I reluctantly let them cuff me. It was a formality, really. I wonder if they knew as well as I did that I could destroy the things in seconds.
Yet, I let them lead me away. I would have my chance to explain myself.
"Wait," Mayliam called after me.
"Take parts to Elengail." I replied over my shoulder.
She began to protest, but she quieted herself. We turned a corner, and I lost sight of Mayliam.
The jail was under the town hall. Twenty cells seemed larger than a town of this size should need, even if about a third of them were occupied. The corridor from the stairs was like the top points of an uppercase "U". We went down the whole path, passing six cells on our right and eleven around the outer edge of the loop. The inner cells had solid walls toward the back, where I was guided to the third to last cell.
My cell - THE cell - was furnished with a cot and bucket. And... chains? Secured to the wall were two separate rings, about as far apart as my elbows if I were to stretch my arms to the sides. Chains draped down from each of the rings, ending in manacles.
As I took it in, the guards removed the manacles on my hands and pushed me into the waiting cell. I stumbled obligingly, but kept my feet under me.
I turned casually as they slammed and locked the barred door.
"The town lord has been notified of the issue, and will set a trial date in the near future." One of them said.
I nodded, still standing.
"In the mean time," the other said, "get comfortable. This will be your home for the next while."
They left, apparently to continue whatever patrol they would normally be doing.
Had I been right to slug that guy? I still felt so. He was harassing the innkeeper's daughter. She had confirmed that it was what she wanted. I hadn't done wrong by her, yet.
"Yet." A word that didn't seem to have a perfect translation to common. They used the same word for yet, until, and currently. But, the idea of yet filled me with less hope once it had added to something, when the other uses of the word in common did not distinguish. I had not done anything wrong yet, meaning I would certainly do something wrong in the future.
And chances were, I wouldn't know I had messed up until it was too late.
I mused late into the night, but found sleep coming easy.
Mayliam, Elengail, and Kendalyn visited me the next day.
Mayliam bombarded me with questions. "Are they treating you well? Do you get enough to eat? Did you sleep well last night?"
"Calm down, Mayliam," Elengail said, resting a hand on the girl's shoulder, "It's only been one night."
Mayliam shrunk back.
"All okay." I answered, which did seem to relieve her.
Kendalyn spoke next. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
"Not they allow," I grumbled.
"We heard that the trial will happen in three days."
"Three days? Long or short for this?"
The others glanced between each other. I read their answer in their expressions before Elengail said it. "We don't know. None of us have been this far North."
We sat in silence for minutes.
Mayliam broke it, "Can- can you still teach me like you have been?"
"I can attempt."
"Thank you."
The prison guard marched down the hallway with torchlight. "Come on, folks, time's up."
The group of women gave fleeting farewells and left with the guard. Kendalyn patted the guard's shoulder. "Thank you, young man."
That gave me the indication that they had requested a special favor... that meant something to me.