by V K Majzlik
He approached the cells, and saw the sleeping bodies of the prisoners. Reaching through the bars, he shook Nechan’s foot, waking him with a start.
“What? Why are you here?” gasped Nechan, moving to the back of his cell.
“Leave the boy alone!” came the deep voice of Gaular. He had been woken by the sound of the prison door opening.
Tavor cast the dwarf a spiteful look and then motioned for Nechan to come closer. “I’m here to help you!” he whispered.
Nechan slid closer in the straw, unsure whether to trust Tavor or not.
“I understand that you don’t trust me, give me the opportunity to make it right!”
“And how do you intend to do that?”
Tavor had not realised that Eilendan was also awake. He sat leaning against the bars of his cage. “Look, you have to trust me. I am going to get you out of here!”
Nechan knelt up as Tavor crouched down to explain. The clansman had also drawn the attention of the other cellmates, intrigued by the prospect of escape. Their hearts were now filled with a cautious glimmer of hope.
“You expect us to believe that?” mocked Gaular.
“We either do this now, or never. This is a one time offer.” Tavor stood up and took a step backwards as if he was about to leave.
“Wait!” cried Nechan. “I believe you! You have tried your best to look after us this past week. I trust you!” Nechan clung onto the bars, a look of desperation in his blue eyes.
“Quiet boy. This is not your decision!” Gaular’s voice was raised in frustration.
“The boy’s right. He has done what he can. It does not mean we have to trust you though,” Eilendan said calmly, staring at Tavor.
“Trust is earned. Prove it to us.” Jaidan was now standing at the front of his cell, also staring at his fellow clansman with disdain.
The sound of the prison door being unlocked suddenly echoed around the bare walls of the dungeon. Borvik opened the door and poked his head round.
“Hey, Tavor. Time’s up! Sorry!”
Tavor knew it was now or never. “Would you come here a minute, Borvik. There’s something I want to show you.” He beckoned the soldier as he pointed into Nechan’s cage.
“Fine, but be quick.” Borvik checked the darkened corridor and then closed the door behind him with a clang.
Tavor listened to the sound of jingling keys and footsteps of the soldier approaching. With perfect timing he swung round, grabbing Borvik and twisting him down onto his knees. With his arm pulled tightly up under Borvik’s chin and his body pressed tightly against his chest, Tavor began choking him. The soldier’s arms flailed, pulling and hitting Tavor’s arms and face, as he screamed in breathless silence. The comrades watched the slow death. Nechan could not bear it, and had to turn away. Borvik’s body finally went limp and Tavor let it slump to the floor. He brushed himself down, composing himself once more.
“Is that enough to convince you?” he demanded.
“You still need to get us out of here!” Jaidan remained stony-faced. He was not going to be easily swayed by Tavor’s display of brutality.
Rolling the dead body over, looking at the bloodshot, glazed eyes that stared up vacantly, Tavor removed the bunch of keys from the man’s belt. He held them up for the prisoners to see. “We do this now, we do it quickly and we do it my way. Understood?” He stood up and walked towards Jaidan’s cell. “Understood?”
Jaidan reluctantly nodded and waited as Tavor sifted rapidly through the keys until he found the correct one. As he unlocked the other cells Jaidan dragged Borvik out of the way, stashing him in a dark corner behind some empty barrels and bales of hay. He hoped, at least for a short while, it would look like the guard had left his post. Eilendan helped Nymril out of her cell. She stumbled forward weakly even with her fellow elf supporting her.
“If she is going to slow us down we have to leave her!” Tavor looked at the elf who could barely stand.
“We leave no one behind! No one, you hear!” Jaidan stepped into Tavor’s face showing he meant business.
“Any chance you can remove this?” Nymril croaked, pulling at the neck brace.
Tavor shook his head. “No, it’s designed not to be removed. There is no key nor weapon that will unlock it.”
Eilendan pulled Nymril closer and gave her a look that said we will find a way.
“Ready?” Tavor opened the door and looked out, motioning for the comrades to be silent. He listened down the corridor, but there was only silence. It was as safe as it was going to be. The comrades filed out of the prison down the dark corridor, Tavor leading.
The maze of long, dark corridors and narrow staircases seemed interminable. The air was beginning to get colder and the walls wetter. It was obvious they were heading further down into the belly of the fortress.
Jaidan grabbed Tavor’s arm, pulling him to an abrupt halt. “I hope you know your way out of here!” he hissed.
“I mapped out the best way earlier. Have faith!” Tavor replied, wrenching his arm free.
Reaching another corner Tavor held up his hand, motioning them to stop and wait while their escort disappeared.
“Can we really trust him?” whispered Nymril into Eilendan’s ear as she leaned on his shoulder. “What if he is just trying to lead us into a trap?” He did not reply. They had no choice except to follow Tavor. It was their only possible hope of escaping Damankhur.
“Are you managing to keep up, boy?” Gaular placed an encouraging hand on Nechan’s shoulder. He could see how pale and scared the boy looked, even in the cold blackness of the corridor. Nechan nodded, despite the nauseous feeling in his stomach.
A breathless Tavor reappeared out of the dank gloom clutching a lumpy bundle which he handed to Jaidan. “Here, these are yours.”
Holding the heavy package in his arms Jaidan unravelled the cloth and smiled. He was holding the comrades’ weapons.
“We can not linger here. The guards have gone past but they are on a quick rotation, so we don’t have long to get through.”
Without any argument the comrades gladly took their weapons and followed closely behind Tavor. The corridor gradually began to open up until they found themselves standing in the middle of large, vaulted chamber with several passages leading from it. Each corridor was well lit and the sound of voices and footsteps echoed down them in the distance.
“Do you know where we are?” questioned Jaidan, looking nervously down the corridors in turn.
“Of course!” replied Tavor confidently. “This area is called the Snake Pit, probably because of all these different tunnels. We are right at the heart of the fortress and nearly as deep as you can go!”
“While I’m impressed by your wealth of knowledge, may I remind you that you are supposed to be leading us out, not deeper!” snarled Gaular, taking a step closer to Tavor, brandishing his war hammer threateningly.
“Tell your animal to get out of my face, otherwise I leave you all here!”
“Gaular! Stand down,” Eilendan commanded, hoping to break the face-off. “We need him for the time being!”
Gaular held his scowl for another second, then, grumbling, stepped back reluctantly.
“Believe me, I looked for a different way out but other than via the front gate, the only option is to head down and out through the underground tunnels. Trust me!”
Tavor began leading the way again, leaving a concerned Jaidan and Gaular shaking their heads, not liking what they were hearing.
“He’s dead, sir!” The soldier stood up, still looking at the body of Borvik slumped in the corner of the prison.
Govan breathed deeply, fighting his initial urge to erupt. He knew Tavor had been plotting something but he had not expected this. How could he have been so blind?
“They can’t have got far. We will find them quickly.” He stood staring at the unlocked and empty cells.
“Should we not sound the alarm, sir?” one of the men asked.
Govan shook is head. “That wo
uld only make them be more cautious. I don’t want them to know we are coming.” There was logic in the captain’s words.
“Quickly, and without any commotion, get all the guards searching. Fortify the gate. We will work our way downward and flush them out.”
Javil sprinted off to the barracks to rally the guards, leaving Govan and three men standing in the empty prison. Javil organised the guards quickly, reinforcing the numbers on the gate and dividing the rest into small groups to search down the multitude of corridors and tunnels that lay under the fortress. The net was starting to close in on the comrades.
“It’s not far now. Just down here. Quickly!” Tavor ushered his followers down past him. His heart was beating quickly, making the blood in his ears pulsate loudly. He could hear the pounding footsteps of soldiers echoing all around them. Although he was sure they were not yet coming down their current tunnel, he knew they could not be far behind. Something told him the alarm had been raised. They must have discovered Borvik’s body. Their escape was taking far longer than he had originally estimated, slowed down by the two injured elves. There was nothing he could do except try to hurry them along and keep one step ahead. It was too late to turn back now.
Tavor caught up again with the comrades. They were waiting at the end of the tunnel, unsure which way now to turn.
“The tunnel opens up again!” Jaidan cautiously poked his head round the corner, checking for soldiers.
Tavor joined him. “We’re right where I planned to be. This is the underground canal. We’re nearly out!”
“They are right on our tail!” whispered Jaidan, just out of earshot of the others.
“You have good ears also!” replied Tavor, almost breaking a small smile.
“Like all Brathunders!” Jaidan said in agreement. They were beginning to trust each other a little more. Jaidan was starting to see a fate glimmer of a true Brathunder clansman in Tavor. Perhaps there was hope for him yet?
The sound of footsteps was growing louder and now all the comrades could hear them. With an increased sense of urgency they followed Tavor round the corner, stumbling into a wide, brightly-lit tunnel next to a foul smelling canal. They stared at the murky green water. It was motionless, with a stagnant green film covering the surface, except where there was an occasional ripple of bubbles bursting the surface. The tunnel air was stale and humid, filled with the stench of decay.
“What is this place?” asked Nechan leaned over the edge to look at his faint, green reflection in the water. He watched a panicked rat scuttle along a small ledge and jump into the water with a plop to escape the intruders.
“This is our way out of here!” replied Tavor. “Follow me!” He jogged off to the left, following the edge of the canal.
“Does he mean we’re getting in there?” Nechan asked Jaidan, pointing at the foul waters, shuddering at the thought.
Jaidan shrugged his shoulders. “Looks like it!”
Nechan took another look at the water and then ran to catch the others up.
They sprinted for several more minutes, following the curved line of the underground canal. They could still hear the footsteps and voices of soldiers somewhere behind them, pushing them to go faster. Nymril was struggling to keep up, her body sapped of all its strength. She was functioning solely on adrenaline and hope.
As they pressed forward, the comrades realised that they were running towards a dead end.
“Hey! Where are you taking us?” shouted Jaidan.
“Is this the right way?” demanded Eilendan, breathlessly.
“Trust me!” replied Tavor, still running towards the wall. He stopped suddenly, and rested his hand against the wall, waiting for the others to catch up. “You have to get in the water!” he shouted.
“Then what?” Jaidan panted, looking at the blank stone wall.
“There’s a grate under the water. This crank lifts it!” Tavor pointed to a large rusty wheel set into a cleft in the wall. “Get in and I’ll start to raise it!”
The shouts were growing louder behind them.
“Get in, there’s no time!” He began turning the wheel slowly. It screeched loudly as the rusty metal tried to resist him. The comrades watched as the water beside the wall began to churn and bubble. Again, the shouts filled the tunnel, and they all turned to see shadows of soldiers growing on the wall in the distance.
“Jump in!” shouted Jaidan, as he leapt into the water with a loud splash. The others followed one by one, Nechan being the last to slide nervously into the suspect water. He tried to feel for the bottom with his feet, but it was too deep.
“Swim under! Go!” gasped Tavor as he struggled to hold the crank in position.
“Then what?” Jaidan asked, hanging onto the edge of the canal, watching Tavor battle with the weight of the crack.
“I’m not sure how far it is, but you should make it in one breath. You should resurface below the plateau,” the clansman explained. “If you come out where I think, there are a few breeding farms that supply the horses for the army!”
Jaidan nodded, and helped the others underwater. Nechan clung to him, a look of panic in his eyes. Jaiden forced him to take a breath, finally encouraging him to go under.
“I’ll be right behind you!” he promised. Jaidan watched the blonde head disappear. He turned back to Tavor. “What about you?”
“There’s no time! I made my decision a long time ago!” He paused to turn the crank again as it started to slip. “Thank you! Thank you for helping me to see the truth!”
The soldiers were in view, running towards them, swords drawn.
“Go!” shouted Tavor, his muscles straining. Jaidan paused for a moment, watching the guards coming closer. He fought the urge to climb out and fight and instead dived under the water, finding the concealed grate, and swam through.
Tavor let the crank go and drew his sword. The sound of clanking, running chains behind the wall could be heard and the water churned and gurgled as the grate closed.
“Come on then!” screamed Tavor, beckoning the soldiers to attack him.
The first one ran straight into his drawn sword. He let out a pleading cry as the blade pierced his stomach. Using his boot, Tavor pushed the body off his blade and raised it to defend himself against a high blow from the next guard. Effortlessly, he blocked the swing, lunged forward and threw the soldier of balance. As the man fell forward Tavor sliced his sword across his chest and up to the soldier’s neck, spilling his hot blood on the tunnel floor. He turned and plunged the bloody blade into the next man, cutting short his shout.
“Tavor!” bellowed a familiar voice behind him.
Tavor turned to greet Govan, stepping over the three dead bodies. Their swords clashed and slid down to the hilts until the men were nose to nose. With evenly matched strength they strained against each other, neither wanting to give in.
“I knew you were always going to be a traitor! I never trusted you!” taunted Govan.
“Once a traitor, always a traitor!” replied Tavor through clenched teeth.
“I’ve always suspected that you let that man go!” smirked Govan, pushing forward a little more. “Why?”
Govan mustered an extra ounce of strength from somewhere, propelling Tavor backwards. He lunged towards him, but Tavor was ready and deflected his blow, causing Govan to stumble forward. Tavor sprang to his feet and raised his sword above his head. Govan turned quickly, reading Tavor’s attack perfectly, defended with his sword and stepped in towards him. With his free hand, Govan pulled out a small dagger concealed in his breastplate and plunged it into Tavor’s chest, finding the only weak spot, beneath his arm.
Tavor stopped mid swing, the breath sucked out of him, feeling the searing pain. With a fluid motion, Govan withdrew the dagger. The scarlet blood began to spurt, covering Tavor’s chest, dripping down his armour onto the floor.
Feeling the life drain out of him, struggling to breathe as his lungs began to choke with blood, Tavor fell to his knees. He tried to stumble f
orward towards Govan, attempting to raise his sword once more.
The other guards ran up to help their commander, but Govan signalled for them to stop. He knew it was over. Tavor was already dead; his brain was yet to catch up. He took a step towards the dying man and bent down, wrenching the sword from the weakening grip. “Truth is, you were always weaker. Your clan didn’t want you and neither did the Empire. I should have killed you long ago, brother!”
Tavor choked, and frothy blood began to dribble from his mouth. He was unable to reply, but his eyes said it all. Govan did not move as Tavor fell backwards, twitched a couple of times and then exhaled his dying breath.
One of the soldiers broke the silence, “Should we go after them, sir? They are escaping.” The guards looked at the foul, green water, not wanting to go in after the prisoners. The hole in the murky scum clearly indicated where they had gone.
Govan shook his head, “No! I know where it comes out. We should be able to catch them up; they won’t get far on foot.” He stood up and started walking away, heading towards the corridor that led back upstairs.
“Sir? What about the body?”
“Leave it to rot, like a traitor deserves!” Govan snapped, turning his back on his old friend. He felt no remorse for what he had done, only the anger of betrayal. The guards looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and then said no more. They left Tavor where he had fallen. There was more important business to attend to.
Chapter 34 – A Watery End
Nechan’s lungs were close to bursting. Unable to see anything in the liquid blackness, he had tried to keep close to the wall to guide him through, but had no idea how much further he had to swim. The burning sensation was becoming unbearable and he was desperate to take a breath.
Nechan was starting to panic, which worsened as he felt slimy weeds wrap their tentacles around his ankles. The boy was unable swim any further and began to thrash, reaching for a non-existent surface, feeling the cold darkness closing in. The last thing he remembered was strong hands grabbing hold and towing him through the water. With no oxygen left, his brain began to merge into the stagnant water as he fell unconscious.