“Do as she says,” the captain said.
A guard obeyed the order and the acid dropped back into the courtyard floor. Just as it did, one of the guards at the gate called back to them, and all eyes turned to the three newcomers that had just entered the cavern.
“Two visitors in less than an hour?” Captain Jefsor asked.
Elenyr removed her sword and pointed to the new arrivals. “That, captain, would be the others come for Mimic.”
“You know them?” the captain asked.
Shadow smiled as he recognized them. Now it was getting interesting. “That would be two mind mages and a former rock troll king.”
Chapter 16: The Prisoner
Shadow watched Bartoth advance up the road to the prison entrance. It was the first time he’d seen the troll without his black armor, and he looked different. His brown skin was shadowed, tinged with grey, almost sickly. The helmet he’d worn had scarred his face and features, leaving lines across his nose and cheeks.
His two companions were obviously Zenif and Zoric, the two mind mages dressed as dark elf soldiers. As they approached, their features seemed to change, and he felt a faint tug on his consciousness, the whisper of mind magic.
“They’re going to look like dark elves,” Elenyr said.
“They do look like dark elves,” Captain Jefsor said.
The captain led them up a set of stairs to a room above the entrance. Through a narrow window, they watched the trio approach, the two mind mages in the lead. Shadow noticed Zenif’s uniform was that of a high captain, and Bartoth looked like a rock troll mercenary.
“They don’t want a battle,” Elenyr said.
“Too bad,” Sentara said, her sword in her hand. “They’re going to get one.”
Elenyr pointed to the hanging cages. “The guards could drop Mimic’s cage into the acid, and it looks like Zenif doesn’t want to risk them killing her.”
“They’ll be here in two minutes,” Lorica said. “We need a plan.”
“What exactly is going on?” Captain Jefsor demanded. “I believe you are here on Erisay’s order, but why so much effort to get one prisoner?”
“Mimic is no normal prisoner,” Lorica said. “She was first of the Queen’s Hand, the greatest assassin your people have had in ages. And Serak wants her.”
“Where is she?” Rune asked.
The captain stepped to the window overlooking the acid lake and pointed into the hanging cages. “There are four quadrants of the prison, each with a type of prisoner, mage, murderer, thief, and surface dwellers. The central platform is the common area, and the prisoners are permitted limited time together. Mimic is in the furthest cell of the murderer quadrant. She has anti-magic shackles and bars.”
“Is there a back exit to the prison?” Elenyr asked. “One where we can slip her out?”
“You want to take her?” Captain Jefsor asked. “She’s the most dangerous person here. If she escapes, we won’t catch her again, and there’s no telling how many she will kill.”
“If they get her,” Elenyr said, “they will give her more power.”
“I don’t know what the problem is,” Sentara said with a shrug. “There’s only three of them. And we have Rune, an assassin, the Hauntress, and a former fragment. Let’s just kill them.”
“She’s right,” Shadow said. “Bartoth doesn’t have his armor, and I don’t think we’re going to get a better chance.”
Shadow didn’t say that he cared little for Mimic. He just wanted to fight Bartoth when he didn’t have his armor, and imagined telling his brothers he’d defeated the former rock troll king when his brothers had failed. A smile spread on his face as he foresaw that conversation.
“Mimic is the priority,” Elenyr said. “We need to get her out.”
“Elenyr?” Rune asked. “I think the choice is being made for us.”
Shadow darted to the window. The three on the road had come to a halt, and Bartoth had drawn his sword. Shadow’s smile widened as he realized the two mind mages had probably sensed their presence.
“Captain?” Elenyr said. “Whatever defenses you have, I suggest you get them ready.”
“There’s just three of them,” Captain Jefsor said. “What can they do?”
Bartoth surged into a run, sprinting up the roadway with shocking speed. His feet pounded on the stone, and the prisoners of The Melting came to their feet, sensing the impending strike. Captain Jefsor barked an order and acid burst from above the road, pouring into Bartoth’s path.
The rock troll leapt into a flip that carried him above one spout. He landed on the opposite side and flipped again, and then used his sword to deflect the next spout of acid. The liquid sprayed to the side, but the rock troll managed to evade, moving even faster than the flowing green liquid. His sword went unscathed.
“Lieutenant!” the captain shouted. “Full defenses! Now!”
Elenyr drew her sword. “Lorica, Shadow, get Mimic out. Do whatever you have to. Sentara and Rune are with me.”
“It’s about time,” Sentara said.
She too, had her sword in hand and darted to the steps leading to the courtyard. Rune cast an uncertain look out the window and then followed. Elenyr stepped close to Shadow and lowered her voice.
“Whatever it takes,” she said. “Don’t let them have her.”