Chapter 14

"The walls have ears and shadows have eyes: the stones hold more secrets conceived of miseries and deceit."

~

The Secret Cell, the Under-Ground Dungeons,

Kingdom of Tristendyre,

The first Phriday of the Second month,

XXI Year of Regency

Crescence's grip against the bars felt mild vibrations. Her heart's beats began to hasten as she hurried to collect all her belongings. "I have over-sojourned my welcome", she whispered as she turned to the door.

She knew that the slight thrumming was that caused by the close of doors or windows from a distance, presaging that someone was approaching.

"Oh, please be safe, Cres!", Imogen called in whispers. "And please tell Lady Minerva I love her."

Crescence gave her a brief nod and a smile before she left. In the passage of a few silent moments, the girl was out the secret cell and in the dungeon alleyway, skirts and bearings in hand, trying to trace her path back home.

Her sight suffered to attune to the reign of darkness. All things, that inhabited the place, were attired in shadows and barely visible to the seeking eye.

Carefully placing her footsteps soft and soundless, she walked until she heard the voices of men's approach. In her short time for escape, the maiden stepped quickly against the wall and aligned her physique betwixt its columns.

The pillars that stood beside her were embellished with stone sculptures over the shaft and faces of persons and dragon on the capital at its crown. However, the stone seemed eroded as if the cast was old and deteriorated of age with no consideration for maintenance.

Completely sheathed in the body of darkness, the maiden held her hands over her breath to stay undetected.

"He is a remarkable young lad, indeed; irreplaceably so. I dare say we were foolish to have tried to dispose of him, Devland."

"With the incoming of rains, Nathan Jehu could not be engrossed to secret possession, nor have been killed by Dragon, but it is veridical that he has escaped, Sire. That, I would say, was a misstep on Jaycob's part, your Majesty; especially, after all the lavish outlay on Rivenhove. In fact, that physician's signature and seal required to be forged to arrange for the substance; such were our efforts accorded to the setting. So I would state that terming him 'irreplaceable' is greatly slanderous to our other men. There must be some several of the brand we expect."

She could hear the faint indistinct voices approaching.

"Ah, but those are your words of distrust, Devland. Jaycob has murdered criminal Jehu. He brought the blood-stained cloak and locks of sleek black hair that bore the scent of the malefactor before me. The body required being disposed in secret", the Regent's voice was heard.

"Then is it verily so that Jehu is surely dead?", asked the voice of the Arch-Eccleissor.

"Of course, Devland; I see no further doubt in this regard."

Crescence, by-heart, imbibed every detail she could hear, for these were voices belonging to the Honourable Regent himself and the Arch-Eccleissor.

"But, what, then, of the strange engravings on the pillory? Was that also of your deeds?" the Arch-Eccleissor's voice sounded.

"No, they remain impenetrable. But, in clean honesty, without Jaycob, arranging for an immaculate replica of the Sword of Erdengaur to match the original could have been impossible, for the Smiths of our own country could not be consulted. And Jaycob always swears faithful secrecy", stated Jehoram, the Regent in power.

The ring of their voices greatly differed from her mind's recognition, for she had only ever heard their speech in announcements, where one would hurl their voice in amplification. Personal conversations as these caused the men's voices to sound much calmer, despite exasperation.

"True; if they knew, then word spreading about the lack of the Sceptre's presence could be impairing of our every front", agreed Eccleissor Devland.

"He had arranged for a foreign Smith to mould the replacement and with the arrival thereof, St. Erdengaur is safely opened. Save the delay in Dragon raid, all suspicions shall be calmed at bay this eve, with the damsel's execution."

"I fear what fates fare the country in case a dragon raid would be encountered post the rains, for the true Blade of Erdengaur is not in our possession and we will have no means to quell the beasts", said Devland's voice, suffocated with anxiety.

"It is curious enough that they have not arrived this day, but for the rains. Did you surely provoke an invitation to call up the dragons?" asked the Regent.

"I did, your Highness. At Nathan's first constraints, but the Princess' escape with the Sword was unforeseen at the time. It would have been convenient to have disposed of him in fire, to silence the rise of the people, but with Mercedes and the Sceptre astray, his execution required the respitement, for the beasts cannot be restrained. However, the cause for the deferment of dragon visitation to my first summon of them is unbeknownst to me. And in further misfortune, the script gnashed against his stone remains uninterpreted", the Eccleissor imparted.

"It truly is a predicament we face", agreed the man that held crown at bay.

"And what of the lad, Jaycob? Where is he?", asked Devland.

"He is very much in station", responded the Regent.

"I presumed so. He has not departed on his journey then."

"We require his service this evening", informed Jehoram

"Will we proceed to hold him?", asked the Eccleissor's voice, sounding frantic.

"It is prima-facie advantageous to. A change of mind will be sought if subsequent need be", stated the Regent.

"I suspected your favour for the boy", said Devland in spite.

"Ah, but you have required the blood of Jehu. Do you further crave Jaycob's as well?" Jehoram asked steadily.

"There is no reason for such blind certitude placed in Jaycob's hands. There is chance that the process of the Pillory's markings may not have escaped his surveillance. There is even probability that he has caused it himself. This 'faithful secrecy' you had mentioned of him is only of partial fulfilment. He may be secretive, but the faith is deciding", stated the Eccleissor.

"If such is your ardour, we shall arrange to silently kill him after he has found the runaway Princess and her mother", the Regent agreed.

"The boy is of dangerous intelligence. He may discern your schemes and overthrow our reign. In more statement, we bear no evidence that he is not serving Vericus in the period of long visitations to Hyll-Decanta. Further, he is growing in power. But of greatest reason, I consider his blood undesirable.", Devland finished.

The sound of the Jehoram's laugh resonated through the corridor.

Shock was an adjective short of what Crescence was experiencing. Per-haps, shock coupled with confusion would suit her sensation a better fit, though lacking. In fairer terms, she was bewildered.

Much of the strange happenings that had seemed as passing occurrences with no material coherence were beginning to seem like the several pieces that fell to constructing a single and dangerous labyrinth.

Once the men had passed to enter Imogen and Oreius Zephaniah's containment, Crescence felt a numbing fear rein her heart.

She hoped desperately to not be found, for that would mean a gruesome end to her very life. She wished to escape, but looked around feeling like there was a presence more.

The sound of the Arch-Eccleissor resonated from behind the open door: "Ah, my dear uncle."

There was silence in response. Devland's voice proceeded: "Brave; do not daringly be as bitter with me now. It was your destined greed that asked for the inheritance of my power to your lineage and exposing me as recompense for the denial."

"I never coveted your deception for my children", she heard the old man say before the sound of a lash against the bars and a yelp of shock from Imogen.

The dark-haired girl wanted to break into the detainment and stop the men, but she was overcome with fear. Further, it would be a foolish course to tread, if she wished to act on her impulsive urges.

With tears of fear and concern piercing the edges of her eyes, Crescence flew out the passageway.

Her chief instinct was to escape the place without notice, for otherwise, she would be fed to the flame of Dragons that seemed to oblige and behave under the reins of these men, for now, she was in possession of dangerous information.

Scarcely did she know that from deeper in the shadows, masked eyes had been watching her every move.

~