Small Consolation

"Make sure the king actually rests and does not try anything funny." Kaarel pointed for a soldier to follow Rhodri to his bedchamber.

When the door was shut behind the king, Kaarel began to chuckle darkly. He looked at the Commander, who was still on his knees. "Does the big man always act so pompously?"

Borit scoffed, "You don't know the half of it. You'll be hard pressed to get him to sign that paper."

"We will get back his prized possession momentarily," Kaarel waved dismissively, "in the meantime, you were an excellent stand-in. That was quick thinking on your part, Commander."

"I worked with what we had." Borit looked up angrily at the soldier who still had a hand at his throat.

Kaarel waved his hand again, this time to get his crony to release Borit from the uncomfortable grip. "That will do, Hodey."

Hodey grunted, his cloudy eye giving the Commander an icy look. Kaarel tossed a cloth to Borit, and the sharp-nosed man used the handkerchief to dab at his neck.

"Your man there was very convincing in his role," Borit gave Hodey a sidelong glance. "I almost believed he was actually going to remove my head if the king refused."

"Wouldn't that have been a show! Alas, we will never know, will we?" Kaarel furrowed his brow. "So sad."

"Well, the show is over now. Let me loose," Borit held up his bindings. The cuffs on his hands were the same ones that had bound Silver.

When Borit had removed them, he had kept them on his person. The plan to use himself as a stand-in for the missing princess had happened so suddenly that they were the easiest way to make the act convincing.

But Kaarel had taken his keys in the process of the ruse. Borit needed them to be released.

The general dangled the ring of keys in the air before lowering them slowly. "Hmm. I've been thinking."

Borit narrowed his gaze. "Do tell."

"If I let you loose now, the king may realize the deception and demand to see his daughter. It is better that I make you look like a prisoner for at least the next hour just to make sure that things continue to run smoothly." Kaarel looked around and all of his men nodded at his brilliant idea.

"You must think me dense." Borit pulled his lips into a thin line. "If you send me to the dungeon, I will not be coming out."

"How little you must think of me! We will keep you away from the soldiers of Birle. You have my word that they will not harm you." Kaarel pretended not to understand Borit's meaning.

Before the Commander could argue further, Hodey hauled Borit up to his feet and began to shove him toward the door. Borit fought against the soldier as they shuffled along.

"That's it Commander. Keep up the good work. No one will be the wiser as to the truth. Even I believe you don't like me right now." Kaarel laughed.

Borit spat a string of curses at the general. But Kaarel pretended not to hear. He simply waved at the pair leaving. "See you again soon!"

In the dungeon, Borit walked past many dim cells. Though most were previously empty, now they had at least two or more unconscious or semi-conscious prisoners inside.

The soldiers of Lakyle had made quick work of the unsuspecting guards. The soldiers of Birle had trusted the Commander, but at least the palace guard had not yet paid with their lives.

If the king did not sign peacefully, Borit knew that they would all be slaughtered.

However, he was far too selfish to care.

In the unsteady shadows of the prison, the commander heard someone or something take a sudden breath. Borit's eyes scanned the darkness, and he shook his head slightly.

Whatever was in the darkness froze, allowing the guard and commander to pass by without incident.

Hodey did not seem to notice. They continued through the labyrinth with the soldier marking his steps. It was very easy for someone to get lost in the strange catacombs.

Far in a distant corner of the massive dungeon—what ancient king had needed such a large space to house prisoners?—a cell was offset from the rest. Hodey grunted and pulled out the keys to unlock the iron door.

"This should be secluded enough for you, Your Future Majesty." Hodey shoved Borit into the cage. "I'll make sure to come and get you when the time comes."

"Time comes for what? To execute me?" Borit sneered. "Snakes, all of you."

"I am not a Viper, but I thank you for the compliment!" Hodey chuckled softly. "Rest. Things will get interesting very soon. I'll see you in an hour, Commander. Be ready."

Hodey laughed again and this time it echoed through the large, hollow chamber. It was as if the soldier with the clouded eye were laughing at Borit from every angle.

Borit balled his fist as he watched Hodey's retreating form. "I'm going to kill you first," he muttered.

"Already murdering your new allies?" A voice whispered through the shadows.

Borit rolled his eyes. "They were never allies to begin with. Merely convenient tools. And speaking of tools, you nearly blew your cover back there at the entrance. Your skills are slipping!"

Ingrid passed into the light with a scowl on her face. "I don't know what you are talking about. My skills are not lacking."

Borit would have put his hands on his hips, but his wrists were still in chains. "I don't want to get into an argument. Now hurry up and unlock the door…"

"Like a good tool?" Ingrid raised one eyebrow.

"Don't be ashamed of what you are," Borit answered, "as far as tools go, you are top in your class."

"My…class? You mean criminals and ne'er do wells?" Ingrid turned up one corner of her mouth and crinkled her nose.

"Yes, yes. And that is all the compliments you will be getting from me until you do what I require." Borit tapped his finger against the lock.

"You and the General have something in common, you know. You both think that you can use me. Kaarel offered me a position. Said I could be the first female viper if I wanted. But I just realized that I don't believe him any more than I believe you. You will never get me Silver's head, and the only other thing I desire is something neither you nor the General will ever give me." Ingrid crossed her arms.

Borit eyed her carefully, "what's that?"

"My freedom. You killed my old crew long ago, but I can make a new one. We can form our own path somewhere far away." Ingrid's voice was suddenly wistful.

She missed her old group, but the idea of a new one was almost more than she dared to dream. Until now.

In the chaos that was about to ensue, no one would care about a small-time criminal-turned-informant. In the royal records she had never even existed. This was her chance.

The beautiful soldier smiled, "Consider this my resignation, Commander. May we never meet again. I do want my final payment before I go…that cloak, if you please."

Borit spat at the woman. "You wretched creature! Fine. Take it. It won't work for me anyway. I hope it makes you miserable as well."

He unclasped the tenebrous garment and thrust it between the bars. Ingrid greedily snatched it up and placed it across her fair skin. She turned to leave but paused.

"Oh, and just so there are no hard feelings…"

Ingrid threw two small metal rods to the very edge of the cell. Borit reached through the bars and scooped them up.

"There are your tools, Commander. Try using them instead of people. Best of luck…" Ingrid disappeared into the shadows.

Borit said nothing to the backstabber to call her back. Even if he convinced her to let him loose now, the Commander would never trust her again. They both knew their partnership was through.

'Tools are disposable…' Borit thrust the lockpick into his shackles. 'And I will dispose of her just like the rest…'

But Borit was not an escapist. His efforts were clumsy and slow. It would be sometime before he was free.

His only consolation? Silver was just as trapped as he was.