Riley and Phillip marched toward the jail. The latter walked with his hands behind his back and his face covered. They walked quietly in the shadows so as not to draw excess attention. A young woman walked some distance behind them.
The city was still in a state of shock from the attack, with few people outside and soldiers all reporting to their emergency posts. Only a skeleton crew was left to guard the prisoners.
Riley disguised himself the way he had that night when he threw Roland into the Peacekeeper's jail. He didn't want to be known or recognized for what was about to happen.
It was easy enough to get close to the jail, but there were still layers of defense to overcome.
Riley spoke to the guard at the outer door briefly, gesturing enthusiastically to the prisoner. The guard laughed and Riley slapped him on the back in humor, then proceeded inside. The woman slunk in the shadows closer to the entrance, careful to stay out of the guard's sight.
It was made easier by the fact that he kept looking obsessively toward the distant battle site. Would more prisoners be delivered soon? What was happening now?
A minute and a half passed. Finally, Phillip came running out of the jail, plowing through the guard from behind and running onward to freedom.
"After him!" yelled Riley. "He jumped me and knocked out the guard below. He must be using magic! Quickly!" Riley held his head and limped for effect, and the guard took off after the disappearing prisoner.
Finn ghosted toward the entrance, and Riley tossed her the keys he'd picked off of the guard. She slid inside, and Riley disappeared.
Running through the halls of the jail, she finally came to the cell she was looking for.
"Come, quickly," She said, inserting the key into the lock.
A dark figure sat in the shadows in the corner of the cell. Remaining seated, he opened eyes as black as the void to stare at his would-be rescuer.
__________
Roland was desperate to convince the queen to stop her attack on Klain. She had disappeared on her own that morning from the Darkness and come back with news of the battle she had singlehandedly waged, with the limited help of the hostages.
Duncan had seemed at least vaguely aware of this plan, given his nonplussed reaction. Perhaps the power struggle about whether Titania would wrest the soldiers' command from him continued under the surface.
Roland's horror and sorrow over the attack on Klain were difficult to hide, but he did his best to put up a front of enthusiasm that no Rhone lives had been lost. Titania delightedly accepted his praise, stroking his face with her fingertips. He had practiced not cringing away from her touch and managed to remain still.
"What's the next step in the plan?" He asked, feigning as much eagerness as he could. In truth, he was fairly eager to know the plan, just not to carry it out.
"I had thought to besiege Klain indefinitely until they starved to death, cowering in the shadow of their shattered wall," Titania said, "but now that they possess some manner of magic, I am forced to reconsider the strategy. I have also been unable to contact my spies, suggesting they have been found. It is a puzzle I am keen to solve."
"Would caution be warranted, now that they have magic?" Roland asked. "As we do not know the extent of their powers, rushing into the unknown might be hasty."
"I think not. Whether they have magic or not, nor what kind, I have no way of finding out without my spies. My intelligence grows more stale by the hour. As long as I had eyes within the city, I could attack at my leisure, knowing their weaknesses. Now we must press forward quickly lest they take time to gather more strength." She eyed him with a firm expression, and he dared not argue further, at least not directly.
Duncan nodded. "What is your command, my Queen?" He asked with deference.
"We wait for nightfall. Then, we attack." Her black eyes seemed like a magnification of the void around them, dark and soulless. Roland shuddered involuntarily.
"I will go prepare. Have the troops do the same," She commanded Duncan. He bowed, and she exited the tent.
Roland turned beseeching eyes on his father. "Please, don't let this happen."
"I have no choice, son. Though I would preserve the lives of our men, we must break the curse the only way we know how."
"There has to be another way! I know it!" Roland insisted. "Please, delay the battle somehow. I'll find the way. There are trusted people working on the problem."
Duncan gave a short laugh. "Trustworthy people are much rarer than someone your age understands."
"Not when you live in the light." Roland said firmly. "You'll understand, I hope, and soon."
"The light plays tricks with your mind," Duncan waved dismissively at his son.
"Not nearly so much as the darkness does. I'll help you leave it behind. Even the dark of the world has stars, and the moon, and fireflies. Staying here, hiding here... it cannot be good for the people."
"But you would have us remain under the curse until you find this elusive possible alternative way to break it." Duncan's eyes hardened.
"I would tarry a moment for the cause of saving all, than risk everyone's lives for a quick solution." Roland tried not to be defensive at the accusation that he was delaying purely for his own purposes.
"I cannot agree so long as Titania lives and the alleged solution you speak of remains hidden." Duncan was done with the conversation and left to prepare the troops, leaving a crushed Roland in his wake.
The younger man was unsure what to do with his time. He honestly had no clue how long away 'nightfall' was, trapped in the Darkness. Of course, he could leave and check, but Titania had made it clear that he should not go out again. Opening a doorway of light would certainly attract attention, and wasn't something that could be done covertly.
Roland sighed. He decided to go after his father and take his place amongst the troops. Knowledge was a valuable thing, so taking advantage of this opportunity to learn, and perhaps influence, the battle plans would be the best course of action.
Leaving the tent, he realized how difficult it would be to find his father in the Darkness. He roved from fire to fire. There was much activity, but he saw no one he knew.
Soldiers were sharpening their curved swords, checking their spears, counting arrows and putting them in their quivers. They were coalescing into groups after apparently scattering to these various tasks.
Roland saw no siege engines or other large machines of war, nor had he seen any during his time with the Rhone. He reasoned that such large things would be difficult to travel with, since horses were not a viable transport option in the Darkness, but it was theoretically possible that one of the other camps much closer to Klain had been building things.
He doubted that everyone was gathered here now, but he did not know for sure. After minutes of searching, he finally stopped someone.
"Excuse me, I've gotten turned around. Can you direct me to Prince Duncan?" He asked a man passing by with a spear and a large shield.
The dark eyes of all the Rhone stared back at him for a moment in silence. Roland thought he must be recognizable, but he wondered what the normal people really thought of him. Had Titania's manipulations of him being a beloved, loyal, long lost prince been accepted, or just humored?
"He should be at the command center, up ahead." The man finally gestured forward.
"Thank you," Roland said, smiling. A curious glance was the only response, and the soldier went on his way.
A larger fire was visible up ahead, and Roland saw a crudely and hastily hewn low table, where his father sat with a map spread before him. He talked with the officers around him, and only spared a brief look at Roland before making room for him in the circle.
He smiled gratefully, but Duncan's attention had already returned to the map in front of him. It was extremely detailed, and drawn on fine paper with high quality ink and a very fine pen. Roland recognized the seal of Klain's official archives in the corner, and realized this must have come directly from the fake Provider.
His blood boiled at the intense level of betrayal. It pained him to see his city laid open so plainly for the enemy, including the tunnels and bridges which could be used for entry or escape. No wonder Titania wanted to press the attack before her intelligence became stale; they had more than most enemies could dream of. His home was sure to be destroyed.