emerali called back as she ran on.

Emerali burst into the cell wing where Leiva, the Asmodian, was being held. Leiva turned to see what the rushing of footsteps was. Her eyes opened wide with surprise as Emerali fit the key in the lock, charged into the cell and pounced on her.

There was a brief struggle between Emerali and Leiva, but it ended quickly as Emerali's rage gave her the strength to subdue Leiva with ease. She tore the hairpin Leiva wore from her head and cast it aside.

Emerali shook Leiva soundly. Leiva continued to stare at her in surprise. "Yes, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Leiva, in spite of your clever scheme to destroy me, I'm still here. Now, I know you've got plans to blow this prison up and cause widespread panic here in Sanctum, and I know your people are preparing to invade Elysea and massacre the Elyos. You will tell me everything I want to know about this plot or you will wonder at the extremes a servant of the Light will go to in order to protect her people!"

At that moment the warden and several guards rushed into the wing, swords in hand. "Arrest her!" was the warden's order.

Emerali turned flaming eyes at the men. "Inform Governor Fasimedes that there is a grave situation at hand and that his presence at the prison is of the utmost importance." She tossed the cell keys and the hairpin out to the guards and shut the cell door, locking herself within. "I consent to remain in custody until he comes. Guard that hairpin with your life; it's the centerpiece of a second cataclysm in the works."

Confused, the warden picked up the keys and the hairpin and signaled to the guards to follow him out. Emerali could hear him giving orders to them as they left the wing.

She turned to Leiva, smiling sardonically. "Well, Leiva, looks like you've got yourself a new cellmate."

Emerali advanced on Leiva threateningly. The prisoner looked up at her insolently, chin sticking out. "Defiance won't help ya here," Emerali warned.

A hubbub of familiar voices alerted Emerali that her friends were approaching. They entered and were standing before the cell in an instant.

"Why are you locked up with her?!" exclaimed Thori.

"What's going on, Emerali?" demanded Devaen.

"Our Asmodian guest here has a story to tell us. You're just in time to hear it all. Now, Leiva, don't make this any more difficult than it has to be. Talk!"

Leiva glanced at the three faces glowering at her in turn. For several minutes she remained silent, but at last she sighed resignedly. "What difference does it make? I've failed the general; nothing matters now."