“That's grim. we have to save him before they get him up there.”
“We will. Personally, I think my plan will work. I don't think yours will, but having more than one plan is better than having none. The fact is, we both need Hickrick. No one’s better at cracking codes.”
“You should’ve thought of that before you told Trellis about him.”
“I didn't think they'd ever believe he was guilty. I thought they'd just question him then let him go. I only needed a few hours to change my own plans. A plan I've worked on for 12 months, by the way.”
“Let's focus on getting him out of there. What do you know about the Star room? Is it easy to get to, are there lots of guards?”
“You need a map, really but there isn't one.”
“A map? I've got one.”
“Really? Your plan might have a chance then. How did you manage that? No one’s ever made a map of the place.”
“I have access to a special map.”
“You're going to need it. Another thing you'll need is your strength. Yours hasn't fully recovered.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“I didn't realise at the time you could be useful for the cause - or put it in as much jeopardy as you have. One day you might understand the magnitude of what you've done. For now, all we can do is try to manage the crisis you single-handedly created.”
“You need to make a more prominent sign or something warning about the cake or better still, take it off the menu. Why have a cake so dangerous in the provisions pack in the first place? Customers will be eating it off the premises. I say it's the tavern's fault.”
“It's a very popular cake. It's been in the provisions pack for several years with no incident. Till you appeared.”
“The fact you have a disclaimer tells me you at least expected something like this to happen at some point.”
“There's always a first time. I suggest you forget all that now. We've got more pressing things to deal with, starting with something to eat. You do realise you need to eat and drink regularly, or your strength will drop further, don't you?”
“I know, but it's difficult when your friends stole all my coin.”
“They aren't my friends. I don't have friends.”
“Now that, I can believe.”
“I was going to buy you a half and half pie, but I'm not sure I should now if you're going to keep saying the same things over and over.”
“A what pie?”
“It's half meat and potato and half apple pie and custard. There's a pastry barrier down the middle separating the two fillings. It's a complete meal on the go. A two in one. Street sellers sell them. They’re very popular here. I've tried to get Sal and Hedde to put it on the menu but Hedde refuses. Her motto is ‘If we charge more, they’ll buy less.” She reckons if you put two meals into one, she’ll lose money. The two items bought separately cost more, see? If she charges more for a single pie then the street sellers do, she won't sell many and people will stop buying them separate, so she’ll lose money in all directions. She's funny like that. Her pie would be the best on the market because she's a fantastic cook, but she only ever sees profit.”
“I'll try one. We have something similar back home. A pasty. Miners used to take them down the mines.”
Elspethe approaches a street seller on the corner selling pies. They smell amazing to you, and you instantly feel even hungrier. She buys two and hands you one. It is piping hot, and you see it has the letter M on one side and the letter A on the other. You start to eat it from the letter M side. It is delicious and you are happy you have had something to eat.
“I've had an idea. When we rescue Hickrick, he'll need a safe place to stay. What about the secret room in the tavern?”
“He could stay there, I suppose. We’d have to work out how we'd get him in there without being seen though.”
“There's a lot to think about.”
You both head back to the tavern and you try not to look at the gallows being hastily built in the marketplace. No one else seems to take much notice of them.
Elspethe goes back to work and you find Sal sweeping the stairs.
“I heard you're a formidable warrior.”
Sal stops sweeping and leans on the handle.
“Someone's been talking, eh?”
“Is it true you never lost a fight?”
“It's true. Back in the day, I was quite good. Not like you young ‘uns nowadays. You used your head as well as your weapons then. That's why there's so many retired warriors about. You young ‘uns won't ever retire, you'll be killed long before then. You’re too impulsive.”
“Do you not wish… you weren't retired?”
“And be a warrior again? Hedde wouldn't like it. She put a stop to all that when we got married. Thought I'd get made into Sir Serker, but the one in charge of the honours list was the brother of one of the men I killed so... I soon got ‘forgotten’.”
“Why are the songs and Trellis so important?”
“Trellis is kingmaker here. His stories and songs make or break heroes. Once the songs stop… the legend stops. You're a distant memory. Hedde didn't like that. She's never forgiven me. She thought she’d be at Court, living in luxury - but here we are. And neither one of us is happy. She spends all her time creating new recipes and forms for people to fill in - and I spend my time working on my sculptures.”
“Sculptures?”
“I whittle them out of a special wood that animates what you create if you sprinkle water on them. Woden wood. Hedde knows nowt about it, so keep it to yourself. I'm doing miniature figures of all the people I fought and won as a warrior. There's a lot of em.”
“That sounds amazing.”
“It will be, when it's finished.”
“What if you could add more to your collection? If you had another fight - and mission so dangerous, all the others would pale into insignificance and the songs would be about you again. Everyone would once again know the name of Sal Serker - and what a formidable warrior he is.”
“I would like that very much - if Hedde didn't find out until we get to the fame and glory part.”
“I have a mission only someone of your calibre could pull off.”
“I'm listening.”
“I need you to help rescue Hickrick from the Star room tomorrow.”
“The tree nymph? Are you mad? The Star room? See what I mean about you young ‘uns not making it to retirement? No one’s ever been able to escape from there and no one has ever tried to break in, either.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I'm surprised you've turned down such an epic, history making mission so quickly.”
“I didn't say I wouldn't do it. I just can't see how it's possible to do it without getting killed. Hedde wouldn't like to be a warrior widow.”
“I've got a map. We can do it - we have to do it. It's my fault Hickrick’s in there. It's also your fault because your cake became the murder weapon of Tom Goode. Your friend. And your barmaid sold false information to Trellis, saying it was Hickrick when all he did was dispose of the body and decipher the coded message he was carrying.”
“Fate’s a funny thing. Look how we've all been thrown together like this. The Norns have been busy threading all our lives together for a reason. I cannot deny it’s a calling, this mission. It will probably be my last, though. Why did Hickrick dispose of the body if he had nothing to do with it?”
“He was tidying up.”
“That makes sense. Lots of people round here vanish. Most end up in the river. Laffe Is the latest to disappear. They say he was drunk and went up to the swamp, but I don't know about that. No one’s seen him for days I reckon he's in the river.”
“You should ask your barmaid about that.”
“You two don't get on, do you?”
“She bought me a pie and she's helping me rescue Hickrick…”
“She gave you a free bittermint coffee too, I seem to recall. Maybe she likes you after all?”
“Only if there's something in it for her. She needs Hickrick, same as I do.”
“Get me a map of the Star room and I'll see what I can do. It would certainly poke the other retired warriors in the eye if we do pull it off. They might have their knighthoods, but I'd be the subject of epic poems, songs and sagas for generations to come. That's more than enough to drag a lot of ‘em out of retirement and back into the warrior lifestyle again.”
You leave Sal and go to speak to Hodin. His feet are almost healed.
“Your potion is pleasingly potent. Here is your map but I give it to you with a warning. Only use it when you need to. Each time you use it, it weakens its power. Many will try to steal it from you. Keep it safe. This blank map could destroy lives and Glamis itself if it gets into the wrong hands. It will get you home if you use it wisely.”
“Can I use it to see the layout of the Star room?”
“You can, if you feel it’s worth the risk.”
He hands you the map. You concentrate on visualising the interior of the Star room. The room is shown in lifelike detail on the once blank map. There are no windows and only one entrance/exit. It has a stone paved floor. It contains torture equipment, a barred cell containing a bed and a chair. Beside the cell is an iron cover leading to the sewer. In the top left-hand corner is a trap door leading to the dungeons. There is a large table and chairs in the middle of the room. There is one large hearth. The ceiling mirrors a night sky with glowing stars. The walls are painted midnight blue infused with millions of tiny silver glowing stars. It is a beautiful room where ugly things happen. It is where good and evil co-exist. You go to Sal and show him the map.
“That's interesting. The doors a no go. It'll have guards on either side of it, for sure. There's no windows and just the one door… that limits our options to get in - and out.”
“What about the trap door?”
“You young ‘uns… the clue’s in the name. Besides, you don't want to go into a dungeon unless you have no choice. People waste years of their lives in dungeons listlessly travelling through a labyrinth of darkness. Some never see the light of day again.”
“So, it's the sewer, then?”
“Best option. No guard guards the sewer. No one would want to climb up a sewer. That's the job of rats - and they'll be plenty of them. Expect sharp teeth and claws. They don't like intruders.”
“That's our only way in?”
“No, but it's the best chance we've got of getting in and out alive. If we get in, I reckon Hickrick’s in the barred cell. He’ll be locked in there. A solid 9-gauge padlock, I reckon. We’ll need to speak to Haleberger and see if it's his handiwork. If so, he might be careless enough to leave a spare key lying around the forge.”
“I'll be at the forge in the morning to pick up my stock, so I'll ask him.”
“Tell him - free mead for a week if he feels like being ‘careless’.”
“So, say it all goes to plan and we get in the room and get Hickrick out of the cell, do we leave the same way?”
“Did I forget to mention it’s likely other prisoners are hooked up to the torture equipment? Do you think they'll stay quiet if they can see a glimmer of an escape? And the guards on the door? Do you think they won't hear the commotion? Backup will be on us in seconds, and we've only got one decent escape route.”
“How do we keep the prisoners quiet?”
“That's your job to think of something, it's mine to deal with the guards. There’ll be guards in the room, too. Don't try to tell me they won't bellow when they see us, and they will see us.”
“I'll think of something.”
“And say we manage it, where will you take Hickrick?”
“I've got a safe place nearby to take him to till it's safe to take him somewhere else.”
“I hope it is safe because the gallows are already built. They won't come down till someone's been on ‘em. Trellis will be fuming if he gets away. I wonder how he'll frame it in the lyrics? His songs can change peoples’ tune on events. It's his skill. A catchy song spreads fast. People don't bother to check the facts of it - they sing it, others hear it, learn it, sing it… and they believe every word of it.”
“We've got something similar where I come from.”
“Then you’ll know what we're up against. I’ll work on a plan to get us in and out in one piece, but you've got to pull your weight. You won't be fighting thieves; you'll be fighting the king’s guard. Are you up to full strength?”
“Just about. Owning the map, learning new blacksmithing skills, food, drink, the dragon elixir, my own healing potion and the bandages have got me back up to 45/50.”
“You'll need every point.”
“I know. I'm gonna go and find Elspethe and see if she's come up with anything.”
Elspethe is in the kitchen stirring a delicious looking thick stew with plump dumplings bobbing on the surface of the bubbling broth.
“Sal’s in. I've shown him a map of the Star room. He reckons we can do it if we go through the sewer. That's our best way in, he says.”
“I've got the gunpowder back. It's not here, it's somewhere safe. I had to pull a lot of strings and promise a lot of free drinks to get that done.”
“What do we need that for?”
“We don't. I do. My plan’s going ahead.”
“You're still gonna try and kill the king? It's a bit ambitious on top of what we've already got planned for tomorrow.”
“Don't you understand? I've put 12 months into planning this, I've to get this far. Many died for this plan. Tom Goode was our leader - now there's a vacancy and I intend to fill it.”
“So, you don't want to be queen?”
“Don't be silly. The legitimate queen will be on the throne tomorrow, if I can help it.”
“Who is this queen, then?”
“Queen Delphine the second. King Haldred the 4th is the impostor king we have now. Haldred loves nothing more than living in luxury whilst leaving the rest of us to eat breadcrumbs. He’s imprisoned Queen Delphine in the Tower of Truth. No daylight, no windows, no justice. She's rotting in that tower. He drowned her younger brother in a vat of mead in front of her. He slowly tortures her by letting her know of each of her supporters’ plots to kill him his spymasters have foiled. Every time we fail, she loses more hope. We must get her out of there.”
“One rescue at a time! Where’s this Tower of Truth?”
“The same place Hickrick is being kept prisoner.”
“You're not seriously thinking we can rescue the queen at the same time, are you?”
“Why not? It's the perfect opportunity!”
“To get killed. Lots of opportunities for that to happen. Even the POD-VRI will have difficulty keeping tabs on the odds and stats of that campaign. You're crazy.”
“Why is it crazy? Everyone will be under one roof - at the same time.”
“And that's what worries me. Don't forget, it's market day tomorrow I've got a stall to run.”
“We won't make a move till after trading ends.”
“Great. I finally make some coin - then I get killed.”
“Just imagine if you don't. Imagine if we pull this off. Our gang of misfits Ridley ridding Glamis of the most corrupt king in history. We’ll be heroes.”
“It's more likely we'll be dead heroes - those gallows have got our names on them. But hey if you're gonna go down you might as well be remembered for it.”
“That's the spirit! Here, grab a bowl. The stew’s ready. You need to keep your strength up. I'll leave a fire in the kitchen, and you can sleep in here tonight. There's an old blanket over there in the corner. I've slept in front of this fire many times. I thought most of my plans up in this very room.”
“Thanks, but you still haven't told me your plan.”
“It's best you don't know. You stick with Sal and get Hickrick out. Leave the king and queen to me. Mind you, if you finish your mission and I'm still in there… I'd appreciate it if you helped us out.”
“I'm sure you won't need my help, not if you’ve planned it properly - you've had 12 months to plan something – I haven’t. And you’ve got gunpowder. Me and Sal… we've only got axes and a way in. No one’s ever attempted to get into the Star room before, but I'll bet many have tried to leave.”
“No one’s ever escaped the Star room. It's a grim place. At least they haven't started to try to ‘persuade’ Hickrick to talk yet. They like new prisoners to get their bearings first and see what they do to the prisoners that's been in there longer. He’ll be in the locked cell in the room, so you'll have the lock to deal with, too. All new prisoners are kept in there for the first week then after that, they’re kept in the dungeons.”
“It's such a primitive punishment system. Whatever happened to a fair trial?”
“The king banned any form of dissent. No one can criticise anything he or his government passes. On the surface society looks ‘free’ but look a little deeper and you'll hear the screams of the oppressed. Silent screams mind, because if you actually scream, you'll be hauled off to the Star room accused of being a traitor. No one has a voice unless you're saying the King's words. Trellis’ songs spread the king’s word - and fear.”
“I'm surprised you haven't tried to take Trellis out instead of working with him. What about your conspiracy plans?”
“I've set that in motion. Be patient. Whispers take time to find their voice.”
“Where’s Hedde? Will she mind if I stay here tonight?”
“Tell her how wonderful her stew is, and she won't mind at all.”
“I thought you made it.”
“No. Hedde does all the cooking I do the finishing and cleaning up.”
“She's not around much.”
“She's here early doors then she's back off to her room thinking up new recipes or revamping old ones - or she invents yet more paperwork for us all to do.”
“Do you really think we've got a chance of pulling this off?”
“You came here for a reason. It was your destiny. I already know what mine is, I have to try. I'm fed-up hearing of plots that fail. This plot is mine and it won't fail.”
“I hope you're right.”
A sudden commotion from the bar area of the tavern startles you. Elspethe goes to find out what is happening. She comes rushing back, her face drained of all colour.
“It’s Trellis! Someone's tried to kill him!”
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