Some prisoners were taken from the dungeons and brought to the fortress square where the gallows stood high and tall. Stephan watched the whole play proceed without saying a word, he was playing chess actually and teaching Mike about it. He picked stones and human bones to create the 16 chess pieces and explained the reasoning behind the game.
Unlike the others, Stephan had a casual behaviour; he wasn't afraid of anything and the buffs weren't gone. It seemed to him they were there for the whole quest. He peeked outside occasionally but kept his head on the pieces. It was easy to understand where they were going. Somehow, Mike caught sight of a boy in shackles and wanted to rush to him but Stephan stopped him.
"Listen to the boy, Mike. We cannot do anything being behind those bars. Anything showing rebellion would make it quicker for us to die," Garen said while Jack punched the wall until his hand bled. The man had a mission and there were people at stake in it. If he didn't go back and reported the result, he would lose them.
The gallows weren't really something to envy about. Some masochists might beg for them to release them from their suffering but it was all that it was there to it.
"Listen, Mike," Stephan started. "The knights in chess jump; they jump from side to side and sometimes they land a blow," Mike didn't understand what the apprentice was saying but Jack lent his ear since it seemed he meant for something to be told but the walls had ears. "Sometimes, some places are just guarded and to take one of the main squares, you need to sacrifice," Stephan took a knight and moved it over one of the central squares taking down the bishop.
"The bishop is weak, Mike. It's weak when you understand that pattern of its attacks and corner it. Everything is weak when handled carefully, even a shape-shifting monster is easy when handled carefully."
Jack moved to Stephan's side and then crouched. He put a hand over the knight that took down the bishop and confidently said. "You think that we can jump those walls."
"It's not necessary to kill to win, you can outrun it."
"Outrun what? The bandits? Well, it's already good there is only a cat guarding the keys but I don't think it's only there to be a decoration. I just don't know what it is. What do you think about it? Is it a vile creature or just a simple cat?"
"Are you really asking me? Do you think the bandits would leave a simple cat there to guard the keys? I bet they will be coming for me soon so I suggest that you do exactly what I ask you to do if you want to get out. I don't have anything of equal value to get you out of here and I don't think witches are tolerant enough to make them give up on potential products so be ready to jump like a knight on a horse."
"What do you suggest we will do?"
"That cat is a witch. Supposedly, she is just a minion under the rea witch, and what do you think witches like the most in this world?"
Jack shook his head; he had never met a witch. Garen simply mentioned rum, Mike kept his mouth shut anticipating the answer to the question from the requester himself, the others said at the same time the word equivalent for intercourse. HA!
"I see that most of you can think only about their crotches. Anyway, a bargain. Witches like to bargain a lot. Something o equivalent exchange or of more value. They don't sell organs to the witch asking for them; they had a bargain and their lives hang on those slaves they hang on the gallows. Mostly, I cannot save myself either but I am giving myself time and you as well to talk to that witch."
"Do you have any idea how to do that? I will share my bottle of rum with you," Garen said. It was a feat he would share his bottle of rum with anyone and also his weapon. "I can lend you my weapon in the future."
He whispered to them to come closer and then with all anticipation directed at him, he started singing. "There once was lass witch that put to fire… The name of the fire head-and-gold…"
"What are you doing? You have the talent to make everyone annoyed," said Mike.
"No, shut it, Mike. Keep singing boy. It feels like it will have rum in it."
"Alright! Let's enjoy the rum!" Stephan stopped for a while. "Okay, I was joking. I just wanted to see if I had your attention. Well, the process is quite simple; you will have to wait until I am gone to the chief. Of course, I don't expect you to do much for me. I am used to working alone so I will get myself out of that place on my own. On the other hand, you will have to make a deal with the witch in question."
"A deal? I heard witches ask for an impossible thing or something that doesn't seem easy to get."
"That if you give her the freedom to do so. In your case, you will not. She is looking for a man on the gallows or what she calls him. It's the pendant you have around the neck, Jack. I was keeping it in case this might happen. Have a trade with her? And let me warn you, make the terms right. She will forget her word as soon as there is a loophole in it."
Stephan grabbed the hand of a skeleton and moved to the bars again, crouching. "Now, let me show you how to call the cat," he stretched the bones out. "Come here kitty! I know you like bones better than meat."
"Do you think the cat is a dog?" a voice said then two feet appeared right in front of him. He raised his head slowly and then there was a bandit standing behind the bars.
"I expected you to come sooner but you are late, mate," he said with a half-hearted smile.