Chapter Eighteen

It was difficult to keep track of time down in the dungeons. Ryder attempted to predict when the guards would patrol the cells and when the alligator man would stop by with his daily meal.

“Okay, here we go,” said Ryder. Without further hesitation, he began a strenuous workout of pushups, running in place, and jumping onto his stone bed, then off again. Even though his muscles burned and his breathing became ragged, he kept going.

Suddenly, the door creaked open loudly and one of the guards entered the cellblock with a bright torch.

Ryder, covered in sweat dropped to the floor and began rolling back and forth. “Oh no! Watch out! King! No, don’t! This is terrible! The King, the King has been lost!”

The guard walked to Ryder’s cell and yelled, “Be quiet!”

Albie spoke up. “But sir, he is a vision seeker! You must bring him to the King at once!”

“I’ll do no such thing,” sneered the guard.

“But sir, you will be hailed a hero! You alone shall be responsible for saving the King’s life! Didn’t you hear what the boy said? Someone is going to kill the King!” said Albie.

The guard brought the torch closer to Ryder.

Make him believe you! Make it count!

Rolling around on the floor, he moaned, and then yelled, “Oh, no, the King, the King is gone! No! Stay away! Stay away from Princess Sophie! You can’t kill her, too! I won’t let you!”

The guard’s face changed from disbelief to pure panic. “Are you sure he’s a vision seeker?”

“Of course I’m sure!” snapped Albie.

“Eh, boy, hey, boy! Wake up! Tell me of your visions at once!”

Ryder immediately sat up straight as a board and his eyelids shot open.

“Ah!” The guard jumped.

“It’s terrible. The King will be assassinated tonight and they are going to try to kill the Princess as well!”

The guard pondered his choices and then said, “All right boy, if you truly are a vision seeker, tell me, what is my name and why am I working down in the Dungeons of Sumner?”

Um, that’s a real good question and I don’t have the slightest clue!

Albie cleared his throat, “Sir, I mean no disrespect, but that isn’t how it works. Vision seekers just receive visions, like one would receive a letter from a messenger.”

“Is that true, boy?”

“Yes, sir, it is.”

“Well, then you better come with me,” said the guard, still unsure of his choice.

“Calla! The keys! I need them at once!”

“Sir, the visions, they cause fever and weakness. I’ll need your help getting up,” stammered Ryder.

“Yes, yes, very well then,” said the guard.

Bursting through the doors, Calla scurried toward the guard with a large ring of keys in her hand.

Seizing the keys, the guard opened the cell and reached for Ryder, but before he could grab him, Ryder rolled out of the way, forcing the guard to step into the dingy cell.

“What the hell?”

Without giving the guard time to utter one more word, Ryder pulled roughly on the guard’s extended hand. In the process, he managed to pull the guard into the cell with him.

“Here!” urged Calla as she pressed a small knife into Ryder’s hand.

Putting it to good use, Ryder stabbed the guard in the shoulder and then shoved him to the back of the cell. Once the man fell, Ryder kicked him swiftly in the groin and wrapped his arms around the guard’s neck.

The man’s body went limp. “Let’s see how you like living in this putrid dungeon!”

Snatching the keys from the unconscious man’s open hand, Ryder quickly stepped out of the cell, turned, and locked the door.

“You did it!” cried Albie.

“Way to go!” Lant added.

Ryder felt a smidgen of hope building deep inside his chest.

“Thank you, Calla, we couldn’t have done it without you,” said Ryder.

Ryder gave the keys back to Calla and she busied herself with opening each of the cells in the dungeon.

“I’m going to release the rest of prisoners. I’ll be right back. In the meantime, you may have to handle another guard. Can you do that?”

“I will try my best,” said Ryder.

Pidifer, Lant, Kroy, and Albie all surrounded Ryder.

“What’s next?” asked Albie.

“Well, we still need to rescue my sister and my mother, rescue Brooklyn, or shall I say Princess Sophie, find Cridifer’s statue and have my mother fix him, and then kill Grishma. Other than that, not much,” said Ryder with a slight smile.

“Sounds manageable to me,” replied Pidifer with an even bigger smile.

Creak. The door opened and everyone’s smiles
evaporated.

“What’s going on in here?” bellowed the alligator
man.

Ryder turned and readied himself for the attack.

The reptilian man reached up and brushed his scraggly gray hair out of his face. “Well, well, it appears we have a prison break. You know what I do when there’s a prison break?”

Silence permeated the air.

The monster laughed an evil laugh. “No one knows? I’ll gladly tell you, then. I murder every single prisoner that’s out of their cell and the key holder! Now, who’s first?”

Ryder stepped forward. “Sorry, that’s not going to happen.”

“Oh really? And who’s going to stop me?”

“I am,” replied Ryder.

Laughter erupted from the beast yet again. “Oh really? That’s the funniest joke I’ve heard in a long time!”

Without another word, Ryder clutched the small knife and charged the malevolent monster.

The beast quickly grabbed a battle-axe that was secured to the wall with a worn strap of leather and braced for the attack. Ryder picked up speed and held the knife in front of him at an angle. When he was within striking distance, he ducked and somersaulted forward.

Catching the hideous guard by surprise, Ryder sprang to his feet and thrust the knife forward. The beast roared in pain and kicked Ryder with his large webbed feet.

Ryder smashed into the nearest wall with such force that he dropped his knife and struggled to catch his breath. Taking advantage of his weakened opponent, the beast ran toward him like a linebacker.

The crunch of their bodies colliding was sickening. Ryder dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap. Towering above him, the guard lifted the battle-axe high above his head. “Any last words, you pathetic piece of garbage?”

Ryder’s vision was hazy. The end was coming and he couldn’t defend himself or his friends.

I’m going to die.

Suddenly, a cry of anger and pure desperation filled the air. “It’s your turn to die, Aligore!”

A nauseating squelch was immediately followed by a loud gurgling noise.

Ryder’s vision began to clear and he saw a deadly spear sticking out of the monster’s chest. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth.

The beast fell to his knees, revealing Calla standing fiercely behind, clutching the other end of the spear.

Aligore’s breath became ragged and he began to cough a deep, hacking cough.

Ryder got to his feet and stood above the beast. “Looks like the only one that’s going to die today is you.”

Aligore chuckled and coughed up a mixture of spittle and blood. “That’s what you think.” More coughing and more blood spewed from the alligator man’s mouth. “What you seem to forget is that Grishma will never let you escape the castle.” His breathing all but stopped. Then the beast sucked in one last deep breath. “You and your little friends are as good as dead!”

The final sounds of death escaped the monster’s mouth and his eyes rolled back into his head.

Cheers erupted from dozens of prisoners.

“Calla! You saved my life!” exclaimed Ryder.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a very long time,” said Calla.

“Kroy! My love!” Pushing through several prisoners, Kroy’s wife emerged.

“Elsa! My beautiful wife!” The couple embraced one another and kissed.

Ryder and his fellow prisoners smiled, enjoying a fleeting rush of happiness. “Okay, we need a plan. There’s no way we can all sneak out of this place the same way. Plus, I don’t want to put anyone else at risk here. I need to go rescue my mother and my sister, kill Grishma, then escape the castle.”

Several prisoners gasped and Elsa asked what most were thinking. “Are you crazy?”

“I have to save my family and keep them safe. The only way I can guarantee that is if Grishma is dead,” answered Ryder.

The freed prisoners murmured amongst
themselves.

Lant spoke up. “I’m not sure how much time we have, but I think we best throw Aligore’s body in one of the cells and lock the door. Perhaps the next guard won’t notice that we’re missing.”

“That’s unlikely, but I agree, it’s best to put his body in a cell. We’ll need every second possible,” said Calla.

It took Ryder, Pidifer, and three other prisoners to pull Aligore’s body into the closest cell. Before they locked it, Calla bent down and took a second set of keys off Aligore’s belt.

“Calla, is there anyway to sneak everyone out of the castle safely?” asked Ryder.

“There’s one route that will lead us through the kitchens and out into the alley nearest the stables.”

“Do you think you can take everyone with you without being noticed?”

Calla shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not sure there’s any other choice.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” interrupted Albie. “When you say everyone, you mean everyone but me? Right?”

“I can’t ask you to continue this journey with me. It’s too dangerous,” said Ryder.

“You don’t need to ask,” replied Albie. “I’ll continue with you no matter what. I imagine Pidifer won’t leave this castle without his brother, either, am I right?”

Pidifer nodded.

Ryder looked at Lant and Kroy. “Will you two go with Calla and the others? They will need someone to help them navigate under the city wall and they’ll need somewhere to hide far away from Sumner. Perhaps you could take them to the caves? I have enough supplies there to last you all for quite some time.”

“Yes, of course we will,” responded Kroy, still holding on to his wife.

“And I know where the caves are,” said Lant.

“Here, take this battle-axe,” said Ryder.

“And this torch,” said Albie.

“We must hurry, the next guard will be here soon,” said Calla.

Ryder looked at the familiar faces in front of him. “Thank you for all of your help. I never could have made it this far without you. Please stay safe, and once Grishma has been slain, I promise, I will find you!”

Hugs were given and tears were shed.

“It’s time,” said Calla. “Good luck.”

The group of freed prisoners left through a far door that had once been guarded under lock and key. Once they were gone, Ryder sighed with relief.

Pidifer looked worried. “I sure hope they make it out of here!”

“Me too,” said Albie.

“As do I,” replied Ryder. “Now, come on, guys! We don’t have much time. Let’s go!”

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