She was too aware of what the next part of the jail held in store for her.

The murderers, she thought with a shiver, singing loudly enough to drown out their moans and screams. She focused on the center of the hall, ignoring their curses, cries, pleas, and reaching hands.

Creators give me courage, she begged.

Her eyes were glued to the rock floor in front of her. Eventually, she passed them and found the petty theft part of the dungeon, where she finally stopped singing. Elurra’s candlelight was growing dim, but this part of the dungeon was well lit. She blew out the wick and surveyed the line of prisoners before her.

“Why did’ja stop singin’, purdy lady? I was enjo’in tha tune,” one of the prisoners said, revealing a mouthful of missing teeth.

She grimaced and ignored him as she kept walking. She remembered him from before. He had been down there a while for stealing some gold coins, if she remembered correctly. She never liked him and secretly wished he would die off from the cold.

“Leave ’er alone, Brach. She reminds me of tha princess. Are you tha queen, me lady? How did’ja get down here?” a man in his early twenties asked hopefully.

She recognized him as well. He had developed a beard during his long stay, but when he first arrived, he had been clean-shaven and melancholy. Elurra had taken to him immediately because he was obviously sorry for his crimes. She was astonished to see he was still imprisoned. He was supposed to be released two weeks after she was sent away. Elurra hid her grin when she noticed he was still using the blanket she brought him. Several of the older prisoners had blankets she bequeathed them, in fact.

“She can’t be tha queen, you dolt. She’s deader than ah nail, ’member?” another man said glumly, sitting in the stall beside him. Elurra remembered his name was Jonah.

“She could be a ghost, though. Especially inna stinkin’ pit like this place,” Brach argued.

Elurra rolled her eyes and focused on the younger prisoner.

“Do you not know who I am, Yano?” she asked as she tilted her head up so he could see her eyes.

He took in a sharp breath and the first man, Brach, let out a rasping laugh.

“Well, lookie ’ere! It is tha princess! I knew ther’ wasn’t another blondie in the land that would come wanderin’ outta the dark singin’ a children’s rhyme! Funny, though, we thought you were dead!” he shouted, barking out a laugh that turned into a rasping cough.

Yano was still staring at her with his mouth hanging open. “How did…how long have I been down here?” he finally sputtered out with a look of complete shock.

Elurra started laughing, which relieved some of the tension. Some newer prisoners who Elurra didn’t recognize looked at her with curiosity. She found it interesting that the number of prisoners had almost tripled during the months she had been away, which was unusual. Despite being surrounded by criminals, Elurra finally felt like she was at home.

“My appearance is a very long story, as is my disappearance. I’ll find some time to tell you all about it one day, but right now, I am on urgent business. I am looking for a foreigner. Dark skin, black hair, purple eyes. Has anyone seen him?”

Yano was still looking at her in shock, and Jonah looked like he didn't believe her, but Brach started laughing again.

“Purple eyes? Well, there's a new one. I've neva heard of such a thing.”

She clenched her fists and tried to contain her temper.

Yano recovered and said, “He's not around here, princess, but Damond sure has been busy around the dead-end hall. People are coming in and out, and he seemed awfully distracted earlier when he was bringing us vittles.”

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“Who is he, ya lover?” Brach asked, crackling. Elurra gave him a death glare, which was a lot more intimidating when she wasn’t three feet tall. “That’s lil’ Elurra alright, no question. We really have been stuck down here forever if you’re gettin’ so big.”

Elurra ignored him and turned back to Yano.

“Why are you still down here? I thought you were supposed to be released months ago,” she asked him. His eyes looked sad.

“The new queen is not like your parents, mi’lady. She has no care for justice. In fact, the fellas down here say she’s been jailin’ people left n’ right for any lil’ thing and tellin’ the people it is for the safety of everyone and whatnot. The old captain of the guard was sent away to protect somethin’ or other on the western border, and his replacement is corrupt. If you’re rich, you can buy your way outta arrest, but if you’re poor, you join us down here. Hanc over there got jailed for looking at one of these new castle guards funny.”

She gave him a kind smile.

“When I get my kingdom back, I promise to free you all,” she told him solemnly.

“That’s very kind, Your Highness. I can finally go back ta pillagin’ and rapin’,” Brach said, wheezing hysterically.

“Shut up, Brach, or I’ll change my mind,” she told him, giving him yet another glare.

At that moment, they heard someone stomping down the hallway. Whoever it was wasn’t in a good mood.

“What’s all this racket?” Damond bellowed, storming around the corner.

He stopped short when he saw Elurra standing there with the stump of a candle in her hand. His eyes widened, and the pipe fell right out of his mouth.

“Who—what is—who are you?” he finally asked after blinking a few times.

“Damond!” Elurra called out, running forward and giving the old man a big hug. He looked completely stunned as she pulled away.

“Don’t you worry, constable, we didn’t believe it, eitha. Then we checked out that wonderful figure and—”

“Shut up, Brach!” Elurra and Damond said in unison.

“She’s the princess, Damond! Can you believe it? She looks just like ’er mother, doesn’t she?” Yano chimed in, walking up and standing beside the bars of his cell.

Damond looked completely dumbstruck.

“That boy was telling the truth, then. I thought he was full of yak, telling all those wild—"

“Boy? You mean you have seen Terrin?” she asked excitedly.

“You better follow me," he said with a nod.

Damond looked a little preoccupied, but Elurra couldn't read his expression. She didn't bother him. She waved at the prisoners she knew as she passed by and giggled at their dropped jaws and dumbfounded looks. Damond led her down a familiar passage and stopped her in the middle of the hall, where he abruptly changed directions. He maneuvered her into a darker passage and whispered for her to stay put until he came back. He hushed her attempts to question him and disappeared around the corner, leaving her alone.

What is going on? she wondered, not daring to move.

Voices echoed down the corridor. She picked out Damond's easily enough, but she did not recognize the other. After what seemed like an argument, she heard angry footsteps receding down the hallway. A few minutes later, Damond returned.

“What was all that about?” she asked the old jailor.

“I told the guard the queen wanted him. I don't want any of them seeing you.” Before she could thank him, he turned on his heel and led her to a huge cave without any other outlets. It was normally used to hold royal or noble prisoners of war, Damond informed her. Two figures inside the only occupied cell perked up when she walked in. Elurra gasped when she saw the male, who must be the prisoner.

“Impossible! You are supposed to be dead!” she exclaimed, stopping short. His dark green eyes had haunted her all through the dungeon, following her with the hollow sockets of the skeletons. The prince simply added to the nightmarish thoughts tormenting her mind. He sighed dramatically.

“I have heard. Do you know how strange it is to be told you are dead by every new person you meet? It is rather disconcerting.”

Like Terrin, he had a faint accent, making his speech familiar yet foreign to her ears. The second person in the cell saved Elurra from having to respond.

“Your Highness!” the woman exclaimed and bowed immediately.

“Aleah?” she exclaimed in disbelief as she ran forward.

The shocked governess froze for a moment before opening the door to the cell. Elurra gave her a bone-crushing hug.

“Elurra? I thought you were your mother. How did you become so grown up?”

“That is a long story, and I am just as curious as to how Prince Kai is still alive, but right now I am on a mission.” She turned to Damond. “I thought you said Terrin was here?”

Damond’s expression hardened, and she turned back, but neither Aleah nor Prince Kai would meet her eyes. She felt fear settle into her stomach like a lead weight.

“Nitiri came down yesterday with him. The first time, she was ordering him about and telling him to serve the prince. The second time, she dragged his limp body down the stairs and tossed him into the prince’s cell. She told Kai to put some warmer clothes on him, and about an hour ago, she came back for him with a host of guards to carry him up the stairs. He never woke up,” Damond said gruffly.

The color drained from Elurra’s face. “Aleah, we have to go.”

Her governess looked back at the prince like she was unsure of what to do.

“Elurra, what about—” she started to ask, but Elurra cut her off.

“We will come back for him, but if we do not find Terrin immediately, he will die.”