The red-haired woman, Lucinda, pushed open a stone deeper in Asana Prison and emerged from the passageway. She glanced around the corridor and experienced the dark and damp atmosphere that people often described as characteristic of the prison. As she moved a light-red strand of hair back into place behind her ear, she saw the leather of her black gloves, which extended to right below her elbows.
She fixed her ponytail by tightening the fabric tie on her head. Then she settled her black garb after the long trek into the prison. She kept a low profile, matching the darkness of the low-lit areas within the corridors.
Lucinda maneuvered herself along the wall of the corridor. As she moved her hand along the dry and cracked cobblestone walls, she reached the edge of the path and peered around the corner. Before her lay an open area with a wooden pillar at its center. Bridge-like structures stemmed from both sides of the pillar to create paths about fifteen feet above her.
She moved further into the area and glanced around to see stacks of hay and a wooden cart with some supplies inside. Alone and unnoticed, she produced a weathered letter and started to unfold it. Pausing, she looked up at a man in simple farming clothes who stared at her. The farmer readied a scream when she pulled out a dagger she had on her waist, and she aimed it at the man, about a foot away from his throat.
"I am just a farmer. I supply food for the prisoners. Don't kill me!" the man yelled, dropping a crate with a loud crash and spilling his apples across the cobblestone floor as he raised his hands in reaction to seeing her weapon.
She sheathed her weapon and then walked over to the farmer, apologizing. "My name is Lucinda. I am sorry. Did not mean to scare you. I don't want to hurt you, but I need you to stay quiet. I am here to break someone out, and they cannot see me, but that does not mean I won't hurt you if necessary."
He nodded in compliance. "Why would you risk breaking someone out of this hellhole? They have guards posted everywhere. Is it for love? Love is not worth this much trouble... believe me."
"You talk a lot, and no. It is not for love, but for someone I owe enough to help and don't worry about me or my reasons." She paused as she reached down to grab one apple that had fallen onto the floor. She took a bite before adding, "I am tougher than I look."
A voice called out from around them. "What is the matter in there? You are not wasting the warden's order by dropping supplies, are you? That will cost you more than a few coins."
Lucinda looked around at several cobblestone archways that led into the area. Her eyes scanned, then she heard the door open where the wagon tracks led from. She raised her finger to her mouth before hurrying to the central pillar to hide from sight. After running behind the pillar, she listened in silence as the guard walked into the big open room.
The farmer put his hands down and frantically picked his apples off the floor. Lucinda leaned over and watched the guard move into the center of the room. They dressed him in a small amount of light-brown leather armor, which covered most of his torso and legs. "You dropped some of his order," the guard said, moving closer to investigate more. "That will cost you dearly. You know he doesn't like it when you cannot fully provide what he orders."
"I am sorry," said the farmer, frenziedly picking up the apples to keep the guard's attention away from Lucinda. "He adds more and more each time. It's hard for me to keep up. My farm is not the largest in the land. Not to mention the closest."
While searching for a better hiding place, Lucinda heard the guard approaching from the opposite side of the pillar. The guard took two apples, biting into one, and created a soft, echoing crunch. "That is not my problem. The warden must be informed."
"Please, don't tell him. I have a daughter. I am only doing what I can for your master," said the farmer, struggling to pick the apples up while he pleaded with the guard.
The guard went to get more apples when he saw the farmer glance at the pillar. Lucinda moved back to stay hidden, hoping the farmer had not given away her position.
"Fine. This one time you will not be punished, but remember this mercy for next time, because it will not happen again.".
Lucinda looked around and discovered a small rope hanging from the pillar behind her head. Grabbing the rope with haste, she pulled, checking to see how secure it was before deciding to climb. She moved up the pillar and peeked around it to the area below. Her eyes watched as the guard grabbed the hilt of his blade. He unsheathed it while walking back silently the way he had come, but found nothing on the other side of the pillar.
He glanced around before returning his gaze to the farmer. "Why are you looking this way, old man?"
The farmer collected apples, disregarding the guard. However, below Lucinda, the guard noticed a bitten apple on the ground. He reached down and picked up the apple to examine it. She watched from above as she held on to the bridge. Her hand's movement caused a jingle of metal from the wooden pathway.
"Damn..."
Lucinda dropped from above, her dagger's hilt in hand, catching the guard's attention. While falling, she hit the back of his head and quickly rolled to prevent injury. In one motion, the guard immediately fell to the ground, alive but unconscious.
Lucinda stumbled to her feet after the roll and looked over at the farmer. She raised her left arm at him while sheathing her dagger. "What the hell was that? I thought we had an agreement."
The farmer shook his head and apologized for his actions. "I am so sorry. It all happened so fast, and I was nervous."
He reached into his cart and grabbed a small cloth bag before picking a few apples from a nearby crate. Lucinda watched as he placed the apples inside the small bag and then handed them to her. Her eyes shifted from the bag to him.
"Take this as an apology gift. I'll leave soon, so no one will know you were here. Alright?"
She smiled and nodded, agreeing before watching him grab some more crates to unload his supplies. With a small bag of apples fastened to her belt, Lucinda made her way to the big wooden door where the guard had come in. Pushing the door open a little further, as the door had closed to some extent when the guard entered, she peered into a large opening that held more horses, their equipment, and whatever supplies their carts carried during travels or raids.
Lucinda noticed an opening by the stables, with stairs spiraling upwards. Moving toward the stairs, she stayed low as she ran in front of the stables, while the horses watched her. Reaching the edge of the stables, she swiftly moved up the cobblestone stairs until she reached the next level.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Gradually, she peeked around the corner, noticing the various sizes of cell doors holding the prisoners. Countless wooden doors covered the edges of a chasm that lay on the left side, guarded by a rope railing. She walked toward one of the wooden doors when she stopped, thinking back to the letter. "He is always kept behind a metal door guarded by one or two guards. He should be easy to find," Lucinda said softly before moving forward again.
After hearing the gut-wrenching screams of those abused by their captors inside the prison, she took a second to regain her composure. Taking a deep breath, she tried to block out the noise, unable to help the people in that moment. Keeping her feet light on the cobblestones, she moved across the area. This place has a distinctly dark atmosphere. I have to find Kota and get him to safety, she thought as she continued alongside the cells, staying low to the ground.
Lucinda moved down the chasm curve, but found no opening to a higher level or stairs going down on the other side. She moved toward the middle, near the railing, and peered over the chasm. She searched for a path to ascend and spotted an object rising in the distance. Trying to get a better view, she stopped and listened to the sound of creaking rope and wood coming from above. She promptly ducked behind a small box.
Lucinda struggled to keep herself small against the box as she peeked over the top. A tall, covered, circular wooden structure hit the cobblestones with little force as two guards exited the enclosed lift and started walking away from Lucinda.
"I wonder what will happen when the prince finally breaks. He has maintained that quiet facade for the caller whom the warden allowed to bring him here. Princess Aria seems highly intrigued by this boy lately, more than ever."
Peeking around the small box, she noticed the guards' inadequate armor and weapons. A small cloth wrap covered their mouths and noses, perhaps protecting them from the smell of this prison. They only had light leather armor covering most of their abdomens, as well as small leather greaves and patches covering their wrists to their elbows. They each held a sword sheathed on their left hip.
Lucinda took a deep breath and waited as the guards stopped and started another conversation. Without another thought, she grabbed a smaller box that sat next to her. Seizing the chance, she hurled it at the left guard, farthest from the chasm, and then dashed towards them. The guard stumbled forward as the box hit the back of his head, wood cracking and splintering at the impact.
The guard to her right had begun to react when she kicked him in the back of the leg, causing him to fall to his knee. Swiftly, she moved to the front and grabbed the back of his head without delay. She shoved his face down while she drove her knee into his forehead, making him fall back onto the ground.
She watched as the other guard stumbled before regaining his balance as he turned toward Lucinda. He was drawing his sword, ready to strike, before she rapidly spun, lifting her right leg, and connected the side of her foot with his face. The guard crashed to the ground, rolling once as she regained her composure and stood straight.
She glanced back and forth, and seeing no one else around them, she walked over to the chasm. Unsheathing a dagger, she cut the rope railing before turning to see a pile of rope on a nearby box. Quickly, she tied the guard that lay unconscious, binding his hands and feet together. When she was finished, she pushed him away from the edge of the chasm. Then, she bound the second guard in the same way, but left a trailing rope from the knot on his hands.
Lucinda kicked him in the side, and he grunted in pain. Still dazed, he opened his eyes and found her just feet away. She smiled as she looped the rope around her wrist, keeping the end of the rope in her hands.
"Stand up."
He glared at her before wriggling his way to his feet. Without making a sound, he stared at her and glanced down at the rope on the floor. "What are you going to do to me?" he questioned before she kicked him in the back towards the chasm.
Lucinda vigorously yanked on the rope as he struggled to keep his balance. He yelled a little before she tightened her grip on the rope to balance him, letting him lean slightly over the ledge but catching him from falling. She planted her feet on the ground and squatted a touch to gain more balance.
"Now that I have your attention, you will disclose the information I desire. People scream in here all the time. I am sure no one will notice you screaming as well."
He grew panicked as she released the rope, causing him to lean further. "I am not telling you a thing!"
"See, you could scream for help, but I will drop you into the chasm before anyone saves you. That is, if the other guards can tell the difference between your screams and the prisoners," said Lucinda with a smile on her face. "However, two additional concerns require your attention."
The man kept his footing on the ledge as he glanced back at her. "Oh yeah? What are they?"
"I'm not as skilled at tying ropes as I'd like to be. So, I am not sure that knot will hold for much longer, and..." She paused to instill a little more fear before talking again. "I am also just a small woman. I'm not sure how long I can hold you in this position. So, answer my questions fast."
She let the rope slacken, making him inch forward again before he let out a slight squeal. "What's your question? Please do not drop me, you damn crazy girl."
She tightened her grip before pulling him a little closer to a standing position. "How can one reach the floor where Prince Kota is held?"
The guard lowered his gaze, then abruptly lifted his head. "He is up near the top floor. Just take that lift to the top, and he is one floor below that. The lift doesn't directly reach that floor. One guard will be by the gray metal door. The woman's actions towards him remain a mystery, yet he is present there. They did not station me at his door. Now, please let me live!"
Lucinda held the tension in the rope while moving closer to him. "What was that? Did you seriously give me everything just like that? I wanted this to go differently. I mean, I broke into this impregnable prison, so I expected something different from the guards here."
"I hate the lady who brought him here. Removing him might make her leave, and hopefully she won't return. She has changed the air of this place."
Lucinda shook her head as she pulled the rope, making him fall back onto the cobblestones. She unwrapped the loose rope from around her wrist and began walking over to the chasm as the guard grumbled. "Could you just gag me instead of knocking me out again? My head still hurts."
"What kind of guards are you?" Lucinda said, looking down into the chasm and then back at the lift structure.
She shook her head again as she moved toward the other guard, then started calmly dragging him to the wall, away from the chasm. After placing him against the wall, she turned back. The other guards' ropes lay cut and frayed on the ground, surrounded by a small amount of blood and water. She unsheathed her dagger and took a few steps forward, looking around. With her blade at the ready, she examined the area, seeing no sign of the man.
"Who the hell was that guard? That was too easy, getting that information from him," she asked herself, moving swiftly toward the covered circular wooden lift with her blade still at the ready. I need to hurry if he is going to sound the alarm.
Stepping into the two-person lift, she examined the workings - a lone lever on the wooden wall beside the opening. Seeing no other instruments, she pulled the lever, and the lift moved upward at a slow pace. Keeping to the back of the lift, where the lack of light would hide her person, she crouched, holding her blade at the ready.
"That man must have been a caller. Why didn't he fight back, though?"
Upon witnessing the countless cells along the tower's outer wall, she shut her eyes, avoiding thoughts of the endless suffering within. Passing another level, she watched as a guard walked against the back wall, peering over to the lift before moving back to his rounds.
"This place is a living hell. I hope you are all right, Kota," stated Lucinda, breathing deep.
After another few seconds, she moved closer to the front of the lift. She heard a scream before something hit the lift. She leaned forward and looked over the opening to see a guard falling to his death into the chasm below. Bracing herself as the lift swayed, Lucinda looked up as the wood splintered and cracked under the pressure of her weight.
She stabilized her footing as the lift swung forward and backward, crawling up the higher levels. The wood continued to crack as she passed the next floor, with the swaying causing the edge of the chasm to move further away from her. Looking up, she saw the next level getting closer. She readied herself to jump as the wood continued to crack around her.
Lucinda held on to the opening of the lift, with hands on both sides, as the faint sound of metal clashing echoed above her. The noise caught her attention, revealing Kota and another figure battling two guards.
"Kota?" Lucinda asked as she looked down before she heard the wood splinter and jumped for the ledge.