Six guards escorted me back to my cell. Security had been tightened around me once more. I was led to my cell then two Sisters came to undress and clean me. I was tied up of course. I wasn't allowed to be close to any sharp object. After I've been cleaned and changed, guards tied me up to my bed.

Sleep wouldn't come.

I found myself thinking of my best friend. I was furious. I haven't felt that way since Utar captured me. You see, I'm guilty of a crime I didn't even know I committed. Five years ago, I ran with a band of mercenaries, The Jolly Riders. We were a bunch of misfits, young and angry. Society had forsaken us. Leader brought us together.

I was banned from my native city, never to step foot in it again. Leader found me at the border to the Akari Kingdom. It was a much bigger and stronger nation back then. They were fighting a new rising power; a country called Auruun. They declared themselves empire but the world wasn't willing to accept it yet. We were hired to repel a regiment while a certain baron made his escape to the capital.

The city in which the battle took place had been raided by the opposing forces. It was no village really. Under the reign of the baron, the place had flourished. It became an important trading crossroad. High walls surrounded he city, defending it from invaders.

Even that didn't stop Aurunn. They sacked and pillaged, raped and drank to their fill. Their lieutenant was a ruthless man. He believed that in order to get his men to follow his every command, he was to satisfy their thirst in every possible way.

Leader was a cunning strategist. He poisoned the ale reserves and burned the city's grains. The regiment had to face us in battle if they didn't wish to starve inside the city's enclosed walls. We were outnumbered three to one, but we came out victorious.

It was during that battle that everything I touched started turning to ash. I had a lover you see. We were allowed to have one as long as we held an important position within the Jolly Riders. She was the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on. Her name was Elleandor and I fell in love with her at first sight.

During the battle, we managed to break through the city. I taught Elleandor to fight. She rode beside me that day when we broke through the city's defenses. Little did we know, the Lieutenant had a surprise for us. A cannon shot was heard as soon as we set foot inside he large plaza. I fell off my horse and lost sight of her.

I remember shouting Elle, while I frantically turned around me. I prayed she'd survived the ambush. A large pillar had fallen after the explosion. It cut the plaza in two halves. I had to run to the other side to look for my beloved. I killed everything that came my way. I don't know how I've done it. My mind could only think of retrieving her.

When I finally reached the other side, I heard her screams emanating from inside a house. I kicked the door open to see at least a dozen of my own men trying to have their way with her.

I wouldn't allow it!

I was captain of the rear guard. My commands were not to be ignored. But they were twelve, emboldened by the promise of a warm hole to let their babies loose in. They all rushed at me, I slaughtered the lot. Leader wouldn't approve of this. I killed my fellow men for a slave I kept to warm my bed.

"I see darkness in your heart boy," a whisper tore me out of my nostalgic dreams.

I looked around frantically. I was tied up to my bed, I couldn't move around freely. I couldn't even see who was talking to me.

The ghost who saved me earlier materialized above my head. The room turned cold. My frosty breath concealed the ghost every time I exhaled. "Who are you?" I finally asked.

"Neither friend, nor foe," she replied.

"What do you want from me?"

"I have a proposition to make;" she replied. She got closer to me. Her transparent face almost touched mine. I could feel the room temperature dropping. "You seem to be in a bind. I can help you leave this dreadful place."

"I don't reckon ghosts offer help out of the goodness of their hearts."

"No we don't," the woman answered. Her voice was still a whisper. I felt Gooseb.u.mps creeping up on me. I didn't know if it was because of the cold or the dead woman floating above my head. "I've lost my body long ago, and I intend to reclaim it."

"How do you think you'll manage that?" I asked. Ghosts were known to survive for years without a body. If they couldn't reclaim theirs, they'd risk turning into the most hideous monsters; the stronger their grief, the bigger the monstrosity.

"I'll help you leave this place, then you'll summon me in Milogac. It's an island south of the Akari Kingdom."

"I've been warned not to trust a ghost's promise," I retorted.

"Then you'll keep suffering," the ghost told me with a most disturbing smile. "I know what the smith has in store for you."

"Why did you help earlier?" I asked.

"I was feeding," she casually replied. "You're not tasty," she then hissed at me.

"Can you travel freely around the Crucible?" I heard myself ask. I felt a sudden boldness overcome me.

"I won't spy for you kid," the ghost answered, reading through my mind.

"You said you can get me out of here."

"I can help you escape, yes."

"How? The Crucible is built above a rock in the middle of a cursed lake."

"And you've never heard of secret pa.s.sages boy?" The ghost floated above me, smirked then went through me. It felt like a bucket full of ice was suddenly poured over me.

"Where?" I asked.

The ghost reappeared above my head. She looked at me dumbfounded. "It wouldn't be called secret pa.s.sageway if everybody knew where it was, would it?"

"I thought you could travel around the Crucible, inspect every little corner."

"I never said that," the ghost looked away from me, her arms crossed.

"How would you help me escape then?"

She suddenly flew dangerously close to my face then hissed, "Give me the smith!"

"As long as get to feed him his c.o.c.k, then I have no objection," I answered.

"There's something else. There's something I want you to get before I kill the smith for you."

"What is it?"

"Jory kept my vertebrae in his study. Get it for me, then I'll kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" The ghost chuckled then flew away. She went through the ceiling then disappeared. I felt drowsy moments after that. Sleep finally blessed me with its presence. I dreamed of the woman I loved and the best friend who betrayed me.

***

Two weeks went by and I was escorted to Jory's dinner table again. He had some special guest he wanted me to meet. As I was led to a table filled with delicacies, I saw a raven-haired woman sitting on the smith's right. She wore a crimson and black dress. A pearl necklace hung on her neck. I counted at least two dozen pearls.

I sat on the chair opposite the woman. She had bright yellow eyes I couldn't look away from. Her sweet perfume invaded my nostrils. Her hair danced around her shoulders as she turned towards me. She looked at me, blinked a couple of times then spoke.

"What an ugly specimen you've got here Jory."

The smith chuckled. He looked at me with tenderness in his eyes. I struggled to hide my disgust and anger. "He almost got his head cut clean if I hadn't interfered. I like to think of him as my protégé as they say in Boligne."

The woman laughed. Her melodious voice was like music to my ears. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. Her black corset tightly hugged her bosom, the silver threads in the bodice shone against the bright lights emitted by the magic crystal chandelier.

"What's your name boy?" she asked me.

I stared at her, my mouth agape.

"G.o.ds! The boy forgets his manners!" the smith cried out. "Close that G.o.dd.a.m.n mouth of yours boy, and answer the question!"

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"Myles, my lady," I answered. "Myles Stalwart."

"I'm Augustine Pickerin," the woman extended her hand. I stood, gently picked her fingers then kissed them. Augustine smiled, the dimple in her chin widened as she revealed her perfectly aligned teeth to me. Her eyes shone, which made her abnormally attractinve. "My friends call me Agatha."

"Miss Agatha specializes in Herbology," Jory told me. "I'm told her miraculous medicine can regrow organs. Would you like to know why she's here?"

"Yes, master," I answered. I didn't say it out of curiosity though. Even if that woman could heal my face, I didn't think Jory would bring her here for me. I answered simply because I had to. When master Jory entertained guests, I had to follow a strict script. My role was to entertain, provide a subject of discussion.

"I heard of this prodigious herbologist when I was in Boligne a few years back. They told me she was famous for her special concoctions that helped some parts of the body grow in size, if you catch my meaning my sweet Stalwart."

The woman chuckled. "I see you like teasing your little playthings master Jory."

The smith looked at her. I swore I saw spite in those slits he calls eyes. "I paid a hefty price for him. Why would I deny myself the pleasure of seeing his horrified face?" The smith started laughing hysterically. His face became pink then red. The laughter had changed into a cry for help. It appeared Jory was choking on something he'd just eaten.

Agatha swiftly got up then stood behind the smith. Her crimson dress fluttered behind her as she graciously moved. She placed her left delicate hand on his back then hit it with a closed fist. Jory let out a long sigh of relief after he finally managed to catch his breath. I should have cursed the d.a.m.ned woman, but I found myself sincerely thanking her. I didn't want the b.a.s.t.a.r.d to get out choking on an olive seed.

I wanted to kill him with my own hands.

"Thank you dear," Jory finally said.

"You should be careful with the Devil Gar!" the woman warned "They're delicious fish, but their bones have a tendency to choke people to death. Many poor souls turned blue after carelessly devouring the tender meat."

"I should fire that incompetent cook!" Jory was fuming. "I specifically asked for the bones to be completely removed. Is he trying to kill me?!"

How would we all rejoice! I found myself thinking.

I got up then bowed to Agatha. "You've saved master," I said. "You have our sincerest thanks!" Agatha chuckled and Jory shot me a dark look.

"You wish I choked on that bone you little devil. Just you wait. I have a glorious night planned for you tomorrow."

Dinner went on. Jory and Agatha spoke about the state of the world. I heard that Auruun had invaded Vitia and was planning to expand its territory. Everybody hailed it as a rising power, not to be trifled with.

After dinner, I was sent to my cell without paying a visit to Jory's private chambers. Agatha was going to be busy with him that night. Her miraculous concoctions gave immediate results. I knew Jory had something planned for me. He hadn't punished me for the dead guards yet.

"It's horrible what they've done to you," the sister told me as she undressed me. I was to be tied up in my cell. I didn't have the right to change my own clothes or bathe myself. The smith feared I'd hang myself with my own clothes or try to kill myself with a scrubbing stone. She had prepared my bath and was leading me to it.

"What were you doing there when you found us?" I asked. She was the one who found me holding a guard's head on my laps.

The sister fell silent. She poured hot water on my shoulders then started scrubbing my back. She didn't speak until she was done with my upper body. "I was going to meet Dieter," she said in a whisper. Her hands were trembling.

"Who's Dieter?" I asked. I never knew anybody by name. It's not like they introduced themselves to me. Imagine a guard who has to stand watch over a puppet, introducing himself out of the blue, for no b.l.o.o.d.y reason! That would be crazy right?

Sorry, back to our story.

"He was guarding your cell when the others took you to master Jory," she answered then broke into an unstoppable sob.

"I guess by your sobbing, that Dieter was also sent to the Pit."

"Poor Dieter," the sister said in between sniffs. "My sweet Dieter never hurt a soul. He just landed the job because his cousin works for the Hound."

"Never call him that out loud," I heard myself screaming. "Walls have ears you know."

The sister looked at me with utter disgust.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're angry with me for something I'm not sure I committed."

"It's your fault!" the sister shouted at me. The scrubbing stone hit me between my legs. I squealed like a seal being clubbed to death, I'm not ashamed to admit it. The stone was rough and heavy. I swore it tore some of my skin as it crushed my b.a.l.l.s.

"I didn't provoke them I swear!" The sister was ready to land another blow before I held her from the shoulders.

"Why didn't they punish you?" I asked.

"They didn't know I was going to see Dieter, I couldn't tell them. Jory would make my life miserable." She started sobbing again.

So you saved your skin and blame me for it? Great!

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Zoey."

"Do you hate the smith Zoey?"

"I fear him more than I hate him," she answered.

"What if I killed him? Would you help me escape the Crucible? I know a place where we could disappear. No one'll find us."

Zoey looked at me in silence. She lowered the scrubbing stone she threatened to attack me with then bit on her lips.

"Where's this place?" she asked.

Yes! I got her.

"It's called Milogac. It's an island south of the Akari Kingdom. There's a man there, they call him the Vanisher. Help me get out of here, and I'll take you there with me."

"Doesn't that Vanisher require payment?" Zoey wasn't going to risk her neck for nothing. She needed to make sure my plan was foolproof.

"I saved his life four years ago. He owes me a big one."

"How will you kill him?" she asked.

"The question should be when," I retorted. "Tomorrow, Jory will summon me again. He's got some procedure done to his p.r.i.c.k. I'll feed it to him before we leave this G.o.dforsaken place."

"That's too soon," the sister protested.

"You've been on some romantic escapades with your beloved I presume. Guards and sisters are not allowed to get close. You had to hide to enjoy each other's company. You and your beloved must've had secret places to fornicate in. If we don't move tomorrow, we won't be able to surprise him anymore."

"Why'd you say that?"

"I don't want a giant p.r.i.c.k up my a.s.s Zoey! Don't think for one moment that I enjoy it. I've been bidding my time. Jory had become sloppy. It's either I kill him tomorrow or completely shatter. I can't take anymore humiliation. Help us start a new life Zoey." I gave her my best version of a hurt puppy. The sight of a one eyed man begging for help was unpleasant.

"I'll be in his study," Zoey said. "I'll find a way to sneak in there. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d has a secret pa.s.sageway from his study to a hidden cave below the Crucible. He's got a small boat there. Dieter and I used it more than once."

"Fine," I answered. I felt lighthearted for the first time in months. "Do whatever you can to get into that study tomorrow. I'll give that b.a.s.t.a.r.d a taste of his own medicine!"