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Something within me struggled, unrelenting against the icy paws of unconsciousness. I stirred, opening my eyes as another Tyberan entered my cell. I focused on this newcomer. He was tall and well-built. His tawny gold fur rippling over taut muscles in the torchlight. I heard Kellador heave a sigh of relief, "By the Bright Ones, Olan, you sure took your time.""I would look very obvious if I walked straight into my sister's prison cell, Kellador."
Kellador nodded, "Sorry, Olan," he looked to me, "But she's so close to being gone..."
I watched mutely as Olan approached me, motioning to yet another Tyberan that stood outside the door. Both knelt near me, the second placing his hands on my arm; hands that were warm and comforting. Olan looked over his shoulder at Kellador, "Easy, Kell. She's not going anywhere; not anytime soon."
There was a pulling sensation, wrenching my conscious mind back into my body with a stern force. I was suddenly awake and in pain, but that pain was slowly ebbing away. As the stranger pulled his hands from me, he looked to Olan, "It won't last forever, but my Pain-block will last for a day or two."
Slowly, I sat up and looked into green eyes only slightly darker than my own. In an instant, I remembered who this Tyberan was.
"Olan," I said, "What are you doing here?"
"I've been watching out for you for years, Kat. I thought it wouldn't hurt."
"But if they find out..."
"They won't. I promise."
That seemed to settle that. As we sat there, I began to brood. I couldn't concentrate on my pain, but I could concentrate on my execution that would occur tomorrow. Kellador cleared his throat nervously as Olan rose to his feet.
"Well?" Olan said, looking down at me.
I looked up, "What?"
"Are you going to sit there all night, or are you going to get out of here?"
"How do you propose I do that?" I scowled, "This is a Tyberan prison."
"Simple," Olan shrugged, "Take the Queen's Tunnels. They go beyond the walls of the city and from there you can Gate back home."
Home. Gate back home. Back to the Green Dragon Inn.
"That's it?" I said, skeptically, "Isn't that a bit too easy?"
"Kat-dear," Olan grinned, "You read too many of those espionage books when you were a catling. Great escapes aren't all about close calls and danger."
I looked at them, "But it just seems too easy..."
"Too easy or not, Kat," he said sternly, "It's the only way you'll ever get home."
I nodded, "All right then. Let's do it."
Even as I made plans for my escape, I still didn't feel whole. Parts of me still eluded my grasp. I sighed, knowing it would be a long, long time before I ever reclaimed them.
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield