CHAPTER 30: The Warden's Wrath - Part 1

  Eiran, chained at the ankle alongside Zeke, and other prisoners from the fifth sublevel, was in the first sublevel of Grest. The top three levels of Grest were not part of the prison and mine complex but housed the guards' quarters, equipment storage, armory, and food stores, laid out much like a typical fortress.

  They trudged through the corridors, bearing food supplies like a line of ants. The guards kept only an intermittent watch over them. After all, where could they escape? Surrounding Grest was nothing but a sea of sand. Eiran's mind repeated the plan they had devised with as much precision as possible, having also inquired the historian in detail.

  “Eri, next it’s our floor’s turn to transport food supplies to the storehouse. That’s our chance.”

  After passing several doors and turns, they arrived at a long corridor. At its end were two opposing doors. The right one led to the kitchen, while the left was their escape route.

  “How do we know the escape route, Zeke?”

  “One of my acquaintances once saw the Grest floor plan and told me. Sadly, he was moved to another floor. But don’t worry, he remembered every detail. That's why he's imprisoned here.”

  “Wait. He might remember, but what about you?”

  “Ha ha, don't worry. I remember all that’s related to the way out.”

  They turned right, towards the kitchen. There, cooks worked at rows of clay stoves. He and Zeke passed them, heading to another door leading to a storehouse adjoining the kitchen. The Artifica air circulation system allowed them to cook without roasting themselves.

  Three guards were stationed in the kitchen. One of them had the keys to the left door and their shackles. Like other guards, they paid little attention to the prisoners. One complained to another about having to wear armor in such heat.

  After placing the items in the storehouse, he, Zeke, and the other prisoners walked back to the loading area. The time had not yet come.

  “What about the other prisoners?”

  “We can’t do anything for them. There’s no point suffering with them here, Eri.”

  They lifted new packages and retraced their steps.

  In the storehouse, the three guards stood apart, still monitoring them. Not yet.

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  As the back-and-forth journey continued, the number of items needing transportation decreased, and so did their chances. Finally, Eiran found the guards in the kitchen chatting and distracted.

  “Remember, Eri, don’t act unless you’re sure. Better to wait than fail. Remember the legless guy who distributed drinks during breaks? He used to have a beautiful pair of furry legs.”

  “And?”

  “Don’t you get it? His legs were sawed off for attempting to escape. Attempting. If we injure guards and get caught... they won’t let us forget the consequences any time soon.”

  Now was the moment! Eiran inhaled as much as he could, as if to ignite courage within. His throat was dry with anticipation. He stopped by one of the stoves, pretending to adjust his shoe. The firewood beside him crackled in the flames.

  A guard glanced at him. In Grest, the footwear was laceless slip-ons that often slipped off, but he deliberately took his time. This drew all three guards' attention.

  “Hey, hurry up–”

  Eiran lifted his pant leg and retrieved a wax-coated bundle tied around his ankle. Before a guard could react, he doused them in its contents. Alcohol seeped into the gaps in their armor. At the same time, Zeke pulled out a piece of firewood and ignited the alcohol. Flames engulfed the guards. They screamed, patting their armor.

  The cooks were stunned and did nothing. Eiran charged at the guard holding a bunch of keys and snatched them. Other pairs of prisoners assisted by taking down the remaining guards.

  “Eri, quick!”

  Eiran struggled to unlock his shackles. He had never found it so difficult to fit a key into a lock, his hands trembling.

  Click. That sound was the most relieving he had ever heard. But it also drew the attention of the other prisoners. Their heads lifted and turned.

  He was about to throw the keys to them, but Zeke stopped him.

  “Fool, we’ll fail if it gets chaotic! Leave them!”

  The other prisoners lunged to snatch the keys from their hands. He and Zeke kicked them away and ran. The other prisoners tried to follow but stumbled due to their chained feet. He and Zeke left the kitchen before they could stand up again.

  The bunch of keys jingled as Eiran's hands trembled, trying different keys on the left door's lock. However, there were not too many keys, and they soon found the right one. He locked the door again once they were inside.

  There were no guards in front of them as per the guard schedule described by the historian. Zeke took the lead, navigating the corridors.

  Their destination was the uniform storage room. They locked themselves in there and changed clothes. According to the historian, from morning till evening, uniforms were washed on the surface, so this room was unguarded.

  In the ceiling, there was a shaft used to move clothes from the surface to this room. Eiran stacked wooden boxes as a step and climbed into the shaft.

  Zeke did the same but kept failing. Eiran braced himself in the shaft, feet on one side and back on the opposite side, and helped lift Zeke with one hand. He almost slipped when Zeke jerked but they managed.

  Bit by bit they climbed the dark shaft towards the light above. The air was stifling and hot, making it hard to breathe.

  Hundreds of feet later, they arrived inside of a stone-walled building. If Zeke was correct, this was where uniforms were ironed in the fortress's courtyard. Eiran peeked out first and was relieved to find Zeke was right.

  They emerged from the shaft in a corner of the room and hid behind a pile of clothes, waiting for the right moment. The smell of charcoal from the irons filled the room.

  “The historian’s words should have included ‘only one viable entrance and exit.’ Ha ha ha,” Zeke could barely contain his elation. Eiran put a finger to his lips, signaling him to be quiet.

  Soon, a group of guards came in and called all the workers out of the building.

  “There are two escaped prisoners!” a guard said. “Did you see them?”