The guard looked conflicted. “Ah, well, I’m sure we can work something out. No need to involve His Majesty if it can be avoided, sir.” He eyed the door over Slaide’s shoulder. “I can allow you a few minutes, but you’ll need to be out before shift change.”
“And when is that?”
The guard glanced over his shoulder at the short, mostly melted candle by the main door. “By the looks of it, less than ten minutes.”
Slaide frowned at the candle and the guard. The guard shrugged dismissively.
“Primitive, maybe. But do you see any other ways to tell time down here? Magic doesn’t work here, and there aren’t any windows by which to see the sun or shadows cast throughout the day. So, we use what we have. You might be surprised at how well it works.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Right, well, better get moving.” He worked past Slaide toward the ominous door. The guard removed a key from his pocket—no, not a key. A wardstone.
In the center of the door was a large inscription. There was a small circle within a larger one, and in the center of them both was a circle of glyphs. Slaide couldn’t read them as they were inscribed in the ancient runic language. In the center of the glyphs, there was a recessed shape in the door.
As he expected, the guard pressed the wardstone into the hole, where it nestled perfectly with an audible click. Then, heturned the stone to the right by three glyphs, left by two, and then all the way around so that it was back in its original position. He pressed his palm into the stone, and it sank deeper into the door.
What happened next, Slaide had never seen before. The stone itself glowed with an eerie blue light, which flowed outward into the grooves connecting the glyphs, into the glyphs themselves, and then into and around both circles. It was like watching water flow after a dammed river was unclogged.Fascinating.
This was followed by several more clicks and the grinding of gears within the door. Slaide recognized the sound of steel against iron as the hidden bolts slid out of place. Finally, the sounds ceased, followed by a release of air as the prison cell decompressed. His hair rustled slightly as the breeze blew past them.
“You’re sure about this?” The guard had grown uncertain in the moments it had taken the door to open, going from seasoned veteran to nervous novice. Perhaps he’d never witnessed this door in action. After all, there was an innate fear that came with this cell; once you went in, you weren't getting out.
Slaide leveled a look at the man which was enough to convey the message.
He let out a hefty breath in response. “Alright then. Best be on alert.” He leaned into the door, and it groaned, moving inward.
What do these people think she is? A monster?The irony wasn’t lost on him, that they let someone—something—like him walk around freely, while she was kept under the tightest security the kingdom had to offer. She was but a girl. A girl who might possess magic thought lost for almost a thousand years with not a clue how to control it, but a girl nonetheless.
And yet, hadn’t they said the same thing when he was young and untested?Just a boy.He’d shown them, too. Shown them just what thatboythey’d created was capable of.
The door opened into darkness. They were greeted by a whoosh of air that was cold and smelled of damp earth. He couldn’t see her, but he could sense her presence. At the very least, she was still alive.
Behind him, the guard lit a torch and set it into a sconce on the wall.
In the shadows that danced in the flickering flamelight, Slaide could see the rest of the room with a little more clarity. A few feet in front of them was a wall of floor to ceiling iron bars, separating them from the cell proper. That part was new. Perhaps they’d added that after the difficulties they’d had containing him.
On the far wall was a stone bench with a threadbare blanket, a wooden tray with a plate of food on the edge, completely untouched. Hazel was nowhere to be seen in any of the visible portions of the cell. She must be hiding in the shadows. And who could blame her?
In his periphery, Slaide caught the guard reaching for the hilt of his blade.
“Watch yourself. She could be anywhere. I told you we shouldn’t come in here.”
Slaide almost laughed. “You’re joking, right? What do you think she is, a snake? Going to strike at you from one of those dark corners? Please. She’s just a scared girl.”
“She’s a witch. A monster.”
“Right. Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like a minute with her.” He nodded toward the door.
The man recoiled as if Slaide had insulted his mother, then laughed hysterically. “You must be mad if you think I’m going to leave the two of you in here alone.”
“Some would say I’m more than just mad. But I must know, would you be looking out for her safety, or mine?”
“Sir, I-I only meant that…” he stammered and took a step back.
“Save it.” Slaide raised a dismissive hand. “Get out.”
The man, to his credit, faltered, and Slaide thought he might actually put up a fight. But that moment passed and he came to his senses, sighing as he turned to leave.
