With Courage [Prince Caspian]

Chapter 6

People are running through the streets, spurred on by a mixture of fear and confusion. The sounds of metal scraping and the occasional scream is still audible by the port, but these people don't appear willing to discover the context. I don't blame them. While they run by, carrying children and trying to run so fast they fall, they ignore the pleas of those still chained to wall. With each pair of rushed footsteps, the prisoners grow more agitated, pulling so hard at their bonds that thin trails of blood trickle down their wrists and yelling until their throats are hoarse. I run to the end of the line, a skittish faun, and hack at his shackles until they break. He's escaping down the seafront like everyone else within a second of being free.

By the time I've finished breaking them all free, the sounds of battle have ceased, and few locals linger on the streets. Fiedan runs by and begins attaching our longboats to the port, returned to the island by some grinning crew members. The Dawn Treader sits in the distance, a beacon of strength waiting for us to return. "Amber!" I look to the incline that leads to the square, where Caspian is waving for me to join him. I leave the sword behind, it's blunted beyond repair by now - the last set of chains took two full minutes to snap.

When I crest the top, I'm greeted with a truly glorious sight. All the merchants are bound with their own chains and ropes, stripped of their finery's and assembled in three kneeling lines on the floor. The crew patrol the space, removing further accessories and assembling a pile of weapons far from their reach. More islanders have emerged from their hiding to approach the crew, who speak to them calmly. One even points to Caspian, presumably telling the woman that he's the King, to which she clutches her heart in relief.

I can't help it, I start laughing. The entire situation is ridiculously unimaginable, and yet I'm here. Living it. Fighting slave traders on a mythical island alongside minotaurs and fauns and kings, freeing prisoners and watching those who were unfairly taken from their home finally reclaim it back. I'm giddy on glorious relief, soaking in each moment of the aftermath as I would the beautiful sunlight.

"Come with me." Caspian says, nodding to a street that leads further into the island and casually twirling a set of keys around his fingers. On the way out, I grab a sword from the stack.

He says nothing. His face is set in concentration, assumingly trying to navigate us someplace specific rather than a casual stroll around the town, so I stay silent and appreciate the victory.

Eventually we reach a stone door which opens to an immediate staircase. I smile at Caspian and bound up taking the stairs two at a time, loving the solidity of my steps. Not even the tiniest sway! Assuming we're leaving the island today, I need to take in every moment of this, every sure-footed step. Behind me, Caspian sighs. "I thought I told you to stay by the boat." He sounds tired. Strained, as if he's holding back from saying more.

"I thought I told you I don't take orders from you." We reach the top and begin winding through a series of corridors.

Caspian stops abruptly. "You were kidnapped." I stop too, a few paces ahead of him, and grin reassuringly.

"But I wasn't killed! Come on Caspian, I'm fine." I start skipping down the corridor again as an excuse not to look at his downcast face. "I don't regret it!" I call out.

"What if you were?"

"That's not the point. I wasn't, and now it's finished. It's not like it will happen twice so can't we just move on?" He catches up to me, taking a left at a T junction.

"You're really stubborn, you know that?"

"Trust me, I know. But it's not like I asked to be here so I might as well take the chances to do whatever while I can." He catches my eye.