Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

“We shall see about that,”boasted Tedi. “We plan on getting you out, as well. Let me know bywhistling if you hear the guards coming.”

Tedi moved to the cell door and pulledhis picks out of a pouch. The cell doors were not very hard tounlock and he finished it quickly. The real protection of thedungeon lay in the three guards. One would have to get past themand they normally searched their prisoners. Tedi, of course, wasonly a guest. Quickly and silently, he made his way along thecorridor to the last cell. Looking into the cell he saw an old, butwell fit, man with gray hair that was sitting on his bunk staringat him.

“General Gregor,” Tedi saidquietly, Garth Shado sent me to get you out of here.” Even while hewas talking, he was working the lock on the General’sdoor.

“Save your breath, son,” theGeneral replied. “I have no doubt that you and Garth mean well, butI will not endanger Alcea soldiers to make my escape and that isthe only way that I can think of to get past theguards.”

Tedi withdrew a tin of dye and a ragand handed it to the General. “We will not harm anyone in gettingyou and the Sergeant out,” Tedi promised. “Use this dye on yourhair and don’t leave the cell. If the guards come to check on you,pretend you are sleeping and keep your head covered.”

Tedi moved quickly back to theSergeant’s cell and picked the door lock before retreating backinto his own cell. Tedi sat down on his bunk and tried to hide thefact that he was shaking with the fear of discovery.

* * * *

The massive guard ordered Arik to sitat the small table where he and the other guard had been when Arikand Tedi entered the dungeon.

“Now,” the guard growled, “theDuke may think you are a Cidal Mercenary, but I surely don’t. I’vedrank with the Captain’s men and their uniforms don’t look likeyours, especially that soft hat. Every mercenary who I know wears ahelmet same as we do. You probably don’t even know the Captain’sname. What game are you up to, lad, and who are we holding as aguest in our cells?”

“Game?” Arik got out in anoffended tone. “You think being a member of Lord’s Wason’s personalguard is a game? Don’t let my young looks fool you. Three othersand I were chosen from the ranks of Captain Grecho’s company forthe honor of serving Lord Wason. If I have to prove myself to aTargan dungeon guard, you can well believe that I amready.”

The last was said with Arik’s hand onhis sword hilt and the guard was taken aback. If Arik was who hesaid he was, the guard was not about to spill the blood of a Lord’spersonal guard and, on second look, he realized the lad was finelyfit to be wearing some uniform. He placed his firm hand on Arik’sshoulder. “Don’t get riled up, lad,” the guard said. “I’ve neverheard of Lord Wason, but it is obvious that you do know CaptainGrecho. You can’t blame me for being suspicious, that’s myjob.”

“I’m sorry,” Arik replied ashe felt the tension lessen. “I have had to train twice as hard asthe rest of the men to prove myself because of my youthfulappearance. I guess I am a little touchy about it. Lord Wason wasthe old sailor’s nephew. Lord Alrecht died recently and Lord Wasonhas a good rapport with Captain Grecho. When he asked for apersonal guard, the Captain not only readily agreed, he held acontest to see who would be chosen. I am very proud of the softhat, which I wear. It is a symbol of my expertise.”

Both guards looked at Arik in a newlight and offered to share the last of their ale over stories ofCidal. Arik politely refused, telling the guards that his Lord wasexpecting him to take up position outside the Duke’s study. Theynodded and let him out.

No sooner had Arik left when two womenapproached the Royal Palace via the small gate near the old RedSword barracks. One wore the uniform of the Cidal Lord’s personalguard and the other was adorned with a long dress with large hoops.The dress was red as her hair and the soldiers all stared as shewas allowed entry to the courtyard. The picnic basket she wascarrying was promptly inspected and snickered at.

“You must understand,” thesentry was saying, “that the prisoner will not be allowed anythingin the basket. The dungeon guards will confiscate it if you don’tleave it here.”

The Cidal mercenary chuckled at thesentry. “And your men won’t confiscate it while we are in thedungeon?” Taking the basket from Niki’s arm, she looped it over herown. “Just point the way,” Tanya continued. “I will see that theLady and her basket survive the dungeon guards.”

The sentry tried to hide his smirk ashe detailed the path that the two women were to travel. Tanya andNiki followed the sentry’s directions and approached the outsidedungeon guard. He looked curiously as the two women approached, butheld his tongue at the sight of the basket.

“We have come to speak withTedi Markel, Lord Wason’s aide,” Tanya declared firmly.

“If you don’t mind, Tanya,”Niki offered eyeing the outside dungeon guard, “I would rather notenter the dungeon. Say what you have to say to the boy and then wecan be gone from here. I am sure that this strong man will keep mesafe until you return.”

“As you wish, My Lady,” Tanyaanswered respectfully and indicated her desire to enter thedungeon.

The guard banged on the door, nevertaking his eyes off the two women. Tanya’s sheath was without hersword and her quiver without arrows, but his training required himto treat her as a potential adversary and he did so. The dungeondoor opened and upon seeing the visitors, the guard’s eyes widened.He seemed disappointed that only Tanya entered the dungeon, butafter the door was closed, she found him inspecting herclosely.

“You are one of the chosenfour,” the guard exclaimed incredulously as he reached for thebasket on Tanya’s arm.

“I am one of Lord Wason’spersonal guards,” Tanya affirmed as she grabbed the guard’s thumband put pressure on it to bring him to his knees. “I am assigned toLady Wason and if you wish the basket, it would be polite to askfirst.”

The other guard was laughing at hispartner’s predicament and the guard on his knees was veryembarrassed. Tanya immediately let go of the guard’s thumb andapologized. “I am sorry. I guess Arik already told you how hard itwas on the two of us, being so young and all. I was out of line andapologize for my behavior.”

She handed the guard the basket and hetook it while rising to his feet and backed to the table to put itdown.

“Lady Wason thinks that Tediwill get that,” Tanya smiled. “I will tell her that he did. Shewould not understand security provisions in a prison. Helpyourselves.”

The seated guard hurriedly inspectedthe contents and his cries of excitement caught the embarrassedguard’s attention. Still watching Tanya out of the corner of hiseye, he peered into the basket to see the rich meats, cheese,fruit, and a bottle of expensive wine. Rubbing his thumb, he noddedthe way to Tedi’s cell and sat at the table to get his share of thebasket before his partner cleaned it out.

Tanya smiled as she made her way toTedi’s cell. She lingered at the cell door for about five minutesand went back to check on the guards. One of them was sprawled onthe floor and the other had his head lying on the table. She movedquickly to the dungeon door and pulled it open. Niki was standingover the outside guard who was propped up against the wall. Nikientered the dungeon quickly and raised her hoops. Tanya strippedtwo Cidal personal guard uniforms from Niki’s body where they hadbeen secured.

“That man was a letch,” Nikicomplained. “I think he would have felt the uniforms if he had anymore time. What took you so long?”

Tanya just pointed at the two large mensprawled at the table and hurried the uniforms to the General andSergeant. Tedi sprang from his cell and hauled the prostrate guardinto a chair and laid his head on the table like his partner. Tanyareturned to the large room while the General and Sergeant donnedtheir new uniforms. The two girls waited just long enough to seethe two soldiers appear before they exited the dungeon with theempty picnic basket and returned towards the courtyard.