Chapter Thirty Five:
Retribution
Dagan’s frown deepened, glancing around as we slipped into the secret tunnel leading to the castle.
‘This is too easy.’ He muttered. ‘This place should be guarded.’
‘Maybe it’s a trap for Earl.’ I said, wincing as my wings scrapped against the passage walls. We were below ground level, but in a passage separate from the sewers.
It’s going to be interesting if there’s no ladder to climb out of here. I thought.
‘What do you mean?’ Dagan asked, never slowing his pace.
‘Even if the King can’t use his long-seeing magic, because of Ignatius being in league with Earl, he’ll have realised who’s attacking his city.’ I pointed out. ‘And he’ll know Earl plans to kill him, so don’t you think he’d let Earl take a convenient secret tunnel that leads to him, then kill him using his dark magic so his army will stop?’
Dagan stopped dead at this, making me bump into his back.
‘That actually makes sense.’ He said, sounding amazed. I felt rather insulted he was so shocked. He whirled round to face me, a manic grin in place. ‘That means the King is waiting for us!’
‘Well, yeah, or he’ll be with Firo, where Earl can find him easily.’
‘I can kill him!’ Dagan grinned, then frowned. ‘Damn, I don’t have a weapon.’
Or a chance, I thought drily.
His sharp gaze turned back to me, determined.
‘You’ll have to distract him. I’ll find a sword and kill him while he’s focused on you.’
‘What?’ I laughed, ignoring his eyes narrowing. ‘Are you crazy? I don’t know how powerful the King’s dark magic is, but Amergin knocked me out for a week using whatever poison you caused with your dark magic.’
‘It’s fine.’ Dagan insisted, starting to walk again. ‘Just keep a safe distance away…and avoid his long range attacks.’
‘I’m not fighting him.’
‘You want to save Firo don’t you? And your sister?’ Dagan spat, whirling around to face me. ‘Are you that naïve to think you can do that without fighting? Either he dies today or we do; it’s that simple!’
He turned again and began running, forcing me to follow. The passage began to slope so we were moving uphill, and I struggled to keep up. Finally Dagan stopped at a dead end, a circular hatch door in the wall. He turned back to look at me.
‘This leads to the servant’s quarters. It’s how I smuggled out Firo’s blood to Earl’s spies.’
‘Wait, that was you? Does that mean you’ve seen Firo?’
‘Of course I have…I was a slave here for two hundred years. I was here when she was first captured. I…I weakened her enough for it to happen, with my magic.’
‘Are you saying Firo has been held prisoner here for two hundred years? And you helped them? You helped bleed her and smuggle it to Earl so he could turn me into this? Whose side are you on?’
‘I’m on my own side.’ Dagan growled out, his hands on the hatch door, ready to turn it. ‘I never intended to involve Firo, but I will do anything to kill the King and get my magic back.’
‘You will never get your magic back.’ I snarled. ‘I can promise you that!’
Dagan drew back, surprised, his anger fading as mine grew. He sighed, looking calmer.
‘You’re missing the point. This passage leads to the servant’s quarters. Not many servants know about it, and those that do know the city is too heavily guarded for them to escape. But if what you said is true then they should be able to flee, if they’re careful.’
‘Wait, the servant’s quarters?’
Annie!
I shoved past, turning the hatch door and pushing it open.
‘Well that changed your tune.’ I heard Dagan mutter before I wriggled through the opening.
I wasn’t surprised not many slaves knew about the passage. It was hidden in a cupboard of spare slave outfits, behind a shelf filled with cleaning supplies specifically for the slave’s own quarters. Who was going to look too closely at voluntary cleaning supplies when they had so much mandatory cleaning to do?
Despite being the middle of the day all the slaves seemed to be there, glancing at the locked door nervously. All their gazes turned to us as we stepped out of the cupboard, shrinking back at the sight of me.
‘Dagan?’ One asked, as wide-eyed as the rest.
‘Hello Luther. We’re here to help.’
Luther didn’t look too convinced, but a delightful squeal drew away his attention.
‘Dimi!’
The next thing I knew a thinner, slightly taller Annie was in my arms, squeezing me with every ounce of strength she had, tears of joy and relief in her eyes.
‘You came! You really came.’
‘Of course I did.’ I choked out, feeling tears of my own threatening to fall. ‘I’ll always come and find you.’
Dagan pushed the cleaning shelf out of the way, revealing the passage to everyone.
‘The city is under attack; they’ve locked you in here to be sacrificed. If you take this passage you can get outside the castle. Head somewhere far from here; out of the King’s reach.’
‘Aneller.’ I said, looking at them over Annie’s head. ‘It isn’t ruled by the King. You’ll be safe there.’
The slaves murmured amongst themselves, doubts and fear on their face.
‘Go now!’ Dagan commanded, ‘It’s the only chance you have. Would you rather stay and die a slave?’
This spurred them into action, pushing towards the passage so Dagan and I had to move sideways out of the way. Annie still clung to me, which made me wince, knowing what I had to do next.
‘Annie, you need to go with them.’
She gazed up at me then, shocked, before setting her jaw and firmly shaking her head.
I sighed, ‘You’re not safe here.’
‘Only if you come.’ She said.
‘You know I can’t. She’s here, I have to rescue her.’
‘Then I’ll stay with you! Don’t make me leave you; I can’t bear to lose anyone else.’
I drew her into another hug, gritting my teeth.
‘I promise I’ll follow you. It’s too dangerous for you but I’m strong with this body. I’ll save Firo and follow you. I promise.’
‘Really?’ she whispered, her voice so faint I was afraid she might break.
‘Yes, but I can’t help Firo and worry about you. So, please go.’
She slowly untangled herself from me, staring into my eyes to search for any doubt or deceit. Finally she nodded, tears spilling down her face.
‘Alright, I’ll go.’
I let out a relieved breath, pulling her in for one final hug.
‘I love you, little sister.’
‘I love you, big brother. I’ll be waiting for you, until the day we meet again.’
With that she pulled away and headed to the passage. She paused, glancing back to give me a brilliant, watery smile before disappearing from view.
That was the last time I ever saw my little sister.
Scribbled Thoughts 