Distress: Day 13

Word Count: 78,087

Summary of Events:

Olwyn arrived in the Queen's bedchamber the following morning and found Prince Bryn awake and dazed. She brought him food and drink and explained who she was, how she'd gotten to where she was, and how he'd gotten to where he was. Bryn was distressed by this news, but quickly resolved to take advantage of the situation to kill the Queen as soon as she returned, while Olwyn preferred that they take advantage of the situation to escape before the Queen had a clue he was awake . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“Now we wait for our enemy to return and smite her as she sleeps,” Bryn said.

“No,” Olwyn said. “Now we make preparation to escape this city.”

“You are a coward,” Bryn spat.

“I am not!” Olwyn cried. “We have the time to escape before she returns and we must take it and rally all the aid we can to attack the city with us so we can kill more than just the Queen.”

“Surely she will be cunning and crafty enough to get away unharmed if we don’t kill her before the battle strikes,” Bryn snapped.

“If she uses a spell of concealment to cover her comings and goings then assuredly she is afraid of attack,” Olwyn said. “Assuredly she knows that if she is attacked she will be destroyed.”

“It is this simple,” Bryn said.

He drew his sword, stalked over to the bed, and plunged the blade deep into the blankets, drew it out, slid it over the sheets on both sides so as to remove the imaginary blood — and create four neat slits on the blanket — sheathed it, and headed for the dark sitting room.

“No,” Olwyn said. “We leave through that door.”

“Why?” Bryn asked.

“Because that room has windows,” Olwyn replied.

“You are frightened of the dark?” Bryn asked.

“If you mean to get out of this alive you don’t mean to be ambushed, do you?” Olwyn asked.

Bryn sighed and stalked toward the other sitting room, where the tray which had held his food and drink still remained. Olwyn grabbed onto his arm.

“Stop, wait,” Olwyn said.

“Why?” Bryn asked.

“I have to make sure the coast is clear,” Olwyn replied.

“Then make sure,” Bryn replied.

Olwyn did so and led the way out. She guided Bryn confidently through all of the back corridors of the fortress until they reached the basement laundry and the closet.

“Now wait in here,” Olwyn whispered.

“Absolutely not,” Bryn replied.

“Please,” Olwyn insisted.

“You are cunning,” Bryn said. “But I know what you mean to do; you mean to shut me in here, lock up the door, and bring me food once, twice, maybe three times a day until you’ve decided how and when we’re leaving, when you’ll come to fetch me under the cover of darkness and take me back to my people without killing the Queen.”

“No, I don’t mean to do any such thing,” Olwyn said — even though she had actually hoped that she would’ve been able to do what he’d just said.

“You are a fine little fox, but a fox is no match for a wolf,” Bryn said. “You cannot lie to me.”

“I’m sorry,” Olwyn said, feeling tears building in her eyes. “But, but we have to get out now while we have the chance; please, can’t we just get away from here and come back when we have help?”

“We won’t die if we do it at night,” Bryn said. “Nor shall anyone know the Queen is dead until morning.”