Corruption Rent: Day 12

Word Count: 78,002

Summary of Events:
Chapter 25:
Étienne did some exercises to strengthen his back and thought about what sort of plan of action he should take to guide the women out of the camp. He and Agathe then discussed their escape and also what to do about the Wouest-Suides, Étienne said they should let them go too.
Chapter 26:
Three of Le Suides brought out Étienne's bow and tried to fire it because the general had told them whoever succeeded in firing it would get to keep it — if they could do it before the king's next visit, which could be at any time — which fired up Étienne's desire to escape. Agathe then talked with the Wouest-Suides who'd overheard the escape plans and promised them that they would get out as well as all Le Ganéis.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Now, Étienne's physical ability was improving, but that wasn't all it took to get these women to Le Ganéis. He needed a way out of this cage, first of all. But who had the key? He remembered what the key looked like from when he'd been taken out to be chained and to be hung and flogged. It was a large key — a very large key — on one end was the part that did the unlocking that looked like an E, and on the other was a flat, rectangular piece of metal that looked really quite odd.
It would be a fairly easy to identify object — if it was hung out in plain sight — but of course Le Suides were afraid of him, they were giving him a very wide berth, the soldier who brought them their food even approached with hesitancy. Étienne knew he was the only one strong enough probably to get a man and get the key off of him, but if they wouldn't come near him then how would he do it?
And once he got the key how would he unlock the cage? Would he be able to get around and get the right angle on it? He wasn't sure, and there was no way he was going to get up and see now or Le Suides would surely catch on.
But once he got it unlocked, then what should be done? Could they just up and leave under the cover of predawn? When should they leave? Probably when the soldiers were having their breakfast, which he was pretty sure was shortly after sunrise. And they shouldn't up and leave without his bow and sword — among other things.
The most important question, though, was how did they get out of here? Sure he knew that northwest of them was the direction of Le Ganéis camp, but surely they would be on the lookout for any suspicious activity in that direction.
So should they go northeast? Would it even be safe to go that way? As that was the way most everyone went for their supper in the evenings, so it would be rather probable to assume that the mess tent was in that direction, and so that would then be passing right by absolutely every single one of the men who they were wanting to escape from, and that would not be a good idea in the least.
Étienne sighed. He wasn't sure. Would all of that work itself out once he got the key and got out? Did he want to go by the skin of his teeth on this whole thing? Did he have any other option? He sure hoped he did."