The Path of Light 1.02

Chapter 2 – Escape

You killed them, the voice said. You even killed her, you worthless street urchin. Don't you value life? You know, you really should put an end to this.

Eíssa opened her eyes, forcing back the harsh voice she had almost forgotten about. Her own voice.

She shivered in the damp air of the small cellar she and Celebiel had fled to. Cold seeped into her back from the stone wall she leaned against. She appreciated the numbness the chill walls provided. It allowed her to take her mind off what happened earlier. But not for long, she was afraid.

Celebiel sat on one of three chairs around a small wooden table, the only furniture in this hiding place Hannah had prepared. She seemed to be lost in thoughts and Eíssa didn't want to push her too much. So instead, she looked at the backpack sitting lonely under the table. It was Hannah's.

She had been more than a friend; she had been someone to share her way of thinking, someone to sneak into the devil's lair with and come back out again. She even had been a lover at times. Eíssa wondered not for the first time how such a devious woman had managed to become a Scribe. Member of a religious institution on top of that.

Oh, Hannah, why did you have to die? You always were the one planning our coups. Now I have to think of a way to get us out of this city.


'Eíssa?' Celebiel asked.

'Hum?'

'I've been thinking about what happened and…' her voice trailed off.

Eíssa rose slowly and, sighing, walked over to the table, seating herself opposite Celebiel. You had that one coming, stupid, her voice told her.

'Celly, I'll answer your questions. Just ask.'

Only moonlight illuminated the cell-like room. It would have barely been enough for a human to see by, but Eíssa and Celebiel were elves. Poor illumination wasn't that much of a problem to them.

Celebiel nodded. 'You had those horses prepared, so you knew what was going to happen in there. Why didn't you tell me?'

Eíssa looked down. 'If I had told you, you would've acted suspiciously. We couldn't have the soldiers get wind of the fact their trap got foiled. I…I'm truly sorry.

'We didn't have time to prepare horses of our own, so I had to…steal them from some of the guards.'

Celebiel looked a little sad. 'But how did you know that there was going to be a trap? We've both arrived only today!'

Eíssa clasped her hands on the tabletop and looked Celebiel in the eye. 'Hannah told me. I met her while looking for a master goldsmith and she told me everything. That the Onguran police was looking for an assassin and that they had needed someone inconspicuous to play bait. They'd looked among the Scribes and Hannah volunteered. She had heard that the assassin was accompanied by a smaller, black-haired elven girl with remarkable eyes. She just knew that could only be me. And therefore, she knew you were okay too.'

Celebiel leaned back, awed. 'That's… outstanding thinking of hers.'

Eíssa looked to the side, eyes clouded with memories. 'Yes… That's how she was. Outstanding.'

Out of the corner of her eye, Eíssa saw Celebiel make a slightly confused face to her last comment.

'And why didn't you two just run away with me when you had the opportunity? When Hannah gave me that map? Why risk so much by actually letting the trap go off?'

Eíssa shook her head and leaned back in her chair. 'That wouldn't have worked. It was only afternoon then and we wouldn't have been able to get away fast enough. They'd gotten us for sure.' Eíssa paused for a moment. 'Hannah said it would be best to escape to this hideout using horses, because it is sufficiently far from the trap and no one would even consider us hiding right in front of the largest cathedral in town.'

They had sent the horses galloping down another street about halfway to the hideout so that their pursuers, not having the eyesight of elves, would rather follow the horses.

'I… see,' Celebiel just said.


Then, they heard a sound. It carried through the ground, the sound of something heavy scraping on stone. Celebiel was the first at the window looking out on the square just in front of the great cathedral.

'Rithum…' she muttered, then Eíssa saw it, too.

A group of soldiers dragged a huge wooden construction on wheels to the middle of the plaza. Eíssa was shocked when she spotted the giant that led them, carrying some kind of lump over his shoulder. It was him, the one that had killed Hannah, the one that had deliberately thrown his sword to impale either Celebiel or Hannah. Her hands began to tremble with fury and she was about to spin and run outside, to burst onto the place to surprise the bastard, drive her swords right into those hateful eyes of him, to-

A gentle touch on her shoulder kept her from doing that, however.

'Eíssa… Please calm yourself. I can't even begin to understand how you must feel right now, but I… don't want to see that look of anger on your face anymore.'

Right. I can't get myself killed now. Hannah wouldn't want that. Eíssa glanced at Celebiel and nodded.

She looked outside again and cringed as she realized just what the lump the giant carried was: Hannah's body. Celebiel had seen it too, and she took a sharp breath.

'What are they trying to do to her?'

Eíssa shook her head, but after a few moments, it dawned upon her what they were trying to do.

'Public display,' she said.

'Are you serious?!'

'They're really bringing out all of the barbaric stuff they can muster here.' Eíssa shook her head. 'Trial in absence of the culprit, public display of an accomplice… That hasn't been seen in Anduria for centuries.'

Celebiel's grip on her shoulder tightened. 'We have to do something!'

Eíssa just slumped down a little. 'We can't, lest we want to be captured and executed right out there.'

Celebiel removed her hand from Eíssa's shoulder and just stood, staring out with an unreadable expression.


The soldiers finally moved the heavy display cart in position and their leader set to climb it and strap the body to the wooden posts mounted on it.

'Hold! In the name of the High Priestess!' a loud voice called out over the square.

Surprised, everyone turned to see who had interfered with the grisly procedure.

A figure in white strode towards the group of soldiers, who shuffled closer together as if intimidated. However, their leader just jumped off the cart, still carrying Hannah and moved to meet the newcomer. Eíssa opened the window just a crack so they could listen in on the conversation.


'How odd of you to come here now of all times, brother,' the giant said.

His brother just regarded the body he carried with disdain. 'And is that how you 'catch a culprit', Eric? Killing a member of the Scribes you yourself required for this work and to top it off even putting her on display?'

Eric shrugged. 'She helped the assassin escape. That's a deed just as evil as doing the killing yourself. You know that, Inrik.'

'She may have helped the assassin, but she is dead now, thanks to you. All she may have been able to tell us she has taken with her. And you, the next best thing you think of is putting her corpse on display?!'

Eíssa thought she could spot a brief smile curling Eric's lips, but it was too dark and they were too far away to be sure.

'Maybe they'll try to retrieve the body and we can catch them then. If not, well, at least they'll know we mean what we do.'

Inrik grew more and more furious. 'I. Will. Not. Allow. Such. Barbarism! You will hand the body over to me. Now!'

Eric appeared to be honestly surprised at his brother's outburst. He hesitated for a moment, then gave Hannah to Inrik who carefully held her in both arms.

'Belísme be thanked I heard of what you did, Eric,' Inrik said. 'You would have brought even more shame to our family than you already did. I will have a proper burial arranged for this poor girl you needlessly slaughtered. And,' he glared at his brother, 'I will tell her Highness of this.'

Eric just folded his arms and said nothing.

After a few moments, Inrik turned briskly and left his brother. Eric waved for his men to move the cart away, then stalked off in the opposite direction of his brother.


Eíssa carefully closed the window again.

Now that was impressive, she thought.

'I'm glad he appeared,' Celebiel said.

Eíssa nodded, moving away from the window.

'Who were they, anyway?'

Eíssa slumped down on one of the chairs, earning her a disapproving look from Celebiel. 'The one in white was Lord Inrik Polach, well-known general and hero of Anduria, the other must be Lord Eric Polach, the less-known, less-talented little brother. If Inrik hadn't shown up, I would've never realized we were being chased by his little brother.'

'You know,' Celebiel said after a brief pause and turned. 'I almost thought that humans were a race stricken with evil.'

Eíssa regarded her inquiringly, but Celebiel said no more. Finally Eíssa said 'No more or less than us elves, I assume.'

Celebiel cocked her head. 'I've never seen a monster like Eric among elves.'

'My dear, there are, I assure you. But enough of this, we should be on our way out of the city soon.'

Hopefully I'll come up with something on the way.


Eíssa crouched on the roof she had just jumped to. With a few quick strides, she reached the edge and scanned the surroundings. No guards. Good.

After jumping from rooftop to rooftop some more, Eíssa was close enough to the city gate. It was heavily guarded, as were the other two she had visited before. Cursing silently, she crouched down even more and tried to find a hole in the pattern of patrols she and Celebiel could use, but it was hopeless. She might have been able to sneak out alone, but Celebiel wasn't used to this. They didn't have a chance. Tiny specks of light marked the positions of guards along the city walls. No getting through there, as well, she reluctantly decided. Alas, they had to get out of the city tonight. She couldn't tell how safe their hideout really was on the long run, but it sure wasn't going to get safer over time. If they were found out and if they managed to escape – just if – where were they to go? Only Hannah had known about the hideouts, Eíssa was out of the city for too long to be bothered with their exact locations. So they would be left with nowhere to run. They'd better turn themselves in right when that happened.

Bah, don't think like that. You've always managed to get through somehow, you're going to find a way out of this just as well!

She shook her head to herself and made to jump back to where she left Celebiel. She froze as someone landed on the opposite side of the roof. He obviously had jumped from another roof.

'You've made it quite difficult for me to get here, Miss,' he just said.

Eíssa regarded the short man for a moment. Eíssa wasn't exactly tall, but this man just measured a little less than three-quarters her height.

'Sorry, if I had known about any gnomes trying to tail me, I would've chosen some wider gaps to jump across.'

The man just smiled, revealing a set of teeth that spoke of more than basic care. 'My, just as your friend described you.'

Eíssa tensed. 'My… friend?'

'No need to get all worked up. Miss Lunaris is perfectly fine. In fact, it would be quite bad for me if I was to hurt her.'

Eíssa crossed her arms. 'And why is that?'

The man straightened himself, his rugged dark coat parting and revealing a black, well-tailored suit underneath. He bowed.

'My name is Jamilso. Jamilso Barent, known as Blackoath. I am entrusted with the task of getting you and your friend safely out of the city.'

'And who paid you?' Eíssa asked, a frown showing on her face.

Jamilso smiled again. 'Let's just say it's a secret admirer.'

'Who goes by the name of Eric Polach, I assume?'

'Belísme, no! I wouldn't take jobs from that one, sure as the sun's going to rise tomorrow!'

Eíssa cocked her head. 'Do I know that secret admirer, then?'

Jamilso turned away from her, coat flaring. 'Would he be "secret" if you knew him, I ask? Come, we can't be chatting here for all time.'

And with that, he started to run and jump to the next roof, leaving Eíssa no choice but to follow him.

She grew more and more apprehensive on the way. This just has to be trap.


Celebiel had seated herself on a cushioned wooden chair and spent her time looking at the paintings on the wall of the small, but well-equipped home. She nearly jumped when the front door opened and Blackoath entered, followed by Eíssa. She spent little time with eyeing her surroundings, but came over to Celebiel instead.

'Just what did you think you were doing by coming here?'

Celebiel shot a glance at Jamilso. 'Mister Barent seemed trustworthy.'

Eíssa threw her hands up, frustrated. 'That's what being in the underground is all about!'

Blackoath stepped closer. 'Now, now, Miss Dirmaion, you can lecture your friend about the underground another time. For now, she has made the right decision. And the only one possible, I might add.'

Eíssa shrugged, anger dissipating. 'Well, we're already here. It's too late to regret anything, so we might as well take the chance.'

'Well then, my ladies, let me introduce to you the only way through the city walls,' Jamilso said and moved over to a paneled wall. 'The sewer canals.'


He pushed the bottom of one of the panels and with a clicking sound, a part of the wall swung inward silently, revealing a steep passageway leading down.

'The sewers?' Celebiel asked, honestly surprised.

Eíssa just sighed. 'If everything else fails, escape through the sewers, is that it? Our secret way out? Great, just great.'

Blackoath just smiled again. 'Oh, that's what each and every one said before they went through the first time. You'll see.'

Without any further words, he descended the stairs, leaving the two women behind to follow.

Celebiel looked at Eíssa. 'He sure likes doing that.'

'Ya.'

Eíssa gestured to Celebiel to follow and went ahead. The stair spiraled down in narrow windings, the walls lined with the occasional torch, providing just enough light for elves – and gnomes, for that matter – to  see by. After a few moments Eíssa and Celebiel stepped out onto a slick and wet stone pier. Two torches lined the exit to the surface, the rest of the sewers were dark. They were unlike all other sewers Eíssa ever was unfortunate enough to end up in. These were like one giant chamber beyond the city and though Eíssa could only see so far, she just felt the empty space. The stinking waters seemed to be still, only pierced by pillars placed in regular intervals, if Eíssa could work from what she was able to see.

'I never expected sewers to be so… spacious,' Celebiel said, pressing her nose shut with one hand.

'My thoughts exactly,' Eíssa replied.


Jamilso already was aboard a punt tied to the pier. He didn't seem to be bothered by the smell.

'All aboard, ladies,' he said in a hushed voice. 'And don't speak too loudly, voices carry far in these caverns.'


They drifted through the maze of pillars in absolute darkness, Jamilso pushing them forward carefully. Blackoath had explained to them that he was the only one capable of navigating the sewers blindly, the only sure way of avoiding to be caught down here. He also had explained that guards regularly checked the waterways, but he always took a different route, so he couldn't be tracked.

'You've been in business for quite some time, then?' Eíssa asked into the darkness.

'You could say that. I've even brought the infamous Nis Wolfsbane into Berilis on several occasions back in the days… He's probably dead by now, though. He was only human, after all.'

'What a shame,' came from Celebiel's direction.

Eíssa couldn't see it, but she could very well picture Jamilso grinning to himself in the dark.

An indefinite amount of time later, a streak of moonlight sifted in from ahead. Soon, Eíssa could see where it came from: A flat, but wide opening at the end of a tunnel just as wide. The current quickened and appeared to flow in the direction of this opening.

As their punt accelerated, Jamilso put his pole away and picked up a rope with a metal hook tied to one end, the other end tied to the punt.

'We're going to stop rather abruptly, so you'll better hold on fast.'

They did as he said and just as they thought he had missed the right spot and they would wash out of the opening, Blackoath threw the hook and it latched on a nearly invisible latch on the far wall. The punt jerked to a halt and though they were prepared, Celebiel and Eíssa almost got thrown overboard. Due to its anchoring point, the punt drifted toward the wall and the narrow walkway that ran along it. Jamilso used his pole to keep a distance from the walkway and waved for them to hop over.

'This is where we part. Good luck to you two.'

Once both were safely on the walkway, Jamilso muttered a few words and waved his hands. The punt shuddered a little and then started to move against the current. He pushed further onto the stream, unlatched the rope and pulled it back. As his punt disappeared into the darkness, pushed by his magical powers, Eíssa caught him smiling widely at them again.


After they had emerged from the outlet, they found themselves above the ground by several meters. The sewer waters rushed down in a small waterfall next to them. Descending the wet wall as fast as possible, Celebiel a lot slower than Eíssa, they turned toward the city for a last time.

'Do you think they'll follow us?'

Eíssa shrugged. 'I don't think they'll notice us gone for a time. But we should hurry nonetheless. I don't know if we can trust that Blackoath to keep quiet for long.'

'So, what next?'

Eíssa faced Celebiel and looked her in the eye. Then, she just said 'I'll figure out the best route to get us eastward, to Ongur.'