The Warden's Awakening

Chapter XVIII - Branded

Two weeks. It had been two weeks of Sann. This was his life now. Every day was the same. He tried to sleep, but could not, he listened to the dripping water, he did a few push-ups and sit-ups to keep his strength up, he cried a little, he ate the two meals of watery stew that came each day, he stared at the stone floor, stone ceiling, or stone walls, then he would try to sleep again. That was his life now.

Lacen had not been allowed into the main area of the prison, despite what Skarn had ordered when he was thrown in that rock cell. It had only been two weeks, but to Lacen, each day felt longer than the last one. The only thing occupying his thoughts was how much of a failure he was. Last week he had begun to feel the same sensation that he felt on the day of the destruction, but he quickly suppressed it. The One knows how it would look if the World Render blew up the prison they had him in. All he could do was sit.

As Lacen sat near the constant dripping water, he heard something. The sound of keys rattling in someone's hand. Perhaps one of the dungeon keepers was taking someone else to this part of the prison. Lacen did not pay it any mind, and continued burying himself in the doubt and self loathing.

Just then, his door opened. Lacen looked up quick at the female dungeon keeper standing at the door. She was tall and very well built. Lacen believed she had to be in this profession. Her, tan skin, dark brown hair, and thick eyebrows were characteristic of someone from Calcin. A native.

"Time to make some friends, World Render," she said. Her voice was deeper than Lacen had expected. He stood up complacently, and saw the jailer's eyes wander over him. He thought he saw her grin, but that may have just been wishful thinking on his part. He walked out of the cell and the door was shut behind him. The woman then placed a hand on Lacen's shoulder and pushed him along the stone hallway.

Lacen had a feeling about where she was taking him. There was a large area of the prison where those incarcerated could socialize. For most prisoners, there were allotted times they had in the open area. It was not very long, but it was something. It would have been Lacen's first time with the other prisoners. What would they think of him? Were there other Skellund in the prison? Would they be sympathetic to him?

No. He was beyond sympathy. He should not expect any. The One knows how many people dies in that incident...

The dungeon keeper brought Lacen to a large open area that was surrounded by iron bars. Through the bars, he could see roughly thirty or so prisoners, all looking directly at him. He looked back and saw men and women, morkai, human, and hemrid, some looking more well fed than others. Lacen expected to be thrust into the area and to be attacked by them. Instead, the dungeon keeper turned him along the side of the opening, and continued marching him around. It only took a few seconds to realize what was happening.

She was showcasing him.

Lacen tried not to look at the prisoners moving toward his end of the ring of bars. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw massive bodies sizing him up, seeing which parts of him to slice open first. To them, his brand was more than enough justification for their actions. Lacen silently wondered if they had been told of his abilities. Or at the very least, what he had done to Calcina.

After two laps of marching, the dungeon keeper stopped before a door. Two male keepers moved ahead of Lacen and drew their weapons. The prisoners on the other side of the gate moved back to their original places, and Lacen stepped forward. He followed the guards into the sand covered area, and felt, for the first time, something other than stone on his feet. Though the sand was rough, it felt amazing. He could have collapsed right there, but he knew that would scream weakness. The guards then returned to the other side of the cage, and locked the door behind them, sealing Lacen in. He had never felt more vulnerable than he did right then.