Shadows Under Abfall Chapter 13

The darkness of the tunnel hung close around Logan, completely blocking even the faintest detail from his sight. His hand on the cold hard stone wall was the only reminder that the world was still there. The cold numb touch was all that kept him from losing himself to the dark.

He needed a torch, or anything at all that could give a light. His habit of jumping into things without thinking them through was failing him yet again. There was no help for it now. All he could do was press forward.

‘You humans have such poor eyesight,’ Talan said.

“Well we don’t live our lives in the dark,” Logan said. “Is there anything you can do to help me see, or is this pact useless for that?”

‘Using my magic attracts unwanted attention,’ Talan said. ‘And you can only use so much of it before your soul needs to renew its strength.’

“That’s not really helpful,” Logan said, continuing his blind trek.

The darkness faded the more he walked. A faint light shone through at the end of the hall providing a beacon to follow. He could hear a faint echo ringing through the walls. A woman’s scream set his teeth on edge.

He continued on, going closer and closer to the light. The screams grew louder and louder, with only momentary pauses in between. Finally, Logan reached the end and the scream stopped. A thin white line marked a door, hopefully hidden on the other side.

Logan pressed his ear up against it, listening for anything beyond the door. Only faint breathing echoed in the dark. There were no words or any sign of what lay beyond. There would be only one chance to get it right.

He drew one of his knives from his belt.

‘Wait,’ Talan said her eyes bright against the darkness. “Let me go through first.”

“Alright,” Logan whispered.

She disappeared again into the darkness. Logan could hear someone, a man speaking calmly through the door. The mute voice was only a vague mumble through the stone. Logan leaned closer to the wall as he waited.

It was futile though.

“There are only two in the room,” Talan said as she appeared again from the shadows. “A woman strapped on a table and a man.”

“You couldn’t see anyone else?” Logan asked.

“The link wouldn’t let me go far,” Talan said, fading away again. ‘I don’t think there are any guards outside of the room.’

“So it’s either wait for him to leave, or go in now,” Logan said, kneeling down in thought.

The man stopped talking on the other side of the door. For a moment, silence crept up around Logan and his heart beat loudly in his chest. Then the woman’s screams started again, and the silence was broken.

“Dammit,” Logan said, standing up and running his hands along the door.

It took him a moment, but he found the latch. His hand hovered over it, but he did not pull it. Again, the woman screamed. There was no choice then. He pulled at the latch, leaning on the door as the locks clicked open.

The door opened with one heave, throwing Logan out onto the cold stone floor. He found his balance and rolled onto his knee with his knife in his right hand. He searched the room as his eyes adjusted to the light. Tools of torture surrounded him and at the center of the room, a pale man stood over a table.

Logan could not see much of him. The burning white light that burned in his hands marked him as a magic user. Luckily, the man stayed focused on his work and didn’t notice Logan’s entrance. Logan held his knife ready and snuck forward, knowing that he couldn’t allow the man to use his spells.

“You’ve handled a lot for today,” the man said, the light in his hands fading. “You really are quite resilient.”

The woman didn’t say anything from where she lay on the table. Her ragged breath was her only response. Logan was close enough now, he rose from the floor, holding the knife high and bringing down the hilt with one fast move. He struck the man across the head with all of his strength, sending the man down to the ground in a crumpled heap.

“That was easy,” Logan whispered, kneeling down and prodding at the man with his finger.

‘Stop wasting time,’ Talan said. ‘We need to hurry and find the map.’

“Just a moment,” Logan said, standing and looking around the room.

“Who are you?” the woman on the table asked.

Only ragged remains of a grey tunic covered her. Her long black hair lay splayed out behind her on the table. Small scars covered her body. They looked far too old to be from this session. Even the long one that ran down her chest was a faint white line. For a moment, Logan thought she was likely a slave or servant.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Her cold unwavering gaze changed his mind. This woman had seen battle, maybe even more than he had. She reminded him of the wild white wolves of the northern mountains, fierce and unyielding.

“I’m someone you best forget,” Logan said, starting again his search along the walls. “I’m sorry, but I can’t free you. I don’t need the extra attention.”

Then he saw it, a coil of rope lying in a corner. He picked it up and went to work, tying up the man’s arms and legs behind his back. Logan pulled the unconscious man to the tunnel, dragging him across the floor in short bursts. He closed the door behind, leaving it only partially open so he could leave the same way.

“Why would you come in here, if not to free the people?” the woman gasped again.

“I have my reasons.” Logan sighed, sheathing his knife and heading toward the door. “Look, on my way out, I’ll cut you free. Just keep quiet until I get back.”

“Wait,” she said again as he placed his hand on the door. “Do you even know where you are going?”

“No.” Logan turned back to her, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll figure it out on the way.”

“You didn’t think this through, did you?” she said, a faint laugh escaping her lips. “Don’t you know what’s up there? A hundred knights surround this jail. Inquisitors and priests walk the halls and grounds. Do you really think you can rely on your luck to get past them?”

“And what would you suggest?” Logan asked, stepping forward. “Freeing everyone down in here as a distraction? The chaos wouldn’t be enough for me to sneak to the library.”

“So that’s all you’re here for.” A smile played across her lips.

“Damn,” Logan said.

‘You’re not very smart, are you?’ Talan said. ‘Maybe I should ask this woman if she wants to make a pact.’

Logan wished desperately that he could make her be quiet.

“I can help you, you know,” the woman said, pulling against her bonds. “I know how the guards go about their rounds. I know the holes in their patrols.”

“And what do you want in return?” Logan asked, leaning over her.

“There is a place we must go to on the grounds,” she said, the orange torchlight dancing in her blue eyes. “They took something of mine, and I want it back.”

“I take it you’ll want to go there first, then?” Logan asked. “Before you lead me to the library.”

“Yes,” she said. “I will stay true to my word after and lead you to the library.”

Logan drew a knife from his belt, holding it up in the torchlight. He could certainly use someone familiar with the grounds if he was to get the map. She likely wasn’t lying, unless she wanted both of them to die.

The only downside was that she would slow him down.

‘This is a bad idea,’ Talan said.

“Alright,” he said, ignoring Talan and cutting the first of the leather straps. “Just understand, if you try to betray me, you will die.”

“I understand,” she said, rubbing her wrists after both of her hands were free.

In moments, she was entirely free. She rubbed at her wrists in ankles after she sat up on the table, watching Logan carefully. Logan did the same, stepping back from the table. If she were a fighter, he wouldn’t allow her to catch him off guard.

“Okay, let’s go.” She pushed herself off the table, standing up with one quick move.

She fell to her knees a moment after. This was what Logan was afraid of. In this state, she wouldn’t be of any help. He started to work through a different plan, hoping that there might be more rope around to keep her restrained. She rose to her feet again, standing up stronger than she had before.

“I’m fine.” She nodded to him, starting toward the door.

“Wait.” Logan sighed, unclasping his cloak and placing it across her shoulders. “You’ll stick out in that. If we’re going to sneak around, you need to blend into the shadows.”

“Thank you.” She nodded. “I’m Elaine, by the way.”

“Logan,” Logan said, motioning for her to lead on.

She led them through the halls with ease. The going was slow. They never once ran into a guard or any other person. Logan was starting to doubt that he even needed her help until they finally reached the main grounds. Torches from several camps lit the night ahead of them, peeling back the shadows.

“We need to go there first.” She pointed out a shadowed building nestled away from the camps. “They might have one person guarding it, but the majority will be patrolling the camps.”

“Lead the way,” Logan whispered.

They skirted around the camps, staying ever in the shadows. Sometimes prisoners looked up, hearing the rustling of the grass or the scuffle of a stone. The shadows were still Logan’s ally. No one raised an alarm.

There was a guard outside of the building that Elaine had pointed out. They could see her from the bushes that were nearby. She stood out in the night, her gleaming armor lit by the single torch beside her. She was like a statue, standing unmoving at attention.

“Do you think you can beat her?” Elaine asked in a hushed whisper.

“I prefer not to fight when there’s a better option,” Logan said, grasping around at the ground.

His hands found what he was looking for. He picked up the three small rocks in his hands, feeling their weight and rough edges as he rubbed them in his palms. He would have to be quick, if it was to work.

He threw the first rock down the path, the sound of it skipping across the stone path echoing out into the night. The knight turned her head, her hand immediately going to the pommel of her sword. He threw the second one directly at her helm and he quickly threw the third right after, aiming further down the path.

This was enough, the woman immediately followed after the sound, leaving the building unguarded. Logan and Elaine snuck up, Elaine opening the door and leading him in. Sets of armor sat in the room, and marked swords hung from the wall.

“This is an armory,” Logan said.

“I was a knight.” Elaine unclasped Logan’s cloak from her shoulders and reached for a sword. “They stripped me of my armor and my title.”

She took hold of the weapon, releasing it from its sheath, and spinning to face Logan. Logan jumped back, his hand going to his knife, but the blow didn’t come. They just stood facing each other, ready to fight.

“I’m going to hold my word,” Elaine said, sheathing the blade and setting it on the ground. “But after this is done, I will right what was done to me.”

“I understand.” Logan nodded, sheathing his knife. “Just hurry and get your armor. I don’t think the guard will be gone for long.”

Logan stood by the door as Elaine searched through the armory. She took hold of a crate and opened it, a cruel smile crossing her face as she looked inside. She set to work immediately, strapping on the armor with practiced hands.

“Okay,” Elaine said, strapping her sword to her waist. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Is there another door?” Logan asked, cracking the door open and peering out.

Outside, there were ten knights gathering. The one he had distracted was in the lead. Logan’s stomach churned as they approached. His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, but it did nothing to comfort him.

“No, why?” Elaine asked.

“We might have a problem,” Logan said, stepping away from the door. “There are ten of them out there right now.”

“Then there’s only one thing to do.” Elaine drew her sword, stepping forward with one strong step. “My vengeance comes early. We fight.”