In Dreams: Red

The Tunnels Part Three

The tunnels are empty when I arrive, so I slide down the wall, still holding my shoulder. I dig out my sewing kit. Looks like it's come in handy for something else. I try to thread a needle, but my hands are too shaky, so I sigh, clutching at the shoulder to staunch the bleeding for now. Closing my eyes, I breathe deeply and try to calm down so that I can start stitching myself back up, but somewhere in there my thoughts start drifting, and the next thing I hear is Reginald's curse as a painful tugging on my skin wakes me.

“Damn it all!” I hiss, coming awake instantly.

“Oh, welcome back Lady. Why didn't you call to Corwin when you returned? The blade that nicked you must have had a chemical applied, but it doesn't look like it was one meant to kill, which worries me. I'm afraid all signs are pointing towards us having a spy, if this was a simple paralytic or sedative, they were looking for prisoners to interrogate, not to kill.” Reginald growls, stabbing the needle through my skin again.

“Excuse you!” I narrow my eyes at him. He looks at my arm and sighs.

“My apologies, my Lady. How are you feeling?” Reggie murmurs. I know he's upset and worrying perhaps more than I am about a possible spy.

“A little unsteady, but I shall be fine. Thank you Reggie.” I pat his forearm between stitches, then grip his arm as he stabs me with the damn needle again. I suppress another curse, which turns into a choked growl.

“Aw, listen to our little wild animal. Seriously not a Princess this one, she's all beast.” Corwin teases, walking past with Tyrus. “Ooh, that's a nasty cut-want to see mine?” Corwin tugs up his pant leg where a thin line of blood trickles down his leg.

“That? That's a scratch!” Tyrus crosses his arm and quirks an eyebrow. “Last battle I fought in, I nearly lost a kidney.” Tyrus twisted, lifting his shirt, exposing a thick ropy scar just below his ribs. I rolled my eyes.

“Oh-ho! Are we comparing scars now?” Kornel has suddenly appeared from deeper in the tunnels. “You should ask me later about the chunk missing from my upper thigh. I'll spare our Lady the visual.”

“Where've you been?” Tyrus demands accusingly.

“Retrieving a message, unfortunately.” Kornel responds. “I had the thought that Hastings might now know how to find us, so I left a note for him that we would check back in regular intervals, with some parchment and a quill. I hope the lad's smart enough to get my meaning.” Reginald and I look at each other, I wonder if the thought of a spy is going through his head as well. He ties off another stitch and stabs me again.

“Honestly, do you have to be so rough?” I bite at him. Reggie merely pegs me with a nonplussed look.

“If my Lady would learn to avoid the blades aimed at her, instead of allowing them to nearly take off her arm, it wouldn't be necessary for me to be so rough.” Reggie deadpans. I consider punching him, but since he still holds the wicked little needle, I resist. Kornel hands me a piece of folded parchment

“This was already there for you.” Kornel says softly. I open the missive and inside is a quick message written in my father's own hand.

“Battle goes badly along the East Wall. Come soonest.”

Reginald has to restrain me.

“Let me at least finish stitching you up first.” Reginald snaps and I turn on him with an angry glare, but nod my head finally.

“Corwin, do you know where Ives is? Nevermind, give the signal to return to the tunnels. Now.” I order and Corwin scurries out of the tunnel. “I'd like someone to keep an eye on this tunnel, I'd like for it to be Ives, but I don't know who will be most useful yet at the walls. Those for close combat, or those like Ives who specialize in archery and long-distance attacks.” I would be pacing if Reginald didn't have that damned needle. As if sensing my mood he places a knee on my thigh to keep me in place. I glare at it.

“There, I'm finished.” He remarks, handing me the bloodied needle and thread, slicing through the tail end with his own knife. I jerk a short nod of thanks at him and hand him the note.

“I can't wait. Come as soon as you can. I'm going on.” I tell Tyrus, Kornel and Reginald, then swing my cloak over my injured shoulder and race along the tunnels towards any exit that leads to the surface inside the walls. Footsteps echo behind me and I spin to see who is following me. “What are you doing?” I demand of Tyrus and Kornel as they catch up.

“Reggie elected to stay behind and inform the others. Told us to go with you.” Kornel answers through quick breaths. I speed up to keep pace. Kornel only has about a foot of height on me. Tall people and their interminable long-legged strides.

“Thank you.” I say to them and put more speed into my step. Tyrus yanks me to a stop after a few twists and turns and points upward, panting.

“Entrance.” He wheezes.

“How do you get up there?” I gasp, hands on my knees, and he gestures at the wall. I move closer and run my hands over it to find recessed spaces in it, forming a built-in ladder of sorts. “Perfect. Now to put my fingers in holes I can't see in the dark. Lovely.” I hear strangled laughter behind me and glare over my shoulder, but begin climbing up. With luck, I only encounter spider webs, and manage to only show my panic once, still to the amusement of the two men. Reaching the top of the tunnel, I see a latch and pry it open then shove at the heavy door in the roof above. It refuses to budge, so I climb up higher and use my shoulders and it finally gives, with protest. There's something heavy on it, that drags as the door opens, which turns out to be a rug that topples into the tunnel below us once the door opens far enough.

“What the-” I hear Kornel's voice below.

“Exactly my thoughts.” I mutter and climb out of the tunnel directly into an older barracks room in the fortress.

“How in the Gods' names... You were assigned this room, weren't you?” I turn to Tyrus accusingly. He shrugs, embarrassed.

“Not really, it was one that I sort of found while snooping around after we knew about our task, I took the maps and went on a little bit of a walk around looking for usable entrances.” He shrugged again. I hug him briefly.

“I could kiss you Tyrus. Remind me to put you in for a commendation. You truly went above and beyond.” I shake his shoulders slightly and he shuffles uncomfortably.

“Really, my Lady, I just did it because secret passages interest me, it was for my own good, not for any other reason.” Tyrus mumbles.

“Don't care. Still helps tremendously.” I lead the charge towards the room's doorway as Kornel swings the tunnel's trapdoor shut. He looks highly amused at Tyrus' discomfort and elbows him.

“Our Lady hugged you.” Kornel teases.

“Shut up.” Tyrus demands and punches him. I roll my eyes as I swing open the door.

“Children.” I say under my breath, not waiting for Tyrus and Kornel to catch up to me as I race my way towards the East wall. The clash of swords can be heard echoing within the courtyards, which makes me hurry my steps. I head towards the East as much as I can, but the closer I get to the wall, the more soldiers I encounter coming and going, and unfortunately, most of them coming are badly wounded. “Gods' sake.” I curse and race up the nearest tower to the battlements. Instantly I run into a crush of wounded soldiers and have no choice but to duck an arrow. An arm yanks me down and a soldier I don't immediately recognize curses.

“Kennice, I love you, but you're going to get yourself murdered.” Growls the voice. I take a double-take, unused to being addressed by my real name and jerk slightly as Darius' face swims into view.

“Darius.” I hiss. “What are you doing here? Helena is going to have kittens!” Darius is one of Silas' sons and there is no way in the Gods' names she would be happy to hear he was in the thick of battle. Darius gives me a smug look.

“I'm not the only one though, am I?” He looks me up and down. “Or should I tell the Queen where I've seen that bright red cloak?” I punch his shoulder, hard and hiss again as the armor nearly breaks my knuckles.

“Where's my father? He sent for me.” I ask and Darius' face grows serious.

“In the thick of it, as per usual. He may have made a vow to the Gods never to conquer again, but he never mentioned defending what was his.” Darius frowns, shaking his head, and I look around him to see my father throwing himself at the battlements with fervor, driving back soldiers who are scaling a ladder.

“Oh f**k's sake!” I let out a longer string of expletives and Darius looks amused.

“I think I'm going to have to tell the Queen about that mouth of yours too.” Darius comments. I glare at him and in a crouch, scuttle towards my father. Darius may be like an older brother to me, but I have tasks to perform.

Even with his left hand, his non-dominant hand, my father is a better swordsman than I could ever hope to be. I may be fierce and quick, but he is terrifying, overbearing and strong. Sometimes I felt his enemies took one look at him and decided right then and there they were going to lose, and so they did. It sure did work for me for most of my childhood. I still couldn't beat him, if I wasn't lying to myself. He roars a challenge at the next soldier perched precariously at the top of a ladder leaned against the wall and brings his blade down on the soldier's hand gripping the top of the ladder. The soldier isn't expecting his grip to be challenged, and as his hand is severed, he falls, knocking two more from the ladder on his descent. I take the opportunity to grip the edge of the ladder, yelling to those around father for aid and we shove at it to push it away from the wall. It slams to the ground, taking out several more soldiers as it lands under the weight of those remaining on its rungs. A small cheer goes up that doesn't last long as a volley of arrows comes over the wall, making us duck. My father pulls me to his side and kisses the top of my head.

“Just in time, as per usual!” He roars to more cheering. This is about the only time I ever see him happy, in the midst of battle. Tyrus and Kornel make their way along the wall to us just then, as more soldiers pour over the wall down the narrow walkway from us. “Are you ready daughter? We're in for a long battle!” He stood, dragging me up with him. You could see the excitement buzzing along his frame. I shake my head. Men.