Daedalus was unsure of this plan, but it was what they had, so it would have to work. They'd taken the outfit and armor of the captured soldier, to use as a disguise. Daedalus, dressed thusly, would masquerade as a soldier leading newly captured prisoners. They had taken a written doorway from the soldier as well, which gave them access directly into Adamori Township, where Madge, Silas, and Ayave were held captive.
When they arrived, the township was a flurry of activity. The town square was crowded with people all gathered around a large structure built in front of the building the party recognized as the prison in which they'd been held. To their horror, they recognized the structure as a gallows.
From this raised platform, Adrius Sebora faced the gathered crowd. He was in blue velvet rather than battle armor, but looked no less terrible. Behind him, Daedalus saw Madge, Ayave, and Silas bound hand and foot in iron chains. For a moment, Daedalus wondered where Sebora's fire drake was, but then saw a shadow pass overhead and looked up to see the beast circling high above.
At that moment Adrius was addressing the gathered crowd, expounding upon the mostly imagined crimes of the prisoners, which seemed to be nearly done. The crowd roared with approval in all the right places, enthralled in the spell of a master showman. Just by looking around, Daedalus could see that the way this would end was a forgone conclusion.
“We have to get to them somehow,” said Gedra to the others. “We have plenty of books in Anedi's pockets, we could storm the gallows now, and take them back.” Daedalus considered this for a moment, and then shook his head.
“In this crowd, in the heart of the enemy, that's suicide. We have to be smart about this.” Daedalus just wished he had any idea. Maybe Gedra was right. They had weapons, and books. They had a chance. He surveyed the scene before him, and tried to think of a plan.
Before he got very far, someone in the crowd shouted, seemingly for his attention. When he looked, he was mortified to see two enemy soldiers striding towards them. What could he possibly tell them? They came up to stand before him, and offered greetings, then asked about the prisoners.
If Daedalus had ever had to think on his feet, it was now. “Well, you see sir, me and some others found this lot sneaking around. It's some of their friends,” Daedalus said. He regretted it immediately, but had no choice but to let it play out.
“Friends of those on trial? Come with me, and we will present them to Commander Adrius after this trial.” He said the word in a fashion that made it clear what he wanted and expected to happen to those prisoners. He led the group up the stairs to the gallows. Soon they stood before the executioner. With a bow the man went to fetch Adrius, who bid the crowd wait just one moment.
It wasn't smart, or well planned, but on finding Adrius so close within reach, and entirely unprepared, Daedalus could not resist. He waited for the moment when Adrius would come closest to him, and in that moment he drew his dagger.
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He struck out with the dagger, and it found home. It was blocked however by some armor beneath the man's clothes strong enough to turn the blade away. He'd taken his shot. And he missed. Adrius took advantage of his opponent's momentary confusion and grabbed hold of Daedalus' arm and leveraged him into a throw that landed him flat on his back.
Anedi shouted and threw a book to each of his allies, with Zahria the sole exception. Daedalus had a short sword he had taken with the armor from the soldier he'd been impersonating. Armor or no armor Daedalus had the advantage, with his short sword against the currently unarmed Adrius.
As soon as the fighting started Gedra had gotten her two swords from Anedi. They clearly had more swords right here and now, but already they were surrounded. The crowd would rip them apart at a word from Adrius. Worse than that, he could see no way to get Madge and the others safely away even if they did free them.
Adrius backed away and gave a mighty shout, and far above, the dragon dove toward the battle, ready to join the fray. The entire platform shook when the beast landed on it and curled its massive body protectively around him, glaring at the encircling scholars.
Daedalus left the others to deal with him, and went over to Madge, Ayave, and Silas. He drew a long pin from a pocket and bent over the lock on the chains binding Madge's hands behind her back. Once free, she helped to free Silas as Daedalus went to Ayave.
Daedalus grabbed the sword made for Gerald that he'd not taken on his mission, afraid bringing a weapon with him might anger those he was seeking help from. He held it in one hand and swung it experimentally to get a feel of its weight. Knowing somehow it was now in battle, it grew from a short sword to a greatsword as the enchantments activated.
He stood with the others and faced the horror before them as the dragon reared and roared, filling the air right above the drake's mouth with fire for a brief moment. The crowd was in an uproar and soldiers were starting to emerge from the crowd, converging on the stairs on either side of the platform. They were being surrounded, and escape looked unlikely. Madge flipped open the book she'd gotten from Anedi, and began to read.
“They can happen suddenly. Deep within the earth, a tremor begins, and soon the ground begins to shake. It ruptures and great cracks form.” As she spoke, so it was. The platform rocked violently in the earthquake, and Daedalus and the others struggled to remain standing. Adrius quickly climbed upon his dragon as soon as the ground began to move, and took to the air.
Led by Madge, the scholars leapt to action, running down the stairs and fleeing in a loose group, disguised by the still present but now fleeing crowd. They did not slow, dodging away from soldiers, leaping over cracks, and generally navigating the chaos. Daedalus kept Zahria right by his side, terrified to be separated. In her hands she gripped tight to a book she begged Anedi for. It was far above her reading level, but she had to try.
As they ran, soldiers chased them and tried to grab them. More than one of these lost whole arms to the freezing spell on his sword, and fewer pursued them after that.
“What book did Anedi give you,” He asked her when at last they were out of the crowd and into a small hiding place between two buildings. They were stopping momentarily to wait for soldiers to see them. Their plan depended on them being followed. They had been separated from the others again, but it didn't matter this time because they all knew where to go.
Now it was all up to Gerald. If everything went to plan, Adrius was going to fall neatly into their trap. They could defeat him, and find out what had become of the world since the cataclysm that destroyed the lands for hundreds of miles around the Bastion Cities, then one great City called Crestan, a name it shared with its country.
Eventually a soldier saw them, raised a general cry, and they opened a doorway to the plaza before the scholar's spire, saying a last prayer that Gerald had done his part.