"Hubert, sir, you didn't get Eris release papers?!" Metterlich sputtered in confusion as he was led out of the prison.

"No, I didn't, couldn't. consider yourself lucky, now shut up and march," the inquisitor spat, grabbing the wizard by the scruff of his neck and pushing him ahead.

The man was a pall of dark hatred in the wyrd. Sending tremors of fear down the young magician's spine.

"We can't just-! Hubert, they're going to put her on trial. It's going to be a farce." he screamed in panic, before glaring at the older man as he was herded out into the side streets, vanishing out of sight of the city's central keep with alarming speed.

The wizard braced himself and turned on the inquisitor, nearly causing the older man to run into him.

"Hubert, she doesn't stand a chance!"

The inquisitor glanced about them warily, then shoved Metterlich backward, forcing him to turn.

"Shut up and walk," he growled through his beard, leading the way back to their inn.

As he was forced up the stairs and into their room, Metterlich's mind raced. He had misjudged badly, and now Eris' life was on the line.

"Go to Eris' room, get her things," the inquisitor said frostily, "Then go down to prepare the horses."

"Hubert, if we don't do anything, they'll lynch her!" he hissed in panic, "They're gonna kill her!"

For a brief moment, the inquisitor stopped, locking gaze with the apprentice sorcerer. The anger and hatred in the man's eyes was all too clear, a terrifying vision that made the hair on the back of Metterlich's neck stand on end.

"I am aware," was all the man said, before turning back to the business of packing, "You should have thought about that when you pulled that idiotic stunt in the market."

The wizard stood frozen, unsure of how to proceed.

"Move your ass, get her bags and get to the stables!" Hubert snarled, "We've already wasted enough time, and the damn Malthorian is getting away!"

Was that truly it? The end?

"So we're leaving," he waved his hands with resigned frustration,"Leaving Eris?"

At that the old man turned on him, that same zealous fury burning in his eyes, "Who said anything about leaving you fool?"

"I thought-" Metterlich stuttered, flabbergasted and confused.

Hubert drew dangerously close, beard twitching and brows drawn close, "What did you think, huh? You think I'm gonna let Eris hang? Because of petty hate? Pah!"

He snorted derisively and turned back to his preparation.

"Understand something, little sorcerer. Something about how I operate, so that we may be clear," the inquisitor said with a degree of spite Metterlich had not thought possible, "I do not like Eris. But she is my ally and those are scarce out here. We are all in this ridiculous witch-hunter hunt together and need every asset possible. Especially her."

The man took pause in his tirade, as if considering something, his dark brows furrowed and beard bristling.

"Besides, to see her killed over this? Your stupidity? You really think she deserves that?" The man shook his head in disgust, "I'll be damned if I see her lynched at the behest of some degenerate nobleman and a horde of peasant rabble. Damned. "

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He withdrew his straight saber from its sheath, examining the blade for any imperfection, the elegant runes along its surface flickering in the afternoon light. It was the first time the wizard had seen the man draw the weapon. It was also the first time he considered the notion that Hubert was not simply a crotchety old man, but in fact a very dangerous operative.

"Negotiations might have failed, but at least it makes for two of us. We'll break her out tonight. As stealthily as possible. You will help. I'll need your magic, as well as your knowledge of what the damn prison looks like on the inside," he said pointedly, checking his flintlock pistol, “She had the good sense to leave her weapons back with her horse, so do me a favor and retrieve the rest of Eris' things.”

"Immediately. Right away," he said jerkily, nodding vigorously at the decision, and moving to fulfill Hubert's order.

She had brought very little with her, the few possessions stacked neatly at the foot of her bed. With a flourish of motion, he grabbed her gun cleaning kit from the bed, before snatching the dryads saddlebags from the floor. The weight made him come to a jarring halt. They should have weighed as much. Annoyed, Metterlich swung them open, examining the contents. Some spare clothes and a hefty wooden chest, sealed with a simple steel lock. That had been something he had not expected. It piqued his curiosity, and for a moment he forgot how dire their situation was.

The wizard glanced about, making sure that Hubert was not coming to check on him just yet. He could still sense the old man's anger in the adjacent room. All was well, and he hefted the heavy box and shook it around, listening intently for what noises it might make. It made little noise beyond a gentle clanging. The easily recognizable clatter of coins, and quite a decent amount were Metterlich to guess. For what purposes, he could not be sure, it was simply another mystery to go unanswered. Perhaps he'd ask her once they had escaped.

If we escape.

“You quite done?” Hubert's harsh voice caught him off guard.

“Yes, sorry, just clearing up her things,” Metterlich stuttered and shoved the box back in its place.

The saddlebags were heavy and cut deep into his shoulders. In his turn the old man seemed satisfied, grunting something unintelligible as Metterlich followed him to their room.

"Wait, one moment," he said suddenly, noticing a fine whalebone comb laying atop her bedside table. Where Eris had acquired such an exquisite specimen, he was not sure, but the detailed carvings of a bird soaring above a ship at sea bore the marks of expensive artistry. He searched for a corresponding case, and he spied it swiftly, an elegantly decorated drawstring pouch, sitting in a half-opened drawer. It seemed appropriate for her things. A pungent smell of lavender emanated from the satchel. The wizard raised an eyebrow at the soap and small perfume bottle within, but didn't give it much thought. There was no time for speculation. Judging by Hubert's pervasive emotions, any more frivolous speculation and he'd be a dead man.

"Hubert, what's our plan?" he asked warily as he collected his own things, falling in line as they made their way toward the stable.

"Simple. This," the inquisitor's hand spun up, revealing the alderman's seal in his hand, "We wait until nightfall when the guards will have been rotated. Can't have them wondering why the moron they just released is walking back in. We get inside. Then we make our move."

Metterlich swallowed at the harsh words. Unwilling and unable to formulate any retort. He had put their mission in jeopardy, of that there was no doubt. The fault lay with him.

"What if we're recognized? What if we're challenged?" the wizard asked cautiously.

"Then we kill them," Hubert said bluntly, as if it were the most natural action to take.

Metterlich blanched at harsh decision. That isn't right. That couldn't be-

And yet it was. The intent bled off the old man far too clearly.

"They made their choice, they die by it, I don't care how many bodies we leave behind wizard, as long as we get Eris out of there," he looked up at him coldly, "And don't get any notions of mercy. You have your magic, use it. Snapped necks, boiled blood, whatever is easiest for you to achieve. A few lives taken here are meaningless compared to the greater goal we need to achieve."

"I pray it doesn't come to such an end. It can't," Metterlich said miserably, "I don't want to see innocent people die."

"You should have thought of that before you started a fight you couldn't win. You fucked this up. Royally so. And you are going to correct it now." It was a harsh recrimination, and the prospect of violence presented made Metterlich all the more terrified, "Nobody else is coming to save Eris. She has no friends here. No token of protection. Katarina is Lord knows how far, and by the time my letter was to arrive south in the Royal Court she'd be swaying from the gallows. No. This is what must be done."

"But- the law-"

"Katarina will see this scrubbed once the witch-hunter is in hand. King Charles will ensure it is so. There are no innocents here. They have no pretense of justice for Eris. It was their continued detainment that started this fracas, but we will end it," there was a bitter certainty in Hubert's voice, as if he had seen such a thing before. A cynicism borne of personal experience. "All that matters here are loyalties, my lord Rook," the inquisitor continued cynically, "They chose to inhibit a royal investigation over some minor squabble. They chose their side. Now you damn well better choose yours."

Metterlich nodded, his mouth dry and hands trembling slightly as he made his way down to the stable.

“The horses can be left outside, on the far side of the river. We'll tie them down and pray they don't get stolen,” he said simply, frowning as he tightened the saddlebags, “We'll enter through the main gate, hopefully without a bloodbath, but with one if needed. The main entrance of the prison is not well-guarded. If I were to guess the place barely sees any use.”

“But how do we get out?” the wizard shook his head in dismay.

“It'll depend on you, probably,” Hubert shrugged, “When we rode in, you remember the culvert underneath the fortress?”

Metterlich thought for a moment, trying to piece together if he could recall such a sight. He couldn't really remember much of the city at all, except for perhaps its skyline above the marshes.

“No,” he answered simply, and truthfully.

At that the inquisitor rolled his eyes in dismay, clearly unimpressed.

“Well there is one,” he said bluntly, “And that drainage ditch, presumably, leads to the dungeon, can't have a structure built in such a position without a way to get rid of the excess water.”

“How can we be sure?”

“We can't, it's a gamble, but one I'm willing to take,” Hubert shrugged, “I've seen enough fortresses in my day to have a clue as to how they're structured.”

“Oh.”

"We get Eris out and we ride like hell, Metterlich," the inquisitor said, "Don't play heroics. Stay alive. And get clear. Don't forget we still have a witch hunter to catch."