Prisoner

Reyn blinked once. Twice. Her grand total of nine braincells struggled to comprehend what her friend had just told her.

She looked at each of them in turn: Alexis, wringing her hands, Markus, guarded as usual and finally at the cute errand boy who was hiding behind them.

"Let me get this straight-" She pressed her hands together, pointing them at Alexis. "You're the Marker-"

"The Marker?"

"The Marker. And the creepy librarian used you-" she pointed at Noah. "-In some ritual and now you-" she looked at Markus, "-Want me to get you into the dungeons so you can meet a high profile prisoner."

She waited for approval.

"I know it's a lot to ask, your Highness, but we don't have any other choice." Markus conceded, knowing how sensitive the issue was.

"Hell, I'm gonna do it!" She grinned, adjusting her crown. "Father didn't even tell me about this guy so I'm guessing he's dangerous. Count me in."

Noah gulped nervously as the princess smiled at him.

"Your Highness," the guard tried again, surprised at her reaction. "The prisoner did make an attempt on the king's life-"

"Yeah, but, he didn't succeed though." Reyn shrugged. "And quit it with the 'Your Highness' stuff. If this little boy needs help, I'm gonna give it to him. Besides, what are friends for if not to get you into restricted areas?"

"Reyn," Alexis held her hand in both of hers. "Thank you. Really."

Reyn shrugged, obviously blushing. "No biggie."

As she led the way out of her room, Alexis couldn't help but think of what an incredible queen she would be.

"What up?" Reyn high-fived a random suit of armour as she walked by.

A simply wonderful queen.

**********************************

"Frederick, my main man!" Reyn greeted the slightly weary keeper of the dungeons. He sighed deeply when she leaned across his desk on her elbows.

"Listen, we need to get into tier three for reasons, so if you could just-"

"Tier three?" He raised an eyebrow. "Milady, I'm sorry, but only the king or a member of the court can access that level."

She pointed to her crown.

"A full fledged member of the court... Milady. Or you need the king's written permission to-"

"Oh, just say that then!" She smacked the table playfully. "Coming right up."

"Do you think the king will just sign off on that?" Alexis asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Don't worry," Reyn smiled her charming smile. "I'm very annoying."

In the throne room, Lord Amari sat up, a chill running down his spine.

'Oh, no. She's coming.'

"Father!" Reyn sang as she skipped up to him, scroll in hand.

"What is it, sweetheart?" He tried to ignore the rest of the council members.

"So I've been thinking about the whole marriage thing and I just wanted you to sign this," she unfurled the scroll, which was over seven feet long and tapped the end with a quill.

"Is it a pre-nup?"

She gritted her teeth and smiled. "Yup."

The king chuckled, completely unaware as he signed it. "I'm happy you're taking this seriously."

"Your Majesty, perhaps you should read it first-"

"Shut your trap, Clarence. This is private." She snapped at the council member who had spoken up, rolling up the contract.

"Thank you, daddy." She kissed her father on the cheek, skipping out of the room.

The king was still making gooey eyes well after she left.

************************************

"Here's the tea." The princess announced as she slammed the contract on Fredrick's desk.

"I taught her that one," Alexis whispered to Markus.

"The king has granted me the authority to enter tier three as I wish, with an armed escort-" she smacked Markus on the arm, casually checking out his bicep. "- And two of my personal entourage."

"I understand the guard and the handmaiden but a child that young-"

"I'm seventeen." Noah said softly, raising his hand.

"Yeah, you never heard of a boytoy?"

Alexis clutched her chest, having a mini aneurysm while Markus just closed his eyes in resignation.

'What's a boy toy?' Noah mouthed as Fredrick handed over a priority visitors pass.

"Be safe, your Highness."

"Dope." She threw him a peace sign as they walked past him and down the steps.

Fredrick swore his hair turned greyer in that moment.

**********************************

Reyn led them down the dimly lit passages, the cold stone seeming to close in on them as they moved deeper into the dungeon.

Tier three was the last level, reserved for the worst crimes. There was only one guard on this level but then again, there was no way out of the cells.

"To your right, you have the scum of society," Reyn gestured, strangely to her left. "Every rapist and pedo locked away." Her heels clacked against the floors, turning their heads.

Next to her, Markus nodded politely at her attempt at being tour guide, occasionally glaring at anyone who dared to look at the princess.

"Noah, you okay?" Alexis gently nudged the boy waking beside her.

"I'm fine. This is just-" He motioned to their surroundings. "-Crazy."

"Don't think about it too much or it all comes apart."

"Is that why you never think?" He chuckled as Alexis caught him in a fake headlock, steadying himself against her under the weight.

"This is it." Markus announced, a little louder than intended, making them sober up.

They had stopped at the end of the corridor, a metal door blocking their way. Its heavy locks and location made it clear : No one gets out.

The guard patrolling the area slipped in the keys, turning the locks almost hesitantly.

He stepped back, allowing Markus to push the door.

Nothing happened.

He presses his shoulder to it, bearing down until it scraped across the stone floors, enough for them to squeeze through.

As soon as they all filed in, the door was pulled shut behind them.

"Five minutes." The guard ordered. No negotiation.

"Five minutes." Alexis repeated, looking around for a torch. The room was unexpectedly large, with no source of light, making it impossible to see.

Noah tried to distinguish the corners of the room, faintly listening to Alexis striking flint, swearing ever time she failed.

She swore a lot.

A chill ran up his spine. Something was not right here, apart from the fact that they were stuck with a murderous Arts user. Something didn't feel right with him.

"Got it!" Alexis cheered as she lit the torch, holding it up.

The group took a simultaneous step back as the walls were illuminated and they saw the prisoner.