Ravena woke with a start, gasping for breath, eyes scanning for danger nearby. A throbbing overcame her skull, and she laid back down, wrapping her arms around it, groaning. As a tear streamed down her face, she forced a peek into her surroundings, realizing the cell door was wide open and the creepy prisoner had escaped. I have to escape. Gods know how long I could be down here. I’ve heard people don’t get a quick trial and the fickle rabble of Realmseekers already hates me. If I am apprehended, I’ll be guilty of something for real and no amount of innocence on the bread theft will save me.

Ravena vaulted to her feet, pausing to grasp her throbbing head that pounded with the new physical activity. She hobbled to the door and looked in both directions. The rows of rusty barred cells sat facing one another, and a central rocky, dust covered path stretched to the left and back up the stairs, or to the right, further into the dungeon. I’ll surely get caught if I just emerge from behind Owen’s bar at midday, but who knows what is down further, and where did that creepy man go?

Ravena’s indecision evaporated as she heard the clang of metal keys unlocking the underground prison entrance up the flight of weathered stone stairs. Her feet scurried forward into an intersection of rough hewn passages, and her racing thoughts caused her to zone out from her own arbitrary choice of direction. She just knew she had to get away fast and would plan later. A haze of rock and dark corners illuminated by minimal oil lanterns scattered halted as she came into a dead end cellblock.

“Whoo! Look at the perty thing the guards dragged down!” a red-haired, imprisoned man erupted from the glimmering cell block, causing a domino effect of cat calls and howling.

Ravena thrashed her hand, breaking into a hushed shout. “Shut up! You’ll get everyone in trouble, you filthy wretch!”

“Oh, looky here, boys, a judgmental wench who thinks she’s better than us!” the red-haired fellow howled again.

A group of prisoners from the right all heckled her in unison. “Perty lady, nice and strong, listen here to our song. Maybe stay a bit down with us, and then you’ll learn not to fuss. Like a steed runnin’ wild, we’ll make yer temper much more mild!”

Ravena’s dark eyes squinted as her dingy but tan complected cheeks scrunched in disgust. “You lecherous lot are going to get your just comeuppance! Now shut your trap! I can hear the guard coming!”

The red-haired man chuckled and motioned her over. “Alright, lass, I’ll help ya out, but I want something in return.”

“What? I don’t own anything, only this--” Ravena said, grasping at her necklace under her blouse. “Wait! It’s gone! That other prisoner must’ve taken it!”

“We’ll discuss terms later. Simply get behind that barrel and we won’t make a peep!”

The men remained quiet as the guard emerged, muscular and covered in sturdy but well-worn armor, with a blade at his side. His helmet only shown his eyes and part of his mouth. “What are you rabble all on about down here? We’ve got an open cell ahead, and if you don’t cooperate in spilling the beans on their whereabouts, I’ll extend your sentence!”

One of the prisoners gulped. “Eh, Sir Branson, I--”

“We were merely singing a song, sir! Just down here biding our time is all we aint seen nothin’ have we boys,” the red-haired man said, glaring at the snitch with piercing blue eyes.

The guard walked up, grasping him by the collar and yanking him up to the bars. “You best be telling the truth, Blaze, or I’ll come back down here and run you through myself and tell Owen you tried to escape!” Branson stated, staring him in the face through the rusty cell gate.

Blaze sniggered. “I look forward to our time spent together Brat-son, sir!”

Branson shoved him onto his backside before leaving, as Ravena prowled from behind the stout barrel, baring nothing but fumes of long gone spirits and a single dim lantern on its top.

Blaze stood back up, dusting himself off. His tunic and vest looked like it once was a brilliant bit of attire, as if it’d been worn by a gentleman. “Right, lass, you owe me, and Uncle Blaze always comes collectin’.”

Ravena positioned herself in front of him, looking into his eyes. “Correct. I guess I do. I don’t enjoy owing anyone, but I have limits on what I’m willing to pay, so keep any filth out of your dealings with me.”

“Don’t ya worry, dear. I’m not that kinda’ criminal. I can’t speak here for me boys though,” he said as the group burst into laughter. “You take this here, orb. It will let you spy on old Toothless Marley that escaped your cell and figure out which way he went. Don’t get too close. He obviously has an idea of where he is going and if you interfere too soon, he might not lead you out.”

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Ravena reached in and took the small transparent sphere. “Right, but this is another favor I now owe you? Cut to the part of what I you want for hiding me. I’m not digging myself into further debt.”

“Nothin’. You just gotta promise to bring the key he thieved back here and let us out is all. That’s yer end of the deal. And if you don’t, I’ll escape eventually and make it me mission to come settle up with ya. Ya don’t wish to find out what penalty is for not makin’ good on our agreement, miss.”

Ravena got closer to his face. Close enough to smell his stank breath. “Don’t you worry about your panties, little ginger. I keep my word!”

Blaze smirked as she walked away, standing tall amidst the group of men staring from the opposite side of the cell block. They were all clearly afraid of him and shocked at her lack of fear. The crystal ball in her palm began to show a hazy image of Toothless Marley, he was up ahead down the right-hand path of the intersection, she could see he was hiding under a corpse in an otherwise vacant prison wing and when she pointed the orb in his general direction, it got warmer.

The dimly lit corridors relented at the soft white glow of the sphere, and Ravena was careful to detach her attention from it lest she run afoul of the wandering Branson with her guard down. Most of the cells were empty, and she avoided all other ones filled. Just how many folks are down here? I guess this is Owen’s way of bringing law to the lawless lands and protecting his business. What crimes, I wonder, have they all committed? Must be serious...

As she rounded a corner of the various intersections, she had done the very thing she was afraid of, let her guard down. Her forehead bumped into Branson’s armor, and she fell backwards, startled, dropping the orb as it rolled to a nearby cell. Illuminating the hiding Marley’s face.

Branson picked her up by the scruff before she could point out the fugitive’s presence. “Well, what have we here? You’re the one that accused Gareth? And now you’re wandering about the cellblocks looking to make your getaway! Looks like you are digging yourself a deeper hole--”

A slit noise halted his lecture, blood splattering across Ravena’s agape face. He dropped her and fell forward, gurgling and holding his throat as his descent revealed Marley standing behind him, staring mischievously at her. He grasped the orb in one hand, and a small blowgun in the other.

Ravena gasped. “What kind of blowgun is that? Is it enchanted? How did you get over here so--”

He simply put his finger on his lips to shush her and spoke no sounds. She bent down to place pressure on the wound, despite the seeming futility, and offered comforting words to the dying Branson. There were no signs of a dart or knife. “It’s ok, I won’t let you die alone!” For a moment he grasped her hand with a firm grip, staring into her eyes with a look that said “Thank you.”

Marley’s shuffling feet drew her attention, and she reached out and grabbed the orb from his control. He turned to wrestle it from her and then sprinted away. She quickly realized why: more guards approached, jogging and clanging down the halls.

“Stop right there!” the new watchmen ordered as they descended on her position.

She didn’t even try to escape, as she held Branson during his dying gasps. Gareth emerged behind the other two. “See. I told you she’d be responsible. Can’t trust her. You’ll need to probably throw her in the pits.”

Shocked, Ravena stood up, gritting her teeth. “Why you! I didn’t do this! Why are you doing this to me? What are you even doing down here? You’re not a dungeon guard!”

“Just lock her in there, boys. I’ll keep an eye on her while you tend to your wounded. She’s crafty and obviously more skilled than she lets on, but she’ll not get past my watchful gaze, I assure you,” Gareth said coldly.

The guards drug her into a nearby cell with some rats, before locking it. They conferred with each other before dragging Branson off. Tears welled up in Ravena’s dark eyes. She didn’t really know a wounded gentleman, but despite their differences, he seemed like a good man and he didn’t deserve this fate.

Gareth stepped forward, grinning. “Well, to answer your question, I needed you. I did some digging and you’re an unspoiled lass unlike the other few women about. I need one as a sacrifice to open the Emerald Seas.”

Ravena screeched and spit in his face. “You bastard! What did you bribe them?”

“Not at all. I informed them I was going to come down and conscript you on a mission as penance. Owen agreed to it, but I had my doubts and told the guards you’d be up to no good. In truth Marley was working for me, trying to find the location of Whisper Well to the Emerald Sea. I was the one that got him the key. Didn’t expect him to procure me my sacrifice too. I’ll have to pay him a bonus,” he said, smirking.

“So what, you just kill me and spill my blood all over the rocks before chanting some unholy ritual to unlock a forbidden isle? It’s warded shut for a reason, Gareth!”

He yawned at her altruistic response. “Not quite yet. The only code here at the Whispering Waves is to take what you can, by the might of your hand. Keep what you find, and the fortunes there mined.”

“I’m aware of your kind’s cutthroat sayings. Not all Realmseekers are greedy cowards like you.”

“Lucky for you, there is a bit of time left to make peace with this mortal coil. I still need to gather one more ingredient: Owen’s Red Sash of Seeking. It will help me hone in the well to the proper place since it’s unbound. Don’t want to end up in the astral eddies, floating for eternity,” Gareth said, walking away. “At least I know where to find you! See you in the morning!”

Darkness descended on Ravena as he snuffed out the nearby lantern, leaving her in pitch black with every rat’s squeak and drip of water, a cacophony of imminent threat, like waves crashing relentlessly on the rocky shores, eroding all stability of mind.

“Hey, fair lady? Whach’ya doin’ in the dark?” a raspy voice pierced the anxious veil of shadow.

Her heart leapt into her throat. Who was lurking nearby?