They had brought me back into the other cell.

I stared at the light, at its flickering. I could feel the blood running where he had bitten me. I was sore and bleeding. My back was numb. My clothes were torn. And I felt humiliated and hurt and helpless and alone.

"Lytha" someone spoke to me with the voice of my dead sister. The voice seemed to come from behind. It spoke very quietly, but sounded also very urgent. But I knew that there was only the stone wall, and that no one could be there. I ignored the voice.

The light went on, and off, and on, and off."

***

A sharp knock on my door woke me from my nap. It was still dark outside, a good sign, or it would have to be a late night Hammerite raid instead. Figuring that they couldn't find me here, I peeked out of the doorway to see a bag sitting in front of my door with no one in sight. I cracked open the door and fliped the bag open to see a few small boxes and more little bags. I grabbed it and left a bag of coins in the same spot for the messenger to take when I'm gone. Finishing packing up what little I can bring with me I threw on the boots I bought, with the worlds smallest picks in the left boot (I hope I can even use the things). I sling my pack and head off for Cragscleft, expecting to make it before the sun comes up.

The prison loomed ahead of me. Just before sunrise it seemed almost serene, with only a handful of guards at the front gate and typical prison sounds. I probably should have thought more about a late night entrance through the front door, but attracting the attention of only one guard would still prove to make things a bit difficult. The birds started chirping and I took that as my cue to head up to find a vent to make my way in.

For once the area I'm in isn't swarming with Hammers looking for someone to grab. I had made it to the point where the rocky slope turns into a rock wall. I hoped I could get up to the vent without killing myself or getting spotted. Moving to an area away from the front door to where I hoped the noise from the fan suddenly stopping wouldn't be heard, I tied a short rope to my pack and the other end to my waist, so I could pull the pack up with me. With a running start I jumped and managed to grab the edge of the hole and pull myself up into the small crawl space. The fan was blocked by a small grating which easily popped away with a crowbar. This was the part that worried me. Did they have the fans on some kind of alarm if they stopped working? And would this make a ton of noise when I stopped it? I thought of jamming the crowbar into the blades to stop them long enough to clip the belt driving it, but I decided a big rock would work better. I jumped down to get one. A nice big rock gets hauled up in my pack. My eyes closed and my fingers crossed I slammed it into the blades of the fan and prayed that the Builder was still sleeping.

!!CLANG!!

Oh my god they had to have heard that! I’m not sure if I screamed that out loud, or just in my head. It’s hard to tell with my ears ringing like they were. Regaining some composure, I cut the belt driving the fan and proceeded to remove the blade section so I could get past it before the alarm sounded or the guards came running. I hadn't seen a Hammerite guard pop his head into this hole yet. Filled with paranoia, I carefully peered out, saw no one, and realized that they must not have heard it. I am confused and deaf, but happy. I tossed the rock out of the hole to clear space, and set the blade by the edge of the hole. I also tied a thin rope to the grating so I could find my way back out this way if I had to.

Taking what could be my last look at the free world through the small opening in the side of the hill, I started my (hopefully) short climb into the hell these prisoners have to deal with. If I could manage it, I'd break them all out just to let the Hammers know who's really in charge here. Air shafts all look the same in the dark, except for the thin white rope that trailed behind me. After several minutes of sliding through the airways I was not even sure which way was up anymore. My muscles already hurt from trying to move slowly and quietly and trying to not drop the 10 feet to the next shaft intersection. Luckily for me the Hammers were nice enough to add in hand holds along the tunnels. I guess this was in case they had to repair the cables that bring power to the vent fans. Or maybe they had people chisel these tunnels by hand, but they seemed too irregular for that.

Suddenly, after climbing for what seemed like hours, a faint light came into view to my left. I shuffled along the tunnel in my quietest shuffling fashion until I could peek out through the vent into the room below. "Hmm, no happy whistling guards or groups of Hammers waiting to kill me."

The vent popped off easily. I tied the other end of my rope to the corner of the grate so I could find my pack and my way out later. If I didn't come back for it they probably wouldn't find it for a while. I wasn't leaving much here anyway. I dropped down into the room, unpacked some things from my pack, threw it back into the shaft and put the vent cover back.

The room looks like an average living space, probably someone just above a guard, but no one special. Cracking the door open, I looked out into something I really hate seeing when breaking into some place: a nice, well lit hallway! "Oh man these people suck! Why couldn't this be a normal dismally lit prison?" The first thing I needed to do was figure out where I was, then where I needed to be, and then how to turn some of these lights off so I didn't get killed along the way. "Hmmm", what a thought, "maybe I don't need to turn out the lights...." I stepped back in and rummaged through the closet for a uniform, and hoped it fit reasonably well. A nice red uniform hung there, about my size but a little big, which was good since I was going to wear it over my own stuff. The boots were a little different but I didn't plan to let anyone check me out that closely. It didn't look like anything I had seen a Hammer around town wearing, but I thought that was just because I hadn't seen anyone with this fellows' position out and about.

Now feeling somewhat confident with my new attire, I stepped through the door into the world of the Hammerites. The hallway to the right seemed a bit less populated at this early hour so that's the way I went. I needed to find a stairway or elevator, where I could find a sign that might say what floor I was on. I needed to get to the fourth level, the maximum security area, to find Lytha, but I also needed to find where they were holding Ragbert. If all else failed, I could get Lytha out and come back for him since I had a decent way to get in, or so it seemed. I had to get both of them out, but right now Lytha is the one I was making the most money from.

Nudged from my thoughts by the sound of someone walking towards me I slowed down. The hall intersection drew closer, and I turned my head to see a not quite awake guard walk by. He started grinning stupidly as he passed and I could swear he was...staring at me. "Just keep walking; he was obviously a freak." I tried to convince myself that the problem was with the guard, but something in the back of my head was nagging me. I tried to keep my "holier than thou" attitude going. At least he didn't ring the alarm or scream something. Rounding the corner I noticed a gated hallway to the left and an elevator to the right. Not much straight ahead. So I headed for the elevator to see what floor I'm on and maybe get to where I should be. I push the button and wait for the lift to come down. Much to my surprise it's packed with a bunch of guards mumbling about breakfast. I noticed a few stares and a remark about my clothing as they unloaded and walked past.

Now that paranoia had kicked in I checked myself to make sure my pants weren't on backwards or something. I couldn’t find anything wrong except for the fact that I didn’t seem to be dressed like anyone else I've seen! But what do I know about Hammerites? At least I hadn't been busted yet so I was reasonably happy. Boarding the lift, I found that there was good news and bad news. The good news was that I was close. Two floors up was the maximum security section. The bad news was this elevator didn't stop there. "Great, now I have to go through some checkpoint or something, lets go up a floor and see what’s happening."

The next floor strangely looked very different from the other I had seen. It was darker here, with only two guards in sight near an intersection. Swallowing my fears I approached the guards and nod to each as I stepped up. Oddly, they didn't seem to care much whether I was here or not, so I guessed the Hammer disguise is working. I turned confidently to the right to create the illusion that I didn't seemed to know where I’m going. After a few corners in this hallway, it became obvious that this was one of the prisoner areas. I saw a sign which read Cell Block 5. "I wonder, where do they keep the admittance records?"

"Can I help thee sir?" the guard on watch asked me.

"What?" Where did he come from?

"I said, can I help thee, sir?"

"No, I'm looking for a prisoner." What the hell was I thinking? I'm going to get killed for this. "Yes, maybe you can; where do you keep your records in this block?"

"Follow me sir," was all he replied. Why did he keep calling me 'sir'? This didn't look like any high priest uniform I had ever seen, so it had to be something different. But I wasn't going to ask this guy what I'm supposed to be dressed as. So I followed him to a guard room, which he opened with a key, in which he showed me the book listing who was kept in this area.

"I thank thee for thy help guard." I always hated the way Hammers talked but I had to be convincing if this was going to work. Flipping through the book looking for familiar names. I noted a fellow thief or two who had been caught, but this wasn't a complete book since there was no Lytha or Ragbert listed.

"Where is the prison registry which shows the new arrivals?" I took a stab in the dark; maybe he was dumb enough to tell me, thinking I was from out of town or something. He turned to look at me, without saying a word. I knew he was having doubts that I should be here, but he answered as he turned away from me.

"Where they always are, sir, in the Inquisitors chambers." His mistake was turning away from me. I slid the blackjack out from under my shirt and thumped him over the head with it, making him slump to the ground in a heap.

"We can't be having ‘thee’ think I don't belong here, now, can we? Have a nice nap, hope you don't get fired for sleeping on the job." I grabbed his keys and checked the log book for an empty cell and dropped him in one, cut off his shirt and gagged him with a strip of cloth so he wouldn't make too much noise when he woke up.

So now I knew there are at least four other cell blocks. There could be twenty in this place, but I had to get up one floor to get Lytha. Moving around quietly while looking for a stairway all I could hear were the moans of prisoners and their cries for help. I didn’t see any more guards around but then again I didn't see the first one that snuck up on me either. I also didn’t see a way out so I headed back to the intersection where the two guards are probably waiting to grab me. This time I passed them without even looking at them, and headed to the opposite area. I noticed a sign on the wall that obviously missed earlier.

Cell Block 3&4-Left. Cell Block 5-Right. To Maximum Security, with an arrow indicating straight ahead.

I can't believe I missed that sign earlier. Must have been too worried about being caught. I still needed to go check 3 and 4 for Ragbert, and maybe find a way out. The entrance was actually leading into cell block 4, but across the floor I could see the door leading to 3. There was a guard by the door and one in the wardens office overlooking the prisoners. Spying the staircase up to the guard I move that way. With a purpose to my walk and a serious look on my face, I planned to walk right into the office and look through the book and see what happened. I can see now why these Hammers think they own the place, it must be the clothes. Approaching the door I pulled out the set of keys and knock on the door before unlocking and opening it. The guard looks me over casually, not noticing much in the dim light, I think. "I need to check your log book." I proceeded to flip through the pages of the book. "Ah ha", I mumble quietly as I saw Ragbert's name in the roster. I felt great that I had found one of my objectives until read the line next to his name. Died on the rack while being questioned. "Oh damn!" I cursed, among other things, as I spun to face the guard. "Where are the Inquisitors' notes? I have to know what this man told him!"

Confused, the guards only answer was a stuttering that told me it should be upstairs in the high security area. Someone was going to pay for torturing Ragbert to death, and I thought I knew who it was going to be. "Stay here until I come back to talk with you!" I shouted at the man. I grabbed his keys and the log book and stormed out the door while he stood looking baffled at my anger. Once out of his sight I took his keys from their ring and put them in the secret panel in the right boot heel, just in case. As I tried to calm down so I didn't alert the guards at the intersection, a lot of thoughts ran through me. Most of all was the fear that Ragbert had mentioned me to the Inquisitor while being tortured. If that was the case, then I’d have to ask Nightfall to NOT put my name on the Star. I’d have to find a new alias, and build a new reputation. I didn’t look forward to that. I also didn't care to end up as a resident here.

I could feel the guards watching me as I rounded the corner to get to the stairway. I think they said something to me but I wasn't in the mood to deal with them at the moment. There were a few more corners until I reached the stairway up to the next floor. Two more guards waited at the bottom of the stairs, both wearing some sort of chain armor. I stepped up to pass them, but they both held out a hand to stop me.

"State thy business," One of them said.

"I need to speak to the Inquisitor about a man who died here."

"The Grand Inquisitor is busy at the moment, he can not see thee."

"I'll wait!" was my answer as I pushed past the blockade. Obviously they didn't understand my urgency, since one of them put a hand on my shoulder to stop me from moving forward. As he stopped me I spun and pulled the dagger from under my tunic. It found it's mark in the unarmored part of his body. He dropped quickly to the ground uselessly grasping his neck trying to stop the bleeding that would soon kill him. And then everything went black, just after I felt something heavy hit me.

***

The Inquisitor gave me a sympathetic look.

"As I told you yesterday, our rules are easy. And you broke the rule of cooperation. I had no choice. But you must understand that it was your own fault, Lytha." I lay on the floor, once again.

"What we are working on now, is your confession about the two events we have witnesses for. What did you do in the lodge, and what did you do in our Temple?"

I lay motionless on the floor, saying no word. I was filled with numbness.

"The problem is that the confession is needed urgently. So... You have the choice, how we shall get it. We can ask friendly, or - "

A lash from behind, again. I felt the blood running over my back. Must have opened old sores, I thought.

He stepped closer, and sat down beside me. "You do not have to go through all of this. Just look at the instruments in this room. They will open your mouth, trust me. But do you really want to learn this from your own experience? All you have to do is, give me the confession about the two events."

I closed my eyes. I wanted the end of this, but I had not the strength to start speaking. All was numb. Nothing did matter anymore.

He sighed, and nodded to the two guards.

***

Dark and silent. I saw nothing beyond the heavy black veil of night, heard nothing through the thick air that surrounded me. I was alone in an empty world without a single ear to hear me scream.

A gush of wind, like a heavy sigh. A spot of gray in the distance. My eyes fixed on it and drew it in. My heart thudded in fear of what I would find. "How many times, Jyre?" Els's voice. It filled the void with echoes. "The Lady knows best. It is not your place to question."

"Not your place...not your place..." The words rebounded inside my head, taking on the voice of the dead. That which had been black was now gray. I could see figures in the mist. One of them turned to me, pointing. "Foolish child...." He started to cackle.

I was in the dinning hall, standing before Els. Guards filled the room, their eyes focused on me and their voices filled with laughter. Els seemed to grow in front of me. His skin became grey and lifeless. His eyes held the same glazed expression that adorned the living dead. "You should have listened to me." His words filled the whole room, blocking out the laughter. "But no. You had to ask, didn't you? You had to know!" The laughter came back, harsh and overpowering. I dropped to my knees, clamped my hands over my ears. The taunting refused to go away.

Hands grasped mine, pulled them from my head. "Hush." My face was pushed into something soft. "Ranson's here. He won't let them get you." I wept into his chest, shivering. He lifted a hand to my chin and slowly raised my head. "Just be a good girl like The Lady says." He began to change. His face became softer, his eyes harsher. The fingers that cupped my chin began to squeeze. "You were coming along so well, child." The Lady's voice. "If only you had learnt your place." She shook her head. Her fingers burnt my flesh. "Such a bright girl. So much potential. Ranson did well bringing you to me. If only you had learnt your place..."

Guilt tore at me. I looked up at her. Begged her forgiveness. Her voice joined the laughter. "No child. You do not mean what you say." She gave me a push and I was falling.

I landed in something soft. The stink of rotten flesh met my nostrils. Looking up I could just make out The Lady's form, staring down at me. I shuddered, rolled over and let out a scream.

His eyes were shrunken hollows, his hair nothing more than a few brittle tufts. His skin was grey and dry, drawn so tightly over his bones that I could see the skull underneath. I was staring at the face of a dead man.

"See your fate," The Lady called down to me. "And learn its face well. For soon it will come to collect you."

***

Personal log, 9.11

Yesterday was quite a day. After we got underway, the Hammerite task force made about three miles progress, working from midday, to midnight. The weather was fair, though quite hot and damp, and the forest was mostly submissive. They let me travel home for the night, thankfully, and while on my way, I met with a Keeper.

He told me I was following too many paths, or something like that. He also told me it was dangerous. I’m sure he meant about how I have come to be known as not only the Emissary to the Master Builder, but also the Patron Saint of Thieves. If either side found out about my other title, there would be hell to pay. Oh well, I had kept it under wraps for over half a year now, and I didn’t foresee me getting careless any time soon. Still, if one of them made themselves seen to me, it must have been for a good reason, other then the statement of the blindingly obvious. It’d find out soon enough, I suppose.

This morning, I decided it was about time to buy that carriage I had been putting off getting, and hire a chauffeur. It was a good five mile walk from my tower, clear across town to the city’s edge, and then three more through the mud and torn dirt of the newly constructed road to where the task force was making its way to the lodge. I cared not to go it by foot. Besides, I had needed a vehicle, and now was as good as time as any to buy one.

Okay, I lied. I didn’t buy one, I bought two. Hey, sue me, I wanted a rugged one that would be able to navigate off-road terrain, and a stately one for strolls around town. Wealth has it’s privileges, after all! The luxury stagecoach is being custom built, so I won’t have it for at least a week. It will seat four, comfortable, and six if absolutely necessary. Designed to be pulled by four horses—Plenty of room inside—Leather interior (brick red!), aged dark cherry-wood exterior with a cast iron frame (painted black wherever it shows) —bronze trim *very nice*— room for luggage—I could go on and on. The rugged one, it’s small, about a fourth of the size of the other. Just seats, two, driver & passenger. Just a carriage basically. Open to the air, but has a sort of awning that can be erected in case you want to travel when it’s raining, or the sun gets too hot. It’s pulled by one horse. Built light—all pine. Painted black, of course. Large wheels— two axle— high clearance. Small compartment in the back for cargo, which can be converted to a third seat in a pinch. Well designed— sporty— I like it!

Of course what’s a carriage without a driver? I hired Richen, smart guy, good etiquette. Best getaway driver this side of the forbidden zone— never been caught too, or even identified, that’s why I can use him in the presence of the Hammers. This guy makes an art out of getting to point A to point B the fastest way possible, while avoiding all authority. Which is good, for I don’t care to have my chauffeur whipped in the street for speeding. He also makes the tightest fastest turns I’ve ever experienced, or seen, without the vehicle turning over! The horse was good too, very good. Thoroughbred, black, young, with one white sock on the left rear leg. I let Richen pick her out, seeing as he would be the driver. Good size, about nine hands. I haven’t bought horses for the stagecoach yet. I’ll probably get Clydesdales or something. It took us about a half an hour to make it to the task-force, as the worked diligently in the woods. None the sooner too, for Thurm was getting ready to send a squad after me. Hrumph, does he just love my company, or does he not trust me? It’s not my fault that shopping for a vehicle is a lengthy process! I did it faster then most— 2 hours! — and I bought two! I should get some kind of award! I admit, being four hours late to an engagement is rather sloppy, but they didn’t really need me there at all. I, unlike they, do not enjoy watching the pistons on those bulldozers, as we have come to nickname them, go up and down, up and down. It gets mesmerizing after the first five hours.

Then came the fun part. You see, Hammers are not too keen on animals. Not even domesticated animals. It was hard enough for them to grasp the concepts of domesticating plants, but animals, whew, those critter have a mind of their own! And a horse, they particularly dislike. I once heard one of them say, "if a normal human’s intelligence was ground level, a horse’s would be a pit, ten miles deep." Not that I disagree with them, (I laughed when he said that, laughed quite a bit), but still… the critter is useful!! Why walk when you can have a dumb beast pull you! Ah well, to each his own. If they want to rely on their own two legs, or one of those machines, then may the Builder bless them. I’m sticking to what works. Anyway, getting back to the subject, yeah, they let me ride in my horse drawn carriage, but I had to stay to the far rear of the group, and keep that beast, as they insisted on calling it, away from them. I thought it was very funny when one of the captains said, in all seriousness, that if the horse so much as looked one of his men in the eye, he would have it beat to death. How’s THAT for fear of animals! Well, Richen was none too keen on these redcoats (as he called them), threatening his Suzy (that’s what he named the horse), but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut, and his eyes downcast.

Of course, staying about a hundred yards behind the task force has its advantages. For instance, Richen and I could talk in peace. We had plenty of time to do it with too. Thankfully the canopy of the trees provided shade for most of the day, or I would have been miserable. Anyway.

We talked about plenty of things. He was eager to discuss one thing in particular, his garage and stable at my tower. Simply put, there is no room to build one! We eventually sorted out that they can be carved out of the side of the hill, below the mansion. It would be about halfway between the structure and the base of the hill. A ramp would lead from it to the main road, and part of the stairway would branch off too meat the ramp. It’s hard to describe, I’ll have to sketch it out. The Hammers should really enjoy building that for me. Cheaper then hiring a private contractor, and less stressful then contracting it myself.

End Entry