A Scale of Freedom [Ongoing]

Chapter 1: A Rebellion Worth Millions (pt.3)

For a moment a general feeling of dread enveloped the room, it's silence seemingly eerie. The lone sound of the metal trapdoor being played with echoed throughout. My knuckles felt numb as my grip tightened around the sword handle, ready to swing at any moment. Nyskira has flattened herself upon the far corner of the wall, facing the rusty ladder directly. She carefully reaches behind her and draws out a small steel dagger. The other side of her, Aleigh has covered the sleeping ones with a patchy wool blanket, doing her best to hide them. I carefully take two steps forward closer to the ladder, my heart pumping hard it almost leaped out from my chest. For a while, the noise suddenly stops and a voice rings from the outside,

"I'm having a hard time opening the hatch, can anyone help me please?" a familiar male voice rang from outside the trapdoor.

We all sigh in relief as we realize it was only Siegfried who was trying to open it this whole time. Nyskira resheathes her dagger and proceeds to climb up the ladder. As she does I see Caudicius still tuckered out but Hasira is now sitting upright from her bed. Her expression of worry slowly turning into recognition as she softens up her tensed body and proceeds to lie back down. As Siegfried heads down the steps with Nyskira, an awkward silence follows both of them. I can see Aleigh's puzzled expression then turned into sadness. I walk over to Siegfried who was covered in grime and dried blood, bruises around his arms and one shoe missing. 

"Where's Gimdhur?" I ask him although in my heart I already knew the answer.

"He... He didn't make it. I'm sorry"  Siegfried replies with a heavy sigh. 

Nyskira hangs her head low and sits at the bedside of where Hasira was resting. She was holding back but at what little light this safehouse has, I can see small glints of water form at the corners of her eyes. 

"If it makes you feel any better, he died fighting he did. Went down but took a lot with him. I wanted to stay and help him but he told me they'll just follow us back here."  Sigfried says and stops for a moment, removing a white rag from his front pocket. He starts to gently wipe the corners of his eyes as he continues "To tell you the truth I didn't want to go back, but he insisted. He told me that you would need my help navigating the Grimroot wood and he made me promise. So I did and that's what I intend to do." he finishes, snuffling all the while.

"I-I see... So be it, then. Let not his sacrifice be in vain, we should be able to rest here for now I assume. Let the chaos up there die down for now." I say to him as I eye the trapdoor suspiciously. 

"I want to go back up there... I want to go back and find his body. Let's give Gimdhur a proper burial, please." Nyskira says with a shaky voice, her head hung low still.

I shake my head in disapproval as I reply to her "You forget yourself Nyskira, that's a whole town guard up there. To do so would be suicide."

"You'd rather watch them toy with his body? Flay it and leave it hanging on the front gates. I could never stomach the thought let alone the sight." she says while standing up, tears streaming down her scaly cheeks. She makes for the ladder but ash she does Aleigh swiftly stands up from her chair and rushes in front of her, blocking her movement.

"What do you plan on doing then?  The town up above is on high alert, do you understand? They may have even requested reinforcements from the neighboring city. Do you mean to take them on alone?" Aleigh tells her in a stern tone.

"Gimdhur may not have been that smart, nor wise but he was honest. An honest and brave man who painted a dream onto my mind. My state of being a blank slate before he came along. An urchin hiding in the shadows and climbing atop rooftops wishing to fly free like the birds and dragons above me." Nyskira replies as she fights back tears for a moment then continues "His kind words have painted an image of a future filled with happiness. He guided me towards a goal when my life had none and now that he has no life. I shall guide his body to rest. Please Aleigh, grant me this request." She finishes, now a determined look has replaced her teary eyes.