The Regal Rogue

6. Nothing But Darkness

Fey took me back to the hide out.
My hip was shooting pain down through my leg now so I sat on the hammock.
I couldn't think straight so I rummaged through the satchel Serenity had given me.

I found a deep case of herbs. She had also put berries, pears, and a few rare plums with a loaf of beer bread.

I didn't know much about medicine so I thought it simple to just let them soak in hot water I had boiled on the ground.

It helped my nerves and subsided the pain enough for me to sleep properly.

I had awoken naturally with the gentle shake of the chilly breeze against the moss dome.

My hip was finally healed and I was determined that now I was well I could finally have a chance to help Serenity.

I called for Callum and he told me what he knew. Serenity had indeed been taken by the guards and was in the dungeon.

I grabbed my satchel and pulled out my heavy, black hooded dress and was about to set off when Fey appeared with something carefully held between her jaws.

She dropped it in my hands and I saw it was a medium, sheathed dagger.
I gripped it tightly and though my mind was terrified of holding the weapon, I did not shake as if my body knew what I had to do.

I started out and took time to walk as I tried to piece a plan together.

As frightening as it was to think about breaking into my own castle, it couldn't be too difficult. I mean, I knew every secret hall and tunnel there. Including the one that led to the underground dungeon.

I returned to the entrance Serenity had used to get us inside the treasury.

I crawled through the opening and found the overhead door in the darkness.
I listened to the door to make sure it was clear on the other side.

I slipped in and out of the shadows so as not to be seen even if no one was near.
Finding my way to the armory, I slid behind the prized suit of armor and disappeared behind the curtain covering the wall.

I lifted the uneven stone and it slid up enough for me to squeeze in sideways.
I inched down the slant until I found myself pulling up into the prison chamber and seeing it was unguarded.

There was a blurry window in the ceiling of the cells, letting in the faintest light from the grey day fog.

I could make out a slumped figure sitting in the middle of an empty cell, the shadow stretching out towards me.

I made a slow cautious approach and the figure's head shot up.

"Crimson?" I heard the hoarse, shaky voice call to me.

I kept silent and stepped closer.
"I know it's you. Why so coy?" The voice said with humor but was killed by a cough.

"You know who I am. But who are you?" I ask in my sister's cold tone.

"One that knows you do not hold on to your friends tightly enough." I couldn't tell if there was humor or not but sudden realization hit me and I felt stupid.

"Ah. Serenity. Forgive me. I don't know why I was so thick." I expressed, frantically yanking off my moon paw pendant which served as a key for every hideaway room in the castle.

"We will have to be quick and stealthy on the way out." I told her as I headed off.

"This may be a bad time, but we cannot leave without Callum." Serenity choked.

"Callum's here?" I feel myself drop.

"Indeed as is she." Serenity took my key and opened the second cell.