Unlike last time we got teleported, we weren't unconscious this time.
Vale and I were in a dungeon this time. All the walls were made of stone and there were metal bars so we couldn't get out of our cell. It was also dimly lit, with only one torch lighting up only the end of the long hallway of cells.
We weren't placed in the same cells just diagonally across each other. Vale was looking directly at me and was doing hand gestures.
Was it sign language? Whatever it was, she was giving me instructions that I did not understand one bit.
I gave her a shrug in response to tell her I didn't know what she was not talking about.
Just then a door that I guess was the entrance and exit of the dungeon opened and in came Commander Lorian and Baynard.
They both went straight to Vale's cell. Baynard didn't spare me much of a glance and focused solely on her.
At that moment I could see a hint of fear in her eyes as she watched them approach her solely and I knew right then what to do at that moment.
"Hey! Get away from her." I yelled, hoping it would take their attention off of her. It worked.
They turned towards me, Commander Lorian taking the lead. "Koen, is it?" he inquired, his voice dripping with authority.
I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. "That's right," I confirmed, my tone firm and unwavering.
"It's quite noble of you to follow Baynard here," the commander remarked, his words laced with a hint of admiration. "I could use more men like you in my army."
I couldn't help but frown at his words. What game were they playing at?
Baynard chimed in with a mocking tone, "Yes, quite flattering indeed."
My patience wearing thin, I demanded answers. "Why are you doing this? And what did you do to my mother?"
For a brief moment, I saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes but he quickly composed himself.
"Perhaps it would be best if the commander had a private chat with the girl," Baynard suggested smoothly, his tone oozing with false concern.
"I'll take Koen to the interrogation room."
Before I could protest, a guard appeared, unlocking my cell and snapping handcuffs onto my wrists. With a nod from Baynard, the guard escorted me out of the room, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I was taken to another room but it wasn't this time, it was brightly lit with two chairs facing each other and only a metal table between them. One side had handcuffs and that was where I was placed.
"Talk. Now." I ordered him the second we both sat down.
"I know you don't understand this Koen, but it was best for everyone."
"You mean for you."
Baynard sighed defeatedly at my response, "You were always so stubborn, like your mother."
"You don't get to talk about her!" I yelled at him, it was disgusting to hear of her from his filthy mouth.
But even with all the anger, I couldn't bring myself to hurt him. My mother wouldn't have wanted that. Besides, he still took care of me. I just couldn't do it.
Baynard opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, we heard noises from outside the room. The sounds were muffled but unmistakable—grunts, yells, and something being banged against the walls.
Baynard's face turned pale as the noises drew closer. He retreated to the farthest corner of the room, his panic evident.
The door swung open. I expected Commander Lorian, but it was Vale. She had a little blood on her, and her eyes burned with rage as they locked onto Baynard.
"You," Vale muttered, her voice low and dangerous. A single word, yet it carried a weight that filled the room with fear.
And I could have sworn I heard him whimper.
Vale drew a dagger from her bag, pressing it against his throat. "I should kill you right now," she hissed.
Reacting quickly, I stood, the handcuffs preventing me from getting between them. "Vale, no!" I shouted.
She paused, then lowered the dagger. Baynard breathed a sigh of relief before Vale knocked him unconscious with a swift blow.
Relief washed over me as she stepped back, and my hands were freed by keys Vale must have taken from a guard.
"Thank you," I muttered, rubbing my wrists.
Vale gave a curt nod. "We need to move. Now."
"What about him?" I asked, glancing back at Baynard's limp body slumped against the wall.
Vale looked conflicted, taking a moment to decide. "Take him with us, but you carry him."
"Why can't you help me?" I protested.
"Last I checked, you don't know how to throw a proper punch," she mocked. It was insulting but true.
I caved in and hoisted Baynard onto my back, securing him in place. His weight wasn't much of an issue considering how often I carried heavy loads back at his farm. "If we survive this, teach me how to fight."
She nodded, and we slipped out the door. Vale led the way, keeping to the right lane. She instructed me to step lightly and remain as quiet as possible to avoid alerting the guards.
Any guards in our path were silently disposed of by Vale and hidden in supply closets or empty cells. Sometimes she would put them on chokeholds until they were unconscious.
I knew for a fact that we couldn't just walk out of the dungeon with an unconscious man. We'd get caught instantly, so I voiced my concerns to Vale.
She must not have considered that, but she quickly devised a solution. We both donned guard uniforms and cuffed Baynard.
"If anyone asks where we're taking him," Vale whispered while adjusting the oversized belt of her uniform, "tell them he's going to Alfar."
"Alfar?" I questioned, unfamiliar with the place.
Vale didn't answer and instead gestured for me to help with Baynard. Together, we dragged him toward the guard station and the exit.
The guard on duty was dozing off, paying us no mind.
Once outside, Vale managed to charm another guard into lending us a police carriage to transport our "criminal."
Now we were resting easy, I offered to take the reins so she could rest after our long day at that dungeon.
Baynard was caged at the back, still unconscious.
"So where to?" I asked Vale who was looking around the streets beside me.
"We gotta go find Jace. Get out of Berene." She ordered me.