Shadow and Memory

Part 1

Step, step, step, the guard drew closer, the lantern light growing brighter as he carried the light with him. Wulfric could judge the man's location by the angle of the light filtering around the corner of the cell. Closer, closer, and the man finally rounded the corner. Wulfric scarcely dared breathe, though he heard the guard's sharp intake of breath over discovering the cell empty. Hands fumbled at a keyring, and he saw the glint of the key drawing closer to the lock, then pausing, withdrawing fractionally, before slowly drawing back.

Scowling, Wulfric dropped to the floor of the cell on nimble feet and struck out before the other man could react. His hand closed on a braided beard and yanked hard, slamming the mercenary's forehead into the iron bars of his cell while the Valdyrkin's other hand snapped out to grab the keys from him. The man staggered and struggled to get free, cursing blearily as Wulfric undid the lock and stepped out of the cell, the door creaking loudly. He released the man's beard, leaving him to stumble for a moment before Wulfric grabbed him by the throat and swept his leg, slamming his head into the stone floor with a crack.

Wulfric dragged the unconscious man into the cell and looked through the keys, finding the ones to the manacles and locking his own jailer up, gagging him with a bit of his own shirt and throwing a rat eaten blanket over him to disguise his appearance to the casual eye. He walked out into the corridor and locked up the cell again, shaking his head. This was going to be considerably more difficult if he had to contend with clever guards.

He took a moment to examine his surroundings, sniffing the air. He smelled moisture and stone, fungus and stagnant water. They were definitely underground then, and by the weathering on the stone walls and the general disrepair, he doubted that this was some modern fortification. More likely they were down in some half buried ruin beneath the earth. As good a place to hide as any, but many of the Vadens seemed to hold superstitious fear for the sunken ruins. Not entirely without reason, as Wulfric had found once or twice.

He walked down the hall, his body tensed to spring if he had to. There was a chest by the door, and he found it contained his gear. Most of his gear at least, as he noted with a rush of anger and worry that his axe was the only thing not among the possessions stored here. He ran a hand through his wild black hair and stared at the crumpled clothes as if he could will his axe to appear there. A fine steel weapon, which itself was rare for his people, it was of superb quality and had never failed to see him through danger. More than simply a blade, its powers mirrored his own, changing shape along with him to suit his different forms. And atop that, it was a very dear gift, a touchstone of his old life and homeland.

He snapped himself out of his worries and dressed again, the familiar weight of his leather jacket and leggings bringing him some measure of comfort. He sighed, gritting his teeth and drawing his dagger. At least his bow was still here.

His objectives had grown more complicated now. He had to find both Carol and his axe, for he could not bear to be parted with it, and then escape. As for exactly how though... Still, they didn't know he was loose among them, and with luck the subdued guard would not be noticed for some time. For the moment the advantage was his, though he didn't fool himself into thinking it would stay that way for very long.

Wulfric crept off into the corridor, sniffing the air and flicking his ears about as he walked. His bright amber eyes flashed in the semi darkness, piercing the shadows of the decrepit ruin like it was broad daylight. There was more light ahead, he heard voices, and smelled meat and drink. He approached, crouching low in the doorway and leaning to listen.

"So... we're not ransoming her then?" A rather short man was asking, looking up at his comrade.

This man, who was tall and bald, nodded. "No, were you too drunk to remember the captain's briefing?" The big man said with a deep sigh. "We're being paid to keep her here, end of story. No ransoming, no killing, we keep her here."