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  When we had managed to bypass the keep grounds and had progressed into the residential area of the city proper, we decided it was safe enough for us to remove our disguises. Kinarin knelt down and tended to his injury by wrapping it with fresh bandages made by tearing strips from his chef’s apron. I glanced over to him and saw that the wound had stopped bleeding, but still looked bad enough to make walking, let alone fighting, very difficult. However, Kinarin showed no signs of physical limitations. I would have to ask him, later of course, if this was as technique related to his training.

  Even though we had distanced ourselves from main exterior keep wall, we could still hear The Stone Keep's defenses unleash all of their fury. We heard the great catapults hurtling their immense boulders through the air and felt them land on the ground with a force that shook the ground under our feet. We heard the heavy thrumming of the trebuchets as their great arrows of destruction were loosed. Combined with the faint shouting of orders and thudding of boots, the whole auditory assault created a vast symphony of destruction. We decided, as hypnotizing as the harmony of doom was, it would be better to limit our tarrying. If the army had found a way to surround the keep, the freedom of the rear gate would soon be taken away. The heavy thudding and powerful thrumming continued until we were within sight of the rear gate, but when we felt it was moments away from a tremendous climax, it ended. The sky became dark causing all three of us to look up. We saw clouds forming much to quickly in a covering much too dark to suggest anything except arcane intervention. The Wizards had come. When the cloud mass settled over the exterior keep grounds, there was a slight pause in the wind, as if all of its individual molecules froze with anticipation. Then, just as we turned again to focus on the rear gate and our potential freedom, the sky exploded in horror as multiple bolts of white lightning blasted the ground just outside the keep walls.

  For the next several minutes, I understood a new sense of helplessness. So profound was it that I even felt a small amount of pity for the invaders, for what were they when compared to the awesome might of battle hardened and engaged wizards. When the lightning was complete and its devastation utter, we heard a tremendous and triumphant yell erupt from the keep walls. The joy was absolute in its realization of victory. However, while the whole of the Keep was rejoicing with their victory, our spirits plummeted and sundered upon the physically secured gates. In addition to the increased number of guards, Lord Myosk had given orders to physically bar it with a large wood beams and strong nails.

  "You there! What are you doing?" yelled the guard atop the rear gate.

  Before Kinarin could speak on our behalf, I heard Vennesulte's voice assert itself, "Vennesulte cannot speak for these two, but Vennesulte is wondering why he is not allowed to follow the edict of The Brotherhood."

  "The Brotherhood?" said the guard a little more uncertain than before. "What do you mean the 'edict of The Brotherhood'?"

  "It is a simple matter. Vennesulte has been assigned by The Brotherhood to travel to The Monastery of Foundations in Pretago Cor to continue his training. Vennesulte has also been charged with delivering a message to the Masters. It would not be wise to deny Vennesulte the opportunity to complete his mission," he said leaning against his staff.

  The young monk's statement apparently drew the attention of several other guards atop the gate as well as those within the two portcullises on either side. We saw four guards on the gate unsling their bows as well as at least five more emerge from the exits on both sides of the gate tower. One of the guards on the ground spoke next, "If you are thinking you can escape, I warn you, I will not hesitate like the other guards who have attempted to apprehend you. I will give you to the count of five, and then we will all open fire and attack. And if you question the gravity of your situation, I think you should look behind you," he said indicating we turn our heads.

  We turned as a unit and saw two makeshift carriages each with only two wheels on the sides. In the center and fastened to the frame of the carts were two long metal objects with hollow centers. We saw one guard next to each of the carts load a moderate sized ball into the hole of the metal tubes. When the guard spoke again, we all turned to face him, "As you can see, your situation is much more desperate than what you thought. I suggest you come quietly if you wish to come at all."

  It was Kinarin who moved first by slowly undoing the belt supporting his various weapons and laid them on the ground at his feet. He motioned both Vennesulte and I to do the same. I found the eyes of the master assassin return my unspoken question with a calm certainty that held no indication of surrender even though that is what he bid us to do. It was the sound of Vennesulte's staff thudding against the ground that broke my link to my mentor's eyes. Instinctively, I focused my attention to the single sound. I felt my fingers touch the hilts of my dual blades.

  "Place your weapons on the ground," the guard said evenly, showing no signs of being threatened by the slowly decreasing proximity of my fingers to my weapons.

  "Drin," said Kinarin, his voice drawing me closer to balance. "Now is not the time."

  I faintly heard a leathery swipe as the guard drew his sword, "I will no longer hesitate. Put down your weapon."

  "Drin!" said Kinarin, "Do not let the blade cut your face."

  For just the briefest of moments, I was taken back my first couple of weeks training with him. I felt my eyes open again from my slumber in response to a cool touch against my skin. I felt my head barely twitch in response resulting in the still familiar, slight sting upon my cheek.

  Kinarin had often said that pain has a way of clearing the mind as long as one was able to learn the lesson all pain was meant to teach. But to do that, one must focus beyond the selfish effects and into the selfless learning. Selfishly, the continued cutting of my cheek produced a resentment that lead to my desire for vengeance. The more I focused on the pain, the more my desire for vengeance grew; and as an unintended consequence, the progress in my training was hindered. However, once I focused on the selfless lesson he was trying to teach, I was able to adapt and stop the cycle. As understanding set in, my fingers released their light grip on the hilts, but more importantly, my pride released its grip on my emotions and I was able to break the cycle my actions were about to perpetuate.

  "Very good. I see you have a least enough sense to listen to your partner and do the smart thing," said the guard in an attempt to bait me to further action. But my hands dropped my weapons to the ground and I stood with my palms facing outward in a show of surrender. "Bind them!"

  Without hesitation, the guards who exited from the portcullises sprang into motion. Some collected our weapons, and others bound our hands and feet with iron shackles. We were roughly led back through the city, but not by the same path we had taken to approach the back gate. Instead of winding through the residential houses and then through the multiple twists and turns of the business district, we were proudly paraded down the central avenue straight toward the keep. Had there not been an army perched outside of the city walls, and had that army not attacked, I am quite certain there would have been thousands of people lining the streets to see the would-be assassins led to the dungeons. But as it was, we were met with no cheers, no yells of jubilation, and no sounds of victory. Instead, we were met with only the distant sounds of battle.

  Apparently, it was proving to be an easier defense than what had originally been anticipated because we saw nearly all of the Stone Keep's infantry reposition themselves outside of the outer wall. Such was the confidence of Lord Myosk with the current performance of his troops that he did the unthinkable; he chose to press his early advantage and end the confrontation quickly by turning his successful defensive strategy into and offensive assault of his own. As we were about to enter the city interior though the large interior gate, no doubt a prideful display by our apprehending guard to make sure those who were available would bear witness to his achievement, I saw Eriboth, still dressed in rags, exit through the outer gate. I was allowed only a brief glim
pse as a rough hand redirected my attention toward our current endeavor. But as brief as my glimpse was, I was still able to see that the scene was playing out much more desperately than Lord Myosk had originally planned when he launched his counter attack.

  As our witnessless parade continued through the inner gate and into the keep itself, Kinarin, Vennesulte, and I were permitted no opportunity to communicate. As prideful as our capturer was, he was also equally careful and diligent. Inside the keep, we made a few turns leading us deeper into its interior and finally stopped before a reinforced, metal door. The head guard approached it and knocked loudly.

  After waiting for a couple of minutes, we heard a strong voice say from behind the door, "Identify yourself."

  "Captain Thessian. I have brought the assassins for holding," he returned with equal strength and surpassing pride.

  "Wait here until I return," said the voice again.

  As we heard the faint footfalls lead away from behind the heavy door, Captain Thessian turned to us and said, "In just a few short moments you will find what it is like to be in the dungeon of The Stone Keep. I can assure you, it will not be pleasant."

  "Make sure the prisoners are bound tightly and proceed through the door. Escort them to the east holding cell. Post three guards outside of the cell door and report to the guard commander to file the appropriate papers. We do not want any mistakes with these three. Their execution is going to be an example," said a different voice from behind the reinforced door.

  Just as the door to the inner sanctum of the dungeons was being opened, there was a loud commotion coming from somewhere behind us. We heard raised voices, the heavy sounds of feet thudding rapidly against the floor, and the all too familiar ringing of steel against steel. Our entire party turned its collective attention and waited to see what was sure to emerge from around the corner. When the sounds halted before we were presented with a visual answer to our inquiry, Captain Thessian ordered two of his guards to investigate. The guards drew their swords and walked down the hall slowly and suspiciously.

  We felt the palpability of the collective apprehension of our capturers as they gripped our shackles more tightly removing any slack. When the investigating guards were about thirty feet down the hallway, there were several loud clashing sounds of metal on metal followed by two loud thuds as if something had hit the ground. The guards paused momentarily and looked back to their Captain for reassurance and a possible reprieve from his initial instruction. But when he returned their silent question with only a hard stare, they turned and continued.

  Right before they reached the end of the hallway where it turned to the right, no less than ten armed men cut them down and started charging toward us. Had our situation been different and we were left unbound and armed, we would have been quite capable of defending ourselves, but as it was, our survival was left in the hands of Captain Thessian and his hopefully capable guards, outnumbered as they were.

  As with all living things when they are surprised by either an audible or visual intrusion into their expected moments, Captain Thessian and his guards briefly paused to process the deviation. However, they shook their moment of hesitation off rather quickly, no doubt a consequence of their training, and charged in return, leaving us unattended with our backs against the door.

  When the two forces collided, Kinarin turned toward us and said, "We had better help or we may find ourselves facing them next."

  Without pause, he charged as fast as he could with his feet in shackles and joined the fray. Vennesulte followed quickly leaving me no choice but to assist my companions. Surprisingly, our prowess in battle had asserted itself even when bound. Kinarin was using his wrist shackles to deflect several of the sword strikes while Vennesulte was performing a series of two-footed aerial kicks to those closest to him. After throwing my arms over the head of an attacker who had his back to me, I used my leverage to pull him off balance allowing one of the guards to run him through.

  The battle was over quickly with our aid; however, the guard's numbers were reduced by half. After making sure the attackers were dead by systematically stabbing them where they lay, Captain Thessian turned to Kinarin and said, "Thank you for your assistance; however, it will not alter the course of your lives. Though, I will speak to the executioner to make sure he thoroughly sharpens his axe. A quick and clean death is all I can offer you."

  "That will be enough. It will be cleaner than what they would have given us. Who do you think they are? More assassins?" asked Kinarin.

  "No. They are," and then, three more guards of the keep burst around the corner and interrupted the captain before he could finish his supposition.

  "Captain Thessian! The keep has fallen! The Dark Army has breached our gates and is heading toward the inner keep. Lord Myosk is nowhere to be found and his generals have been seen fleeing! Get out while you can!" As they finished, they continued through the heavy door to the dungeons yelling and screaming for everyone to flee.

  "Captain, I understand you are under no obligation, but I would ask you to free us from our shackles instead of speaking to the executioner as it appears there will be no public execution," said Kinarin.

  "I do not know the circumstances that lead you in the attempt on Lord Myosk's life, but what I do know is you came to the aide of my men when you had every reason to just watch us die. For that, I owe you a debt. Consider it paid,” he said as he unlocked our shackles. “Though, should we ever cross paths again, and the Stone Keep is restored to the Silver Empire, I will be forced to arrest you on the spot.”

  After he had used the key attached to his belt to unlock and remove our bonds, he and Kinarin gripped forearms and offered each other a silent, dismissing nod. The captain then ordered his guards to follow him and they all jogged down the hall and around the corner, presumably to assess the truth of the guard's claims before making a final decision to act.

  As both Vennesulte and I turned to follow the guards and escape the keep before it was overrun with the soldiers of the enemy army, the elder assassin said, "I would not go that way. That is, if you wish to remain alive."

  "Vennesulte thinks this is the only way out," said the young monk.

  "It is a way out, but I would wager not the only way. Nor will it be the most discrete way. Follow me," said Kinarin as he turned and walked toward the door leading into the depths of the dungeons. "Kings and Queens, princes and princesses, and lords of all types have long known the necessity of secrecy, especially when moving around their own castles. As much as we like to think otherwise, it is easy for them to become prisoners of their own status," he said as he removed two small metal objects from a hidden slit in his loose-fitting trousers. "Because of that, most castles were built with secret passages throughout them. And often times they were built with secret passages directly from the Royal Chambers and Throne Room to the dungeons themselves; at least, in those castles whose leaders understood the benefits of interrogating prisoners directly and anonymously," he continued as he manipulated the metal objects producing a slight click from the door tumblers as they slid in place.

  When we opened the door, several guards rushed out of it, not giving us much thought as they passed. As they did, I could not help but wonder about the nature of their urgency. Yes, I knew the dark army was completing their invasion of the keep and possibly only minutes behind us, or even seconds. And as urgent as that was, these men were running with a purpose greater than the fear of self-preservation, as least many of them were.

  Were they running to save their families? Possibly. Were they running to wives, children, and parents? Possibly. And then it hit me. What, if anything, existed in my life to warrant such a desperate and frenzied state? I could think of nothing. My father was still dead, and would likely remain so. My mother and sisters, while still alive (at least in my own small consideration) were so far removed from the course of my life that they might as well be. Not that I did not hope with all of my heart that they were well, but the effect I could have on th
eir lives would be the same as if they were not. Both Vennesulte and Kinarin were people I valued greatly, however, I would be dishonest if I did not admit I had maintained a thin line of detachment, a sort of protective shell preventing me from caring too much. In that moment, when I saw the faces of the men running with all ferocity and urgency, reflecting their most primal fears, I understood that I had no motivation in my life great enough to produce the same within me.

  As we progressed farther and farther into the dungeon’s bowels, and I pushed that horrible realization further and further away from my consciousness, Kinarin would identify areas he felt might be hiding a secret door. The three of us would examine them closely, but repeatedly we were left with one less hope. When Kinarin was forced to use his lockpick tools to open a particularly heavy door leading to a particularly dark corridor he said, "Well, this appears to be the last of it. I do not think the dungeons extend beyond whatever is at this corridor's end. Let us hope the Lords of the Stone Keep possessed some intelligence. If not, I feel our end may be the result of their stupidity."

  The lighting was sparse at best as the wall torches amply placed in the hallways before the heavy door to the dungeon interior were all but absent down this final corridor. Except for two at the very end faintly illuminating a rather plane wooden door, there were none. We had to rely on our hands to feel the walls as we walked more so than our sight, to tell if there were any additional doors on our sides. There were none. Our last hope, so far, was placed firmly on the other side of this last door.

  Before attempting to open it, Kinarin sent us back down the corridor to listen for sounds of the invading army's approach. Vennesulte and I listened for a few minutes with no encroachment of sounds except the faint and occasional dripping from the dampened ceiling. But just as we were about to return, we heard the faintest of high-pitched clangs. More fighting was happening on the path we had just covered. No doubt they would continue on until they explored all cervices of their newly won keep. Neither he nor I hesitated before returning to Kinarin.