Chapter 1: Unbroken Heart     Chapter 3: It’s a Trap!

 

Chapter 2: Prisoners

    I awoke in a cold stone cell. I stared up at the ceiling blankly until feeling returned to my body.

Then it became imperative that I sit up.

“Ow… my head…” I moaned, rubbing the spot on the back of it where I had been hit by Orson’s lance haft.

“Prince Ephraim, are you all right?” called Kyle’s voice.

“Mm? Yes. I’m fine. My head just still hurts where that – ” I broke off. “Kyle, how are you? Is Forde with you?”

“Yeah, I’m here, Prince. We’re all stuck in this room together. You’ve got a cell to yourself, though.”

“I can see that,” I said, standing unsteadily and leaning against the bars. Across from me were my two cavaliers, crouching in their cell.

“You’ve been out for a couple of hours longer than we have,” Kyle told me.

“Any way to get out of here?” I asked, pushing each separate bar in turn.

“Nope, not from what I can see,” Forde commented cheerfully. “Anyhow, it would be kinda foolish to try and escape just yet – they’re bound to have extra guards with you and all.”

“I see.” I turned my head to hear better. “Someone’s coming.”

Orson clattered down the stairs into the room.

“Orson!” I snarled. If there hadn’t been bars I believe I would have thrown myself on him and proceeded to beat the daylights out of him, but as it was, I couldn’t. Continue reading →