Chapter 9: Skulking
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Sha stopped to help her with the ladder,
before responding, “No, it’s not that, but I will be asking questions about
that later. You have a double-edged short sword. I thought you use a cutlass?”
Morgan attempted to answer Sha’s
unintentionally complex question, “If your weapon says something about who you
are, then I get closer to discovering that daily.” Sha did not respond, instead
he followed, and under the cover of darkness they traversed the planked
highways. The moon was near to full, its haunting glow mingling
with the quiet of the hour, “These are not the best sneaking conditions,” she thought, adding strain to already weary senses. Thankfully, it wasn’t long
before they reached their destination. Meena entered first, she crept through
an upstairs window, they waited, listening intently for her to confirm that no
attack was imminent. The silence stretched towards oblivion until it was
interrupted by a welcome chirping noise. Meena’s signal sending them one by one
into the warehouse. Denza had provided them with custom clothes so they could
quietly blend into the darkness, their skulking attire including weapon covers
and hooded garb in dark hues. After letting her eyes adjust, Morgan sent them
outwards, her vantage providing a pleasingly through view of most of the
building. The warehouse before her was unremarkably large and sparse. The
window they had used to make their entrance overlooking an upstairs
storage area, a light layer of dust evidence of less than a week of vacancy.
Bella took up a position inside the window, tasked with watching their escape,
her eyes already scanning the darkness outside, arrow notched. “Search for
clues,” Morgan ordered, spreading out, the crew obliged. She walked to the
middle of the downstairs section, waiting for the examination of an empty warehouse.
“This is a little anticlimactic,”
she mused, a thought that she instantly wanted to take back, because a shrill whistle
sent her hands towards steel. Bella’s warning was of imminent attack. Her crew had
enough time to meet up with her, before the doors of
the warehouse burst open on all sides, they were quickly blocked from any exit.
Worse still, they were surrounded by the King’s Guard. Not the lazy
undisciplined shabby Nights Watch but the shiny, gold-plated, menacing, and
well-trained King’s Guard. Her crew were steadfast, weapons ready, their
stances indicating rediness. Bella's bowstring was taunt, Morgan
signed, “Hold.” Surprisingly, The Guardsmen also held; menacing stares were the
only exchange for an impossibly tense instance, then the sounds of clinking armour
could be heard as the guardsmen made way for a sturdy figure, that thrust
himself into the forefront. The figure, someone Morgan had only ever seen from
a distance, usually in a parade, perched upon his favourite hunting steed, with
a few dogs in tow. Striding confidently into their midst, was none other than
the crown prince.
Seemingly ignorant to common sense, the prince
continued his approach and stopping short of her steel, he stood, openly appraising her, his warm words coupled with an easy smile, “Let’s not be
doing anything that I’m sure we would both regret.” To everyone’s astonishment
he then locked eyes with Sha and uttered surprising words, “Aren’t you going to
give your big brother a hug?” Sha suddenly found himself to be the object of
everyone’s attention. Distracted by Marlo’s gaping mouth, Morgan reached out to
absently to close it with an upward lift.
Shifting uncomfortably Sha aimed his
panicked stare in her direction, “I can explain,” he offered.
“Stand
down, lower your weapons,” Morgan commanded, exerting control. The crew
complied, albeit reluctantly. Smartly deciding that eye contact was a bad idea, instead she swung her arm in Sha’s direction, and coupled a fierce grip, with controlled
words, “You and me, are going to talk.”
Morgan headed in the direction of the least
crowded corner, the kings guard shifting uncomfortably, as she half pulled, half
dragged Sha past them, “Stand back, lower your weapons and give them a bit of
room,” The crown prince ordered, displaying enjoyment in the cheerful lilt of
his voice, he moved in their direction as if he had an invitation to their
intimate conversation. Morgan was
momentarily captured by the older brother's display of misplaced affection, then
she inwardly slapped herself, it was not the time and place, to be disarmed by a
prince’s charms.
When Morgan had reached the desired corner,
she turned to face Sha, his clear discomfort fuelling angry words, “Okay, you
know I allow secrets, but a prince of the realm. WHAT EXCUSE COULD YOU POSSIBLY
HAVE FOR NOT TELLING ME?” The Guard shrunk backwards, her crew’s uniform stares
of disappointment strengthening resolve.
Sha reached out grabbing her angrily
shaking hand, he enclosed it and lifted his gaze to join with hers. The esteem she saw smothering flames, his
words quelling rage, “Hi, my name is Asharn Robert Dallinger, I am a prince.
I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you who I was. Truth to tell, at first, I didn’t
know if I could trust you.” Sha glanced around uncomfortably, his tone gaining
a pleading edge, “Can we please talk in a more private setting?”
Morgan searched desperately for enough
anger to fuel a rude retort, she came up empty handed, “Yes, I think that would
be a good idea,” She affirmed, slipping into the familiarity of controlled
calm.
The crown prince politely asserted himself
into their conversation, his words directed at Morgan, “Leonardis Dallinger at
your service, I’m sorry to break up what is clearly another blunder by my
brother. But I humbly ask that you to follow my instructions, despite the
company you keep the Citadel was attacked the night before last, so I need to follow
protocol.”
“Wait, what? The Citadel was attacked?” Sha
blurted.
Ignoring his brother, the crown prince
continued his address, “All will be explained, in the meantime please surrender
your weapons and come quietly. If you are who you appear to be, then all will
be well, you have my word.” Leonardis seemed genuine.
Morgan signed ‘hide’ to Bella before
turning her attention back to the prince, “You will not have any trouble here,”
She affirmed, bowing her head respectfully. Her crew complied, placing their
weapons groundward, although most were more dangerous without.
Asserting himself back into the
conversation Sha grumbled as if his brother was taking away his favourite toy,
“Oh no, this is not how you are going to treat my friends, Leo.”
“Please don’t assume this is easy for me, I
have to do the right thing,” Leonardis replied calmly.
Morgan placed a hand upon Sha’s shoulder,
offering sickly sweet words, “It’s okay, you can show me your room later,”
Leonardis laughed along with his men, unfortunately for Sha, her need for
revenge, was not quite sated.
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After their weapons had been confiscated,
they were separated from Sha, lined up and marched to the Citadel, true to his
word, the prince’s men did not chain them up, or ill-treat them, their
destination, however, belied hope. They found themselves in a large cell, it
had an area that was clearly used for the safe questioning of difficult
prisoners. Located deep underground, the cell had one bared window that gave a
lovely view of strong bars, air, and foamy sea. To get to their new abode, they
had been led past a heavily fortified area between the Citadel gates and the
Barracks then they were herded into a tunnel. The tunnel filled with lots of
gates and locks as well as guards at every opportune point. If Morgan’s dreams
of freedom were to be fulfilled, she needed to somehow get past two locked doors,
tunnels filled with armed men, a well-stocked barracks, and sturdy gates manned
by bored soldiers, who were waiting to take pot shots at anything that took
their fancy, still nothing was impossible. Morgan
had already admitted that escape was going to be a little tricky, her crew
waiting just long enough for the guards to lock the cell door, before offering their
animated input upon the subject, everyone talking at once. Morgan politely let them
continue until she felt that they had got the worst offences off their chests, then
she raised a hand. After quiet had descended, she got to the heart of the main
grievances, “We can trust him, guys.”
“Are you sure that you are not biased, I
mean anything could happen in here,” Meena interjected.
Morgan met her friends gaze head on, her words calm, “If I’m wrong, then we will fight maybe even die, but as always, we will make them pay.”
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After what felt
like an hour of captivity, the outer cell door opened and in stepped a
middle-aged man; Morgan instantly gauging him as the dangerous type that she
usually spent a lot of time and energy keeping well away from. There was an air
of cold calculation behind his piercing eyes, as if a viper was gauging when to
strike. Morgan moved first, stealing the man’s attention she overtly placed
herself between a snake and her Crew.
The stranger measured her, his words devoid
of emotion, “Well, it isn’t hard to pick you out as Morgan Jones. I am the
King’s Brother, Fife Dallinger, duke of Rollston. I have been away for seven
years fighting a war in the west, yet even I have heard of your exploits. I’ve
also heard of your underhanded dealings.”
Morgan maintained a passive façade, leaning
causally against the bars she met the duke gaze for gaze, “I am at a loss, Your
Grace. I have heard nothing about your exploits,” She replied pleasantly. Her
words produced clear annoyance a fact that told her much.
The duke offered explanation, “I don’t
expect you to have heard of my exploits, I prefer them to stay covert. I think
you have misread my intent. Let me be clear, I’m in awe of your feats.”
Morgan responded feigning haughtiness to
add mystery, “I’m sure only half of what you have heard is true. I mean
honestly, I don’t kill people, who displease me all the time, and I don’t always
send assassins after the competition, why would I when I can kill them myself.”
The cruelty in the duke’s eyes was replaced
by curiosity, and then, as if he had her measure, he turned to leave, yet before he
stepped over the threshold, he offered chilling words, “If it wasn’t for my
nephew, you would be dead. Nevertheless, I think you would make a good ally. I
need likeminded individuals, think on it, but not for too long, there is a
reason Tornbaer won the war, and it certainly wasn’t with diplomacy.” The
threat was overt, Morgan rode waves of emotion as she watched the duke slither
from the room, for she had his measure, and the picture was horribly bad, as
bad, as bad could be.
Her fists shook clenched as they were, she turned towards Meena, her friend already at her side, “Okay, it wouldn’t hurt to start forming some escape plans.”
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Sha was pacing and
close to desperation by the time his brother deigned to walk into the room, his
words panicked, “Why are my friends in jail, and where is our father? I need to
give him a piece of my mind. How dare he despatch you like his lackey, to arrest
my friends and bring me home, like I had a choice, I mean-” He faltered, his
brothers weary face silencing him.
Leo dropped into the nearest chair, his
favourite hound Luthor placed muzzle upon lap, his words sounding very close to
a reprimand, “Please stop striding the room as if you are a lady taking a turn,
your friends won’t be incarcerated for long, sit and I will explain.”
Sha’s rude retort was silenced, their
mother choosing that moment to bound into the room, dressed in a night gown she
made a beeline for him. Surprisingly, there was no formality in her embrace,
her accompanying words carrying endearment and rebuke in equal measure, “My
darling boy, oh how I have missed you; how could you do this to me?” He
reciprocated the hug, a tear escaped and when it ended it was much too soon, “Have
you told him yet Leo?” His mother asked.
The undeniable fact that he had been left
out of the loop instantly escalating Sha towards demands, “Okay, this is
starting to worry me, someone tell me what is going on and while you are at it,
RELEASE MY FRIENDS!” He stopped himself from making his point with a stamped
foot, instead waiting albeit impatiently for answers.
Leo replied, glancing up absentmindedly, the
impressive scar through his left eyebrow gifting Sha’s with a healthy dose of guilt, “Father was attacked in his bed, the assassin managed to poison him,
the only reason he still alive is Mother’s meagre training as a healer. You are
lucky to be alive yourself, the assailant was a black cloak, and our sources
told us that warehouse we found you in was used by them. Uncle Fife wanted the kings
guard to go in there and kill everyone without hesitation.”
Sha froze, his brother’s words sinking in,
desperate he even took a moment to breathe before releasing thought out words,
“Release Morgan and my friends, they have reason to hate the black cloaks like
us, more importantly right now Morgan has a healer on her ship that is from the
Sisters of Amare.”
“Well, THIS WON’T DO AT ALL!” His mother
declared, before racing out the door.
“Mother, MOTHER!” Leo called, before turning a
rather grumpy gaze in Sha’s direction. He knew that he had a goofy grin upon
his face, but he just didn’t care then Luthor growled menacingly sending his
grin into remission. “Well, I guess we both know who her favourite still is,”
Leo declared, after offering an outstretched hand his much sturdier brother pulled
him into a firm hug.
“I’m sorry about your eye,” Sha offered, his
words smothered by an embrace that he never knew he had missed.
Leo replied in his typical way, “Think
naught of it, besides, apparently, the ladies think a scar is handsome, that
and access to the family hunting lodge.” Sha sighed, finding little solace in
pressing thoughts, “I’m sure the lady will forgive you,” Leo offered. Sha
wasn’t surprised that his brother could tell how he felt. Leo was intuitive, a
trait that didn’t just make him a good brother but would someday make him a great
king.
“It’s not just that, I’m worried about Father,”
he replied.
“Your concern for Father surprises me, but you
needn’t worry. If Morgan does indeed have a Sister of Amare, he will be in good
hands, it’s not just legend that they are the best at what they do.” Sha spent
hours thereafter, in a familiar pattern of brotherly banter, it was early
morning before he finally retired to bed.
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The plan was a
highly flawed work in progress, the only thing that they could agree on was that
the next person who walked into their cell would be used to secure their freedom,
from there they would fight their way to the top. They still hadn’t agreed on
what to do beyond that point. Meena wanted to split up and create a diversion.
Morgan adamant that they should stay together. Not long after the King’s
brother had paid his unwanted visit, the sound of the outer door could be
heard, in walked a composed middle-aged woman with fading blonde hair and
striking blue eyes. Morgan raised her arm indicating that all hold, this woman
was clearly where Sha got his fine looks from. Without hesitation and an
impatient tap of her foot, the Queen demanded that the guards unlock the inner
door. Morgan was astonished, even the King’s brother knew not to walk straight
into their cell. This woman was fearless or crazy, she wasn’t sure which. The
Queen singled her out with calm words, “You must be Morgan. These men will
escort you back to your accommodation, please come back in the morning with
your healer, and to make up for our mistake I would like to invite you to come
and receive our hospitality. I’m sure we can put this whole unfortunate
situation behind us.” The last said with a sweep of her hand encompassing the
cell and its occupants, taken aback Morgan nodded dumbly.
At that, the Queen turned and left them to
the care of bewildered guards, one guard looked to the other and said, “It’s
your turn, Gary, I got the last one.”
“That’s not true Bob, I helped the stable
master haul the hay,” Gary affirmed.
Bob re-joined, “Oh no, Gary, that was last
week, and that reminds me you were supposed to put in a good word with that
kitchen maid to repay me.” The strange conversation continued until a set of large,
muscled hands griped their shoulders. Marlo leaned in, his vice like grip only
adding to his menacing words, “Get me out of this god forsaken dungeon, RIGHT NOW!”
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