AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"So where are we, exactly?"
The mouse shrugged and Macey tried not to laugh despite the seriousness of the situation. Watching a mouse shrug was one of the most hilarious things she'd ever seen.
"I was born here, never left the place. You're in the dungeon, and there's about twenty floors above you. It's a big castle, from what others say." He shrugged again. "I've never seen another one, so couldn't tell you if that's true."
"Twenty floors? Yes, that's definitely big. Now, can you help me get out of here?"
"Nah, I don't get involved. It's not worth the trouble."
Macey sighed. Of course, it couldn't have been as easy as that. Otherwise Amber wouldn't still be here.
"Come on, don't you want to see the world? You could come with me."
Luch shook his little furry head and jumped down from the window sill, somehow managing not to hurt himself. "You're not the first to try and you won't be the last. I like my tail intact, so don't ask me again."
He ran over the uneven stone floor and jumped through the bars at the other end of the cell.
"Wait!" Macey called, but it was too late, the mouse had gone.
Time passed very slowly. She knew the Voice would return. She knew she'd only be alone and undisturbed in this cell for so long. Of course, she'd tried opening the door to her cell, but even with her kelpie strength it didn't budge. And of course, she'd tried to use magic, but it was as if she was trying to grasp air, her magic just wouldn't listen to her commands. It was different from having it locked up inside her. She could still feel it, but she couldn't get a hold on it. No wonder Amber hadn't escaped yet. She'd been wondering about that. From the few things Izban had told them about Lightning, she was strong.
Macey paced from wall to wall, counting her steps. The cell wasn't very large, six steps in each direction. The tiny window was the only source of light, and it was beginning to get dark outside. She'd tried to look out of the window, but it was too high up. There was no furniture she could have used to stand on, all she had was a filthy blanket she'd avoided even touching. It was a stereotypical dungeon, except that she didn't even get a bucket to do her business in. There was a small hole in the floor in one of the corners and Macey dreaded having to pee through there. Nobody had given her any water or food so far, so at least she could deal with that problem later.
Although her stomach was starting to make itself noticeable. Somehow, she didn't think she'd get proper food here, but right now, she'd be grateful even for some bread.
She sat down in the middle of the room which seemed to be the cleanest bit of the floor. It was getting cold in the cell, but the blanket wasn't tempting her yet. She could almost see the fleas living in it.
It was strangely silent. No shouts, no talking, not even footsteps. Knowing the Voice, she had expected tortured screams, but of course she was glad she didn't have to hear those. From what Luch had said, there were at least three other prisoners, Amber and two men. Were the men connected to the Wardens somehow? Was one of them Air, perhaps? But according to the prophecy, Air was the last of the Wardens to join them, and who knew if it even was a male. It could be another woman.
How long had she been here now? Macey wasn't sure. It could have been hours or days; after her dream experience earlier, she knew she couldn't assume anything in this place. Maybe this cell wasn't even real. Maybe she was still with her men, locked inside her mind, the Voice making her think that she was imprisoned. Everything was possible, and that scared her. She'd always been able to rely on her senses and her mind, but right now, she couldn't trust herself.
There was a noise in the distance and she jumped to her feet. Better be ready.
Footsteps were coming closer, but they stopped before they reached her cell. The sound of a door opening gave her hope. Was someone letting them out? Were her fellow Wardens here to rescue them?
"Get up," a rasping voice said in the distance and her hopes evaporated into nothing. That didn't
sound like someone friendly.
"Get up, I said!"
The sound of a slap on bare skin made Macey shiver. So, it wasn't just mental violence the prisoners here had to endure. Now she was hoping the man wouldn't come to her cell. She'd rather go hungry than be beaten.
Something - perhaps someone - was dragged along the corridor, away from Macey. She didn't hear the cell door close, so she assumed whoever had been in there was now with the man. Soon, silence fell again. The last light outside disappeared and Macey was left in darkness, cowering in the middle of the cell, trying not to think of what was happening to the other prisoner.
2
Waiting was torture. Macey laughed at the thought. Could she really say that ever again, given what she'd been hearing during her stay here? It'd been a couple of days at the most, probably not even that, and yet she was sure she'd be affected by this for the rest of her life.
When her Wardens had kidnapped her, she'd been annoyed at first. But ultimately, they'd treated her with nothing but respect and kindness. More than that when they were...
No. Those thoughts weren't for here. She wasn't going to sully the memories by thinking about them in this godforsaken place.
"Put off, put off, and row with speed,
For now's the time, and the hour of need!"
Macey sang to herself softly, her voice shaking with the strain. Remembering one of the old songs her mother used to sing to her was helping to drown out the screams and the pleas. She was suddenly very glad of her mother's love of folk songs.
