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The BloodVaine EpicChapter 29: Cellbound
“Ohhhhhhh...what I’d do for an ale right now. Ohhhhhhhh.…”
Green Fox felt sick. It had started that night with the wizard. Green Fox had been frozen for a full five minutes and when he could finally move again he felt sick. It was only worse now. In the time following the incident he had been totally forgotten. He hadn’t seen anyone. Not even a the jailer who usually brought him his daily bread and water. The worst part was that someone had taken the keys.
No hope of escape now. Green Fox thought. Funny, I always thought it would end like this. Well, either like this or Frankie. Poor Frankie. He got drunk one day and decided to insult the local sheriff.
The sheriff didn’t kill him though. Frankie did himself in when he tried hiding in the city well.
Yeah, I could see myself going like that.
Suddenly Green Fox’s lamenting was interrupted.
“What was that?”
His heart leaped. Two figures crept into the dimly lit dungeon.
“Hey! Hey you! You two kids. Get me out of here!”
Alex and Walf jumped.
“Who’s there?”
It was Alex talking.
“It’s me! Well, that is to say...Green Fox and a pleasure I’m sure. But that doesn’t matter. Listen, I’ve got to get out of here. I’ve been rotting in this dungeon for weeks... months... years...ok, maybe just days. But I haven’t had any food. I’m just about dying here.”
Alex was skeptical. “Does Bjarn know about you?”
“Well...I don’t know. Who is this Bjarn fellow anyway?”
Alex looked straight into the green Foxes eyes. “You wouldn’t be lying to me, would you?”
“Aw, have a heart! As if I’m not on the edge of the grave already. What with the pain in my belly and the scratch on me head. I’m feeling a faint! I can see the light! That’s the end for me. I’m coming lor-”
“Oh shut up! You’re making my head hurt. We’ll get you out but if you try anything I won’t feel bad about cutting your up boots.”
“My boots?”
“While they’re on your feet!”
“Oh! Well I wouldn’t worry about that. No need to be boot'n up my cuts. I mean...coot'n up my buts. Or but'n up my coo- sorry but I’m not feeling myself with all this nothing in my belly. You wouldn’t happen to have a little ale on you? Either of you?...probably not.”
“So,” he continued, “would any of you’s be willin’ to out me break, or whatever? I know of a fellow with lotsa’ ale in ‘is house…”
Alex and Walf just stared at him.
Green Fox continued, “Welllll, excuse me, yer’ ‘ighness, but some of us value ale more ‘an others…”
Realizing suddenly that this wouldn’t get him anywhere, he dug up the short sword he had stolen from the armory earlier.
“Would ye’s accept dis as payment for getting’ me out…?”
Alex looked at the sword doubtfully. He was a spear man himself, but he took it anyway.
“So, tell me Green Fox, why exactly are you in here?” he asked.
“No reason...just stole a couple a things is all. Some gold, a hat and ... uh ....Bjarn’s *cough* girlfriend. *cough*”
Alex's brow furrowed. He hadn't heard about this.
“Ok so maybe the gold and the hat didn't matter. But Bjarn loved J’anrya. I think he holds me responsible for letting her...but that’s not important. How about getting me free?”
Alex produced a small vial from his pocket and poured it on the lock.
“Dragon tears,” he said. “Reno gave them to me.”
The solution started dissolving the metal as Alex watched.
Strange, he thought. I wouldn’t have thought Bjarn to hold grudges. He certainly didn’t chose sides when Dale and Reno were fighting over Shainya. Now that was a fiasco. Poor Dale. For a while there everyone thought that Reno had killed him. Come to think of it...I never found out what convinced them otherwise.
“So you lied to me.” Alex said. “You do know Bjarn.”
“Aw, now that’s a bit of a harsh way of puttin’ it. Note that I never said I didn’t know Bjarn. All I sai-”
Green Fox was interrupted by a loud clang as the door swung open.
“I’m free!” he said. “After all these years of tormen- And you two...you both have my eternal thanks. You may not believe it but let me assure you that words cannot express how obliged I truly am. And for that simple reason I won’t waste anymore time express’n and will leave you two to your ...eh...business.”
“Wait just a minute Fox. I’m taking you to Bjarn.”
“What! No, you can’t do that! He’ll just throw me back in a cell or worse, break out his fists again. Hey, we had a deal.”
“Yes, and who knows how you came by this sword. Besides, Bjarn isn’t like tha-”
“Listen kid, I’ve known Bjarn for a lot longer then you and I wouldn’t be surprised if he locked you up too for letting me out!”
Alex considered this. It didn’t seem like Bjarn at all. Still...
“All right.” He said. “I am leaving the keep tonight in search of my friends. As penance for your crimes and in payment for your release, you will accompany me. Oh, and if you come you’d better keep the sword. We won’t be going to the armory on our way to the docks. Do we have a deal?”
Green Fox thought about this. On the one hand he didn’t want to go back to Bjarn and on the other, he didn’t know what might happen if he left with the boy. Now if only he had a coin to flip.
He frantically searched the jail floor for a coin to flip, suddenly, just as he found one, a confused-looking Forestman burst in, reading a note.
“Hmm...orders from Sir Dractor...able bodied men…”
He looked up and saw Green Fox.
“You! Are you an able bodied man?”
Green Fox grinned. He replied, “Ah, I see my reputation precedes me!”
The Forestman looked even more confused. Green Fox snatched the note and hastily read it.
Green Fox ran out of the room and shouted down the corridor, “So, mate, which way did you say we were going?”
Good question! Alex thought. He wanted desperately to go find Aros. He had wasted too much time already. But if the Forestmen needed him he had better help.
“Walf,” he said turning to the boy, “I want you to get Reno’s sword and meet me at the docks. Here’s the dragon tears. Don’t get it on your skin. I have to help the Forestmen now. Hmmm. You won’t be able to go home now either.”
“Of course not! I’m coming with you, to help look for your friends.”
“What? No you are not! I thought we were clear on this. You have to go home. I should have turned you back when you first came here. Don’t worry, the Forestmen will take care of you.”
Without another word he left, running full speed to catch up to the Green Fox. Walf was indignant! How could he?
“I am not going to be left out of this adventure.” he said, “I’ll go find his friends by myself if I have to.”
Hmm he thought. Not a bad idea. I know where the docks are. We passed them on the way here. First I had better get that sword.
Walf went down the hall until he found a cell with three weapons in it. First, there was a large black spear. It seamed to be smoking and looked evil. The second was a rather normal looking sword. Probably Reno’s. Third was a bright gold long sword. It was beautiful. Walf wanted to take it. It seemed to be calling to him.
Come. Take me and we shall do wonderful things together…
It was talking to him! Walf reached out his hand. He would take the sword. Then he would be the best adventurer ever.
“Stop you fool! Can’t you see that it’s enchanted!”
Walf drew back with a jolt.
Who was that?
He looked around but there was no one there. Quickly he took the other sword and shut the door. “Better get to the docks... Without delay!”
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