Warning: Someone is being interrogated and gets beaten up.
17. Great Escape
Myrina wasn’t sure how much time had past in the damp dark cell. The guards has stripped and searched her. When the found nothing they gave her something to wear while she was in the cell. Had it been hours or days since the Festival. What had happened to her brother? Why had Titus done this? She had so many questions that she wanted answers to. The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts.
The guard that had brought her here had returned. Myrina was pulled roughly to her feet and shoved hard.
“Why did you plan the attack on Queen Hyacinth” she snarled. Her hold tightening.
“I didn’t” Myrina gasped the painful grip on her arm made it hard to focus.
“Lies!” the guard snapped. “I know that you sent your brother away. Not for the misconduct that you claim but to send him to that witch who runs the temple out in the desert”
What was she talking about. What witch in the desert? What did Kale have to do with this? He was long gone…wasn’t he?
“I don’t know what your talking about” Myrina replied, the woman let her go. Myrina breathed a sigh of relief, the pressure on her arm gone. Starts erupted in her vision a moment later. The blow sending her to her knees.
“The more you lie to me the more pain you will receive. We take attacks on the queen very seriously. We know all about what has happened in your silly little tribe. We have been watching you for years. You are a horrible leader, who doesn’t like being told what to do by your betters” The woman stepped on her hand, putting her weight on her fingers. “An easy way to ruin our empire and rid yourself of the person whom you are supposed to follow would be to send your foolish older brother to the witch in the temples.”
“You’re insane!” Myrina cried. “I have no idea what you are talking about!” A sickening crunch followed by white hot pain shot up her arm.
“So it is a coincidence that you banished your brother. Your brother just happens to end up at the one place we can not enter without the proper blessings, run by a woman who hates amazons. It just so happens that your brother tries to kill the queen with the witch’s sword” the woman laughed at her words. “That is far too convenient.”
“Kale isn’t even here” Myrina managed. She glanced at her hand and nearly vomited. Her fingers were swollen and awfully discolored.
“Myrina!” at the sound of her brother’s voice Myrina looked up. A second guard had Kale, his hands held behind his back. He looked distraught at her predicament. A second strike sent her flat to the ground.
“Another lie” the woman spat. She exited the cell and Kale was shoved in. He rushed to her side and helped her sit up.
“Enjoy your last few hours together. The queen has called for your execution” the guard that brought Kale in cackled as she locked them in. Kale pulled Myrina into a hug.
“I am so sorry Rina. If I had known what they were going to do I never would have agreed to this” He murmured. “I would have rather died in that desert than put you through all this”
“Don’t say that Kale!” Myrina gasped. She had never heard Kale speak like this. He couldn’t have known what would happen. Knowing he was alive and seeing his face again had brought such joy to her, even under the circumstance.”You couldn’t have known”
“I should have guessed that attacking the queen would have put you in some danger” he argued.
“Hush Kale, Don’t you know not to argue with your creator” Myrina said in a mockingly stern voice.
“Of course little sister” he laughed quietly. “Try to sleep, we have a long day ahead of us”
Myrina wanted to argue that the pain in her hand would keep her awake but exhaustion washed over her. She couldn’t fight the call of sleep.
Myrina jolted awake what felt like moments later. She groan as she tried to move. The stiffness in her muscles told her that she had been in the same spot for hours.
“Kale” she called, realizing that he had moved from his spot next to her.
“Over here Rina” he murmured. His voice was quieter than usual. He made a motion to be quiet before she could question him. “Something is happening outside” Myrina stood and went over to where Kale was peering through the bars. A faint sound of battle could be heard from outside the room. The doors leading to the cells burst inward. Two men in armor stood in the doorway. One of them surged forward began to unlock the cells. When he reached their cell Kale stepped back. The bars were unlocked.
“Paser” Myrina cried out, recognizing his face under the armor. He smiled and moved aside to let them exit the small room.
“We should really get going” the second man said. He ushered them out of the dungeons. Paser took a moment to give Myrina something else to wear.
“I have found this in one of the nearby crate. It isn’t your original outfit but it is better than what you have on now” He held out the dress, his gaze focused on a nearby wall as she changed.
“Thank you Paser” she rejoined them after she dressed.
“We should really get going, we have freed the rest of the people the queen has held” the second man finally spoke.
“The woman from the temple said that your debt has been paid. We freed the man she wanted” Paser informed Kale. Kale smiled, while working for the woman wasn’t bad but still it felt good to no longer be in her service.
“We need to leave now. The rest of the queen’s guard will be here soon” The second man said, he was looking out the windows. Torchlight flickered deeper in the woods. The group fled the compound and ran into the darkness. The arrived at Neferure’s home. Myrina felt like she had been running for days, in reality it had only been a few hours.
Isla Amazon Challenge 