Mister Thirteen

~The Serpent Queen~

My plan was a post from you about riding through the crowded city, through the city gates which haven't been closed yet, and out into the country.

Basically your next post closes this chapter and ends with the carriage racing through the city and out into the countryside.

My next post will open the next chapter with the carriage arriving at the Willowshire inn.

How does that sound to you?

~The Serpent Queen~

The soldier took hold of the carriage door handle as he looked at the princess inside, his deep blue eyes mixed with both asssurance and somberness, a peculiar pairing.

"Willowshire," he said, answering her question of where she was being taken,"your going to Willowshire."

Willowshire was a small hamlet several miles west of the capital Dalhorst, a countryside village with a population just short of thirty. It was more of a settlement than a village really. It was known only for it's farms and the surrounding wilderness which was filled with wild game. Willowshire's inn in fact made the majority of it's business from hunters and trappers staying the night before heading east to Dalhorst or to the northwest to the city of Riven. Aside from the occasional patrol passing through, Willowshire saw little military prescience, and in general was totally ignored by the Alvionish army. This made it an ideal location to retreat to from the eyes of the Queen and her followers.

With his right hand, the bearded veteran removed his helmet slowly from his head, revealing curly yet neatly cut black hair with visibly noticeable streaks of gray along the edges. The man slightly lowered his head, closing his eyes and speaking quietly yet audibly,"Farewell my young princess, and please be safe. When you become Queen someday..." he raised his head and smiled slightly, his wrinkled eyes drooping in the corners,"I ask that you might remember my name, and remember me; Jared."

He gave her a wider smile and a friendly nod, placing his helmet on his head and sharply closing the carriage door.
Without warning, the carriage suddenly began to rock, the sound of footsteps and low grunts could be heard. Someone was climbing onto the carriage.
Jared's voice could suddenly be heard,"Be safe, and watch out for patrols. I wager that by now they've discovered she's gone."

As if on cue, a loud, heavy dong of a bell could be heard, followed by another, and another, and then another. The castle alarm.

"They know." Said another voice from atop the carriage, a raspy, older voice.
"Go, get out of here." Jared could be heard demanding.
"I'll see her to Willowshire safely by tonight." Said the second voice.

The immediate creaking of a gate could be heard, followed by the slapping of reigns and a loud cry from the unseen driver. The horses all released a chorus of bellowing neighs and the carriage began to methodically rock slowly from side to side as the horses began trotting along, through the gates, and off of castle grounds.

~The Serpent Queen~

You can go ahead and write about them passing through the gate into the area where the royal stables are. The carriage is sitting in front of the gate out into the city, hitched to four horses, the gate is ready to be opened. There is no one near or on the carriage.

I was going to write that part on out but felt that last post of kind was already lengthy enough.

~The Serpent Queen~

The man looked at Cecilia, his face betraying no thought or emotion, holding a somewhat neutral expression. He sighed lightly and quietly said in his low voice,"I'm doing this because it's high time that true justice be delivered and what is right comes to be. Malva Alderton has no place on the throne.
You, Lady Cecilia, are the rightful Queen of Alvion. The tyranny of Malva the Serpent Queen must come to an end."

The man looked back down the hallway for assurance and quickly returned his attention to Cecilia, saying,"We haven't time for explanations right now, M'Lady, right now we must get out of here. All will be revealed once your to safety."

The man lead Cecilia out of the castle, through the wooden double door. The hedge garden lay before them, not so much a maze as a simple aligning of large well-trimmed hedge bushes that reverted back and forth between horizontal and vertical patterns. Nearby, just outside of the door, sat several wooden chairs and tables, casually placed around the open area just before the edge of the hedges. This area was more or less an area for casual outdoor relaxation.
Up above, the sun burned brightly down onto the earth, it's golden rays of summer warmth toasting the world below. It was nearly noon. The call for Cecilia's actual removal from her cell would be within the next several minutes, which meant there was little time left to spare. Within minutes of discovering her gone, the alarm would be raised, and the entire castle would be on high alert. It would take a short while after that for the city gates to be sealed. While not in total danger for time, they had to hurry and get to the stables.

"Let's go." The man said, rushing past the sitting area and turning right, walking at a very brisk pace, constantly looking around and back to Cecilia.
They soon had walked down the full outside perimeter of the hedge garden, avoiding passing through it, as it wasn't necessary to reach the gate.
Just as they reached the corner of the final hedge bush, the grizzled soldier muttered another curse and came to a ragged halt, extended his right hand backwards, indicating for Cecilia to stop.

Just around the corner of the hedge the gate could be seen, a small oak wood gate built into a large white limestone wall, which encircled the entire hedge garden. There was a guard milling around the inside of the gate, a wooden shield was strapped to his left arm and he carried a long spear in his right hand. He hadn't seen them yet, but there was too much distance between the hedge and where the guard now stood, he would see an attack coming easily.
They didn't have time to wait and see if he would move, time was against them.

The man with Cecilia reached back into the hedge bush with his right hand and began rapidly shaking a thick branch within the bush, causing the entire hedge to rustle loudly and shake uncontrollably behind them, he did this for several seconds before stopping. The guard heard it as intended, and began to quickly approach from his position, curious to the event. No sooner had he arrived at the hedge corner than to meet a powerful strike to his face, so hard it bloodied his nose with a sharp crack and sent his dome-like helmet tumbling from his head down onto the ground with a metal clattering. Cecilia's rescuer had nailed him with the point of his left elbow. No sooner had he dropped his spear and spear to grab his nose in pain before the grizzled soldier kneed him in the gut, bending him over, and then waylaying him over the head with his right fist, knocking him out.

~Nyte Bloods~

Dalton looked over his shoulder at Alice with a somewhat conflicted look on his face,"I hate to tell you," he said,"but now isn't the best time to be hysterical about ruined clothing of all things. And as for you slipping back inside, well...I hate to put it this way, but your not going anywhere."
Dalton continued to looked back at Alice, golden eyes gleaming in the night as he stared into her.

Across the balcony, Liam shoved Thomas back and off balance, then made a slicing motion with the knife at Thomas's throat. Thomas leaned back abruptly, barely avoiding the blade's tip. He then immediately leapt forward, seeing an opening, but Liam was quicker, he gave a powerful kick into Thomas's midsection and sent him staggering far backward, nearly falling.

Aleera rejoined Thomas at his side, the wound on her arm already closing up, though her arm was still spattered with blood. They both leapt forward simultaneously at Liam, slightly disorienting him. Aleera caught his left hand with both hands and twisted it around with a sharp crack, with a resulting snarl from Liam. Thomas grabbed his right wrist nearby and snapped it backward, fracturing the bones within with a sickening crackling of bones.
Liam hissed and snarled as he struggled to pull away from them with no avail.
His knife fell from his hand and clattered to the floor with a metallic clank.

Aleera then immediately stomped down on Liam's left ankle, rolling it over and aollying her Vampiric strength to break Liam's ankle, resulting in a sharp cry from him as he collapsed to his knees. Thomas then kicked Liam hard in the face, breaking his nose in a spray of blood and knocking him backward onto the floor. Thomas then stomped down on Liam's midsection, applying enough pressure to make squirm in discomfort.

While Dalton stayed in front of Alice, Thomas and Aleera stood over Liam, Thomas's foot grinding harshly into Liam's midsection.

Liam growled as he looked up from the floor at them,"Can't a man enjoy a night on the town without you lot interrupting his fun?"

"Shut up." Snapped Thomas, glaring down at Liam, eyes narrowed thinly.

~The Serpent Queen~

"No," responded her rescuer,"just out cold for a while. Hopefully by the time he comes to we'll be long gone."

The man slowly closed the door behind them and looked down the hallway which they now stood in.

Both ways more or less looked the same, a large door at the far end.
Fortunately, the man knew which way to go, which was to the right. Mentally, he had their escape route mapped out perfectly. They would proceed through the door before them into another hallway, which had two directions from their point of advance, which was a right turn and a hallway directly ahead. They would proceed directly down the hallway down the length of the North Wing and exit the castle on the east side. From there, they would slip through the decorative hedge garden which ended just short of the stables, separated by a small wall with an accessible gate. They would proceed through the gate and into the stables. From that point, it was all about getting the carriage through the city and out into the countryside before the entire capital was put on high alert.

The man headed to the right, motioning for Cecilia to follow yet again, stepping past thd unconscious guard before them. He lead her through the great door into the adjacent hallway, which fortunately was empty. The hallway was elaborately decorated, unlike the prior hall. Decorative golden candle holders lines the wall which burned with yellow flame, a red silk rug extended the length of the long hall to the far door. Busts and small statues sat perfectly placed within small spaces in the walls on either side, crystal chandeliers lined the ceiling.

They proceeded at a cautious pace down the hall, the man slowing as he came to the right-side hallway they had to pass. He indicated for Cecilia to stop as he backed against the wall and peeked around the corner. A single guardsman patrolled that hallway, a tall man with a bulky wooden shield and a long sword at his left hip. Luckily, he was headed down the opposite direction, his back to them as he strolled along casually. Without hesitation, Cecilia's escort dropped low and darted past the hallway to the far side, quickly yet quietly.
Once he was clear, he looked back, still crouched, and motioned for her to follow suit.

~The Serpent Queen~

I'll get a post up before I hit the sack, as I have something RL based I need to finish up.

How are things? Are you enjoying the RP so far? I'm not being too dictating with the story am I?

Remember that this is our Roleplay, and your opinions and wants are just as important as mine. If anything is bothering you or you have something to share just let me know.

~The Serpent Queen~

The man hesitated at her question, stopping for a mere second before continuing to steadily pull her behind him up the steps, though not ignoring her question.

"To the royal stables," he said softly and flatly,"there's a carriage waiting for you there."

They climbed the fourth and final flight of stairs and came to yet another oversized door, it's edges rimmed with heavy iron. The soldier pushed the door open slowly, peeking around it as he did, and pulled Cecilia through behind him and closed the door gently. They stood in a long and rather bland hallway. The stone floor and walls held no decoration of any sort, only lonesome tinder lanterns which hung down the length of the gray hallway on both sides. A single door stood at the hallway's end, a door of iron bars like those of the dungeon cells. This door led into the northeast section of the North Wing of the castle, the stables were just outside of the East Wing.

The man escorting Cecilia suddenly muffled a curse from his mouth as he saw a guard standing on the opposite side of the door, facing away from them fortunately.

Cecilia's escort released her and lowered into a half-crouching position, looking around to her with a finger over his lips, indicating silence.
He slowly and precisely crept down the hall, taking each step as carefully as possible, motioning for Cecilia to follow and do as he did.
He continued to stealthily approach the door, the oblivious guard never turning around.

As he finally close in, without hesitation nor warning, the man with Cecilia leapt forward and reached through the bars, wrapping his arms around the red-clad guards' neck and pulling him back hard against the iron door, rattling it slightly. The guard gagged and thrashed wildly, trying to break free from the grizzly soldier's iron grip.
Slowly he stopped his struggle, a ragged wheeze escaping from his mouth as he went limp in the arms of Cecilia's rescuer, who released him and let him drop to the carpeted floor with a muffled thud.

He then craned his neck through the bars and, after ensuring the hallway empty, turned the handle and oushed the door open, shoving the unconscious guardsman away from the door.

"Sorry lad," he mumbled,"wrong place wrong time."

~The Serpent Queen~

The soldier reached out and gripped Cecilia's upper arm firmly, yet not harshly, as they advanced through the dungeon together. He smiled thinly at her questioning of him before turning to look at her with ocean blue eyes.

"Young lady," he said hoarsely, leaning toward her slightly as they walked,"betwixt you and I, I don't give a damned what that bitch likes."

He guided Cecilia on through to the end of the dungeon into the jailer's office, where prisoner's were logged and "admitted" into the dungeon.
The office was empty. Near the door that lead to the cells was a small desk, littered with papers, ledgers, and other oddities. On the far wall hung sets of shackles from a line of hooks. The office had three separate doors, one was the iron bar door that Cecilia and her escort passed through into the office, which the soldier was now closing and locking behind them. To the left of them stood a heavy wooden door that led out into the noisy prison yard outside. Directly ahead of them was another heavy wooden door liked with iron that lead to the castle's first floor.

After locking the door into the cell area, the soldier once more grasped Cecilia by her arm and lead her forward, past the door to the prison yard and through the door that lead to the castle's first floor. Before them lay a winding staircase that lead up into the castle itself. Without a word, the soldier pulled the door shut behind them and began guiding Cecilia up the stone staircase before them.

~The Serpent Queen~

And so the morning passed. The sun cruised through the clear, blue sky above as every hour passed by, the time for the execution drawing near. The prison yard outside became busier throughout the morning. The guards began assembling throughout the yard and lining the castle walls above, their red tunics and silvery armor shining in the burning light of the sun. The people of Dalhorst began fluctuating into the crowded yard, peasant and commoner alike, all here to witness the former heir of Alvion, Princess Cecilia Alderton, beheaded for treason. A sort of temporary grandstand along the far right well had been constructed for the noble class, with a canopy for shade and wooden chairs, while the common-folk were forced to stand in the open yard, the golden sun above blazing down rays of heat, making many of them uncomfortably hot.

The chopping block had been placed on the large gallows at the far end of the yard, yet the headsman was yet to be seen. By an hour till noon, the normally desolate prison yard was bustling with people, rather overcrowded in fact. Voices filled the air, some loud and boisterous, some quiet and somber. The crowd held a mixed multitude of feelings regarding the execution to come. Where some saw it as a traitor's punishment and justice, others saw it as villainous and treachery in itself. Not all supported the ruling of Malva Alderton, the Serpent Queen of Alvion.

The silence of the dungeon was once more split by the clicking of boots on the stone floor. But these were not the polished fine leather boots of Malcolm Alderton, but rather the worn brown leather boots of a guardsman.

An Alvionish soldier rounded the corner and stood before the door of the Princess's cell. He was adorned in the standard uniform and equipment of Alvionish soldiers; a suit of linked chainmail armor, a blood red tunic worn over it, the front of which was emblazoned with a golden dragon breathing a spout of flame into the sky, the Alvionish coat-of-arms. He wore worn leather boots, hide bracers on his forearms, and on his head sat a dome shaped open faced helmet. He was an older man in his early forties roughly. A grizzly black beard on his face, skin already wrinkled with age and tanned by the sun.

No sooner had he arrived than he raised a small key from his left hand and inserted it into the rusty door lock. After a scraping rattle, the lock turned and the man opened the door wide, holding it open with his left hand.

"It's time, Your Majesty, let's go." The rugged soldier said, his voice deep and powerful.