1.14: The Ones We Lose

As the days passed slowly, she could feel the rats scurrying around her. She was barely fed or given water, and she was exhausted. Her body had been through a lot with the poisoning, and she slowly felt herself regaining her physical strength. She could move and pace the little cell that they trapped her in. She inspected the walls, looking for cracks or ways out. There was nothing. Even Eli made himself scarce, bored with the imprisonment. She didn't blame him.

There were guards gathered outside her cell, and in the surrounding corridors of the dungeons, she imagined her captors were hiding somewhere in the offices above. They were deep underground. She smiled and bided her time, caressing a shadowy tendril that reached out to greet her.

She thought of her men waiting for her on the outside. Did they believe she had run away? Were they looking for her? She thought of Niall's serene smile and determined gaze. And of Elarion's passionate fire and strength. She supposed her three days would be up by now. She had spent a lot of time thinking in here, and to her now she thought she knew her answer. Would she ever get to tell them?

She thought again of Elarion's knowing smirk, his quiet strength. She shivered. It was cold in the dungeons, and the wet had permeated her bones. She wrapped her arms around herself. She heard the voices in the central area retreating, and she knew it was time.

She took in a deep breath and centered herself. Clearing her mind of everything except the blank darkness, she reached out her awareness, extending to feel the shadows in the corners of the room, slithering along the floor, on the ceiling. Shadows were all around her, fluttering through the air. Calling to them, she lifted a hand. Holding this hand out in front of her, she concentrated her thoughts.

Please let this work. She sent up a prayer and felt the shadows moving around her. They gathered along her hand and wound their way up, forming a long, thick blade. A sword. She smiled. Moving to the door, she took a big inhalation of air and breathed shadows out into the lock mechanism of the door. She heard a click. The cell bars swung open. She stepped out into freedom.

The other cells were empty, and no one was waiting in the central area. They had all gone up the path, up the stairs to the left. Setia clenched her fists and ascended the staircase. She heard voices growing louder the higher up the stairs she got, and her blood boiled. It was two men and Lina. She could hear them laughing.

"It's great! The palace is scrambling." One man said. Lina giggled.

"The only issue is her retinue is still at the palace. Would have been more believable to get rid of all of her men." Lina humphed. She heard a goblet being filled.

"No, she wouldn't sneak off to join the rebels with her father's men. They would keep her here. It's perfect." A third voice sounded.

"A few more days and we can kill the bitch." Lina's voice was laced with venom. Setia seethed. She stepped out from the stairway, revealing herself before them. They toppled their goblets. Sitting around a large wooden table in the middle of what looked like an old tavern.

Setia held the blade before her, staring directly at Lina. She spat at her. A huge glob of spit landed on Lina's face and she shrieked. She launched herself at Setia. Setia growled and shoved her across the room. The second man launched at her with a dagger. She spun and slashed, the shadow blade catching him across his middle. He gasped.

"Men!" He called, before falling to the ground. Setia heard footsteps coming as multiple men poured in from the doorways, swords raised. Setia took in a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment to center herself. Then she launched into the fray.

She lunged forward and caught one man through his stomach, before yanking the blade free, spinning and slashing at the neck of another man. Having lost sight of Lina, who had been cowering in a corner, she worked her way through the crowd of men, slashing and gutting. Blood flowed freely on the floor.

She coughed as a back of a sword struck her across her spine and she fell forward, onto the ground. The men closed in on her. She growled and released the pent up energy that had been building inside of her. Shadows turned into spikes and shoved up from the floors, skewering men who approached her. She slowly regained her footing. Heaving for breath, she raised her sword once again.

The doors to the tavern burst open and Niall and Elarion came charging through with palace soldiers, swords raised. Shouting a battle cry, they joined the fray. Setia gasped and spun into another attack, watching for Elarion and Niall among the soldiers.

Slowly, the men of the tavern dwindled, falling to the swords of the palace soldiers. When the floor was clear, Setia fell to her knees, breathing heavily. She hung her head and gasped for breath.

"You came…" she said. Staring up at her two men. They approached her slowly, holding their hands up as if not to scare her away. She realized she was still holding the blade of shadow, and the shadows still slithered around her body. She let go of the blade and the shadows disappeared, and she ran her hands through her hair. The men fell to their knees in front of her.

"Princess, are you alright?" Elarion asked. His gaze laced with concern. He brushed her hair out of her face, his hand lingering on her cheek. She leaned into his touch. Niall placed his hand on her arm, helping her to her feet.

"We need to clear the area— "Elarion gasped. Lina had emerged from behind him with a large dagger in her hands. Her eyes flashed crazily. She growled and launched herself at Setia.

"No!" Elarion jumped forward, into the path of the blade. His face a mask of pain. He opened his mouth to speak and blood poured out. He fell to his knees, gurgling his breath.

Lina emerged from behind him, a bloody dagger in her hands.