6.A Daring Plan
Tien stiffened, her chest heaving. Tears at her own helplessness stung her eyes but she blinked them away, determined not to cry. She forced herself to breathe slowly.
Fen is right, she thought. I’ll get the blame when those two are discovered missing. I could try to warn this guard about their plan. She rolled slightly onto her back to ease the pressure on her right arm, which had gone to sleep. Oh what’s the use, she told herself miserably. I wouldn’t be able to prove they were going to break out, till after they were already gone. Saka and Fen could just deny it.
The guard outside fumbled with the lock for a moment, before sliding back a small metal grate that was level with the floor. He grunted. “Good evening, my little canaries,” he said with a simper. He must have been kneeling with his face next to the grate, because they could hear him clearly. “Have you become acquainted with yer new little house guest yet? Given her the big tour of the place?”
He cackled as he pushed a flask of water and a battered tin plate bearing chunks of bread through the grate. A bowl of greasy broth with limp green shreds floating in it followed. Some of its contents sloshed onto the plate. “Dinner is soured. Sorry, I mean dinner is served.“ He pealed with laughter again. “Oops, nearly forgot; we can’t have you dining without the silver now, can we?” He shoved a spoon through the grate with much merriment.
“Warden?” “What is it lad? After a second helping already?,” the warden snorted.
“Warden, the new prisoner has not moved since she was brought in. She’s lost a lot of blood. I fear that the stale smell of it will begin to offend your nostrils, and those of your superiors.” Saka’s tone was careless, but he rubbed his temples in agitation as he spoke. “We would appreciate a cloth to clean it up. Please.”
There was complete silence. Tien held her breath. As she had told Fen, the orders had clearly been that she be kept alive. She could almost feel the warden processing the information from Saka, and weighing it up against his orders from the Raseen. She heard scuffling and grunting, the dull sound of flesh being pressed against the door. The warden must be getting to his feet.
“Oh.., Ah, the prisoner is sick, you say? Not moving? She cannot be dead, surely. They said the prod was not used too much on her.” The warden’s voice quavered, all his bravado sapped by the news. “Has she a pulse?” he asked.
“If there is, it is but a flutter,” said Saka casually, giving a thumbs up to Fen. The room was by now almost in total darkness, but Tien heard the confident smirk in his voice, as he manipulated his captor. Again, there was silence.
Finally, the warden said, “I’d better come in and have a look at her myself.” He made a poor attempt at sounding gruff. “First, put the food back through the grate; and the spoon. Especially the spoon.” Saka hurried to do as he said. “Good. Now,” the warden barked, “ both of you, get back against the wall where I can see you, and keep your hands up.”
Saka and Fen obediently went to stand against the wall next to the door. There was a jangle of keys, then the protesting screech of rusty hinges, as the guard forced the door open. He entered cautiously, his lantern flooding the room with warm light and wavering shadows.
Tien lay rigid, her eyes closed tight. She had no idea what she was supposed to do when the guard came in, or when he realized she was not sick, let alone dying. Don’t move, she told herself. Breathe slowly and don’t move. This was easier said than done. Tien’s shorn head prickled under the scarf. She longed to scratch it.
“Let’s see how she is,” said the guard. There was real concern in his voice.
He’s only worried for himself, Tien thought contemptuously. Worried that he’ll be in trouble with the Raseen. She could hear him moving towards her. Her body tensed, waiting for his hand to grab her wrist and feel for a pulse. I mustn’t flinch, she thought, because then he’ll know I’m faking. I have to go limp. She forced her muscles to relax, and allowed her aching limbs to droop. But then the plan seemed to go haywire.
Fen called softly, “ Oh, and Warden, we found these golden bangles in the girl’s pocket. There is a crusted diamond serpent wrapped around each one. It may not b ….”
The guard gasped at the description of the jewellery. Tien frowned at the blatant lie, and without thinking, her eyes flew open. She saw the guard stride over to Fen. His lean stoop-shouldered frame dwarfed her. “Let me see.”
His voice was incredulous. “How could the little thief manage to steal such bangles? They are only worn by the Tiran princesses.” His hand snaked out to jerk them from Fen’s grasp. He didn’t notice the smooth movement behind him, until it was too late. Saka clamped a cloth firmly over his nose and mouth, and within seconds he slumped to the ground.
© 2006 by Shelly Taylor
Fen is right, she thought. I’ll get the blame when those two are discovered missing. I could try to warn this guard about their plan. She rolled slightly onto her back to ease the pressure on her right arm, which had gone to sleep. Oh what’s the use, she told herself miserably. I wouldn’t be able to prove they were going to break out, till after they were already gone. Saka and Fen could just deny it.
The guard outside fumbled with the lock for a moment, before sliding back a small metal grate that was level with the floor. He grunted. “Good evening, my little canaries,” he said with a simper. He must have been kneeling with his face next to the grate, because they could hear him clearly. “Have you become acquainted with yer new little house guest yet? Given her the big tour of the place?”
He cackled as he pushed a flask of water and a battered tin plate bearing chunks of bread through the grate. A bowl of greasy broth with limp green shreds floating in it followed. Some of its contents sloshed onto the plate. “Dinner is soured. Sorry, I mean dinner is served.“ He pealed with laughter again. “Oops, nearly forgot; we can’t have you dining without the silver now, can we?” He shoved a spoon through the grate with much merriment.
“Warden?” “What is it lad? After a second helping already?,” the warden snorted.
“Warden, the new prisoner has not moved since she was brought in. She’s lost a lot of blood. I fear that the stale smell of it will begin to offend your nostrils, and those of your superiors.” Saka’s tone was careless, but he rubbed his temples in agitation as he spoke. “We would appreciate a cloth to clean it up. Please.”
There was complete silence. Tien held her breath. As she had told Fen, the orders had clearly been that she be kept alive. She could almost feel the warden processing the information from Saka, and weighing it up against his orders from the Raseen. She heard scuffling and grunting, the dull sound of flesh being pressed against the door. The warden must be getting to his feet.
“Oh.., Ah, the prisoner is sick, you say? Not moving? She cannot be dead, surely. They said the prod was not used too much on her.” The warden’s voice quavered, all his bravado sapped by the news. “Has she a pulse?” he asked.
“If there is, it is but a flutter,” said Saka casually, giving a thumbs up to Fen. The room was by now almost in total darkness, but Tien heard the confident smirk in his voice, as he manipulated his captor. Again, there was silence.
Finally, the warden said, “I’d better come in and have a look at her myself.” He made a poor attempt at sounding gruff. “First, put the food back through the grate; and the spoon. Especially the spoon.” Saka hurried to do as he said. “Good. Now,” the warden barked, “ both of you, get back against the wall where I can see you, and keep your hands up.”
Saka and Fen obediently went to stand against the wall next to the door. There was a jangle of keys, then the protesting screech of rusty hinges, as the guard forced the door open. He entered cautiously, his lantern flooding the room with warm light and wavering shadows.
Tien lay rigid, her eyes closed tight. She had no idea what she was supposed to do when the guard came in, or when he realized she was not sick, let alone dying. Don’t move, she told herself. Breathe slowly and don’t move. This was easier said than done. Tien’s shorn head prickled under the scarf. She longed to scratch it.
“Let’s see how she is,” said the guard. There was real concern in his voice.
He’s only worried for himself, Tien thought contemptuously. Worried that he’ll be in trouble with the Raseen. She could hear him moving towards her. Her body tensed, waiting for his hand to grab her wrist and feel for a pulse. I mustn’t flinch, she thought, because then he’ll know I’m faking. I have to go limp. She forced her muscles to relax, and allowed her aching limbs to droop. But then the plan seemed to go haywire.
Fen called softly, “ Oh, and Warden, we found these golden bangles in the girl’s pocket. There is a crusted diamond serpent wrapped around each one. It may not b ….”
The guard gasped at the description of the jewellery. Tien frowned at the blatant lie, and without thinking, her eyes flew open. She saw the guard stride over to Fen. His lean stoop-shouldered frame dwarfed her. “Let me see.”
His voice was incredulous. “How could the little thief manage to steal such bangles? They are only worn by the Tiran princesses.” His hand snaked out to jerk them from Fen’s grasp. He didn’t notice the smooth movement behind him, until it was too late. Saka clamped a cloth firmly over his nose and mouth, and within seconds he slumped to the ground.
© 2006 by Shelly Taylor
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