“What?” exclaimed Dmitri interrupting Wayte.

“He was ordered to kill me so it was him or me,” Wayte replied sadly. “He did repent in the end, he wanted me to tell everyone that he was sorry.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Dmitri slowly. “But in a way, I’m glad that he is gone. Make sure you tell Claudia of his repentance though, it will help her through everything she has been through.”

“I think that is but a small candle beside the bonfire that your support has been Dmitri. You mean quite a lot to her,” replied Wayte truthfully, then he cleared his throat. “But back to other things, Judith is now safe with some monks at a monastery outside the French village. She didn’t look well though. She said that she’ll get better. That is correct isn’t it?”

“Yes, of course it is,” replied Dmitri. “I’m just not sure when. Did she contact Uriel?”

“I’m not sure, I don’t think so,” informed Wayte. “She wasn’t talking when I left. She was a bit delirious when I was talking to her. Oh, and Uriel? You had dealings with an arch-angel? That’s one giant secret to keep to yourself!”

“But you can see why we did it though, can’t you?” asked Dmitri.

“Definitely,” agreed Wayte, and then added, “I’m just sorry that I wasn’t able to beat Draycott’s control until now. But our next move is to escape from here. My thoughts are we simply attack the guards and fight our way out when I get them to let me out.”

“Well,” said Dmitri as a thought struck him, “Now that we have you, we can further the idea that we had to escape. I’ll swap places with Claudia so she can explain,” suggested Dmitri, and then went over to where Claudia was still making a racket. “Claudia, swap places with me, Wayte has some news. Explain about the exploding potion as well.”

Stolen story; please report.

Claudia nodded as Dmitri began to make sounds as if being beaten. “You have news?” she asked once she had reached Wayte.

“Birkett apologised,” said Wayte simply.

Claudia was taken aback, Dmitri could have at least warned her of this! “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Birkett apologised for having wronged you,” repeated Wayte. “I killed him,” he added quietly.

Claudia embraced him, “Thank you,” she said. “For both giving me his apology, and for killing him. I hope that he finds forgiveness and happiness where he is now.”

Wayte went on to explain what he had told Dmitri and finished by asking about Claudia’s plan.

“Ah yes,” said Claudia. “We haven’t had much success on the door, but we were about to try it again when you came in. We are going to blow the door open with some explosive potions that I created.”

Wayte looked at her sceptically until she pointed out the shards of bucket and the charred area around the doorframe. “Oh,” he said with surprise. “Well, in that case, use them over here,” he suggested indicating a different wall. “It will open up into the courtyard that we came through on the way here. It will be quicker to escape from there; it will bypass quite a few corridors in the walls here.”

He called out to Dmitri who came over, “Don’t worry about the noises anymore; it won’t matter for much longer. Claudia has told me the plan, but I’m changing it. We go through that wall,” he said, pointing once more. “And Dmitri, to add to it, you and I link. I think that if you get my agility and strength, we can get you a sword and see how you go. Claudia, you bring anything that you can deter people with.”

Dmitri and Claudia nodded and Claudia began to collect potions and stuff them into a sack. Dmitri reached out for his magic and linked with Wayte who shuddered as their spirits linked, “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that,” said Wayte. “Claudia, are you ready?”

She nodded.

“You can do the honours if you like?” he offered.

Smiling, Claudia lobbed two vials at the wall that Wayte had indicated. The explosion ripped through the wall causing the entire keep to shudder. As the room filled with dust, they could see torchlight from the courtyard streaming in a huge hole in the wall. “Wow, I was not expecting it to be quite like that,” said Wayte who was just standing there stunned, “Let’s go!” he cried recovering.